Zion Arrives, Lauri Returns, Zach Zachs, Boylen Comments, and Other Bulls Bullets

Gritty might go to jail. Might’ve been worth it.

Is anyone else worried that whoever is in the Gritty costume has become possessed by the spirit of Gritty? I’m not sure the person under there ever takes it off. Gritty has consumed their life. Nay, Gritty is life. Woah.

  • I think it’s an unspoken rule that if you write about the NBA on January 23, 2020, then you must write something about Zion Williamson. In one of the most highly anticipated debuts in NBA history, Williamson did not disappoint. For three quarters it felt like a night to forget, as the Pelicans only played the rookie in short spurts and Williamson only had 5 points. Then, the 4th quarter happened. Williamson scored 17-straight points and went 4-4 from downtown … it was wild (the Pelicans took him out shortly after a deprived us of even more craziness).
  • https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1220222069020991489?s=20

    (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

  • LAURI’S BACK! Just kidding, but The Finnisher did have his best game in a little over two weeks. Markkanen scored 21 points, grabbed six rebounds, and got to the free-throw line for six attempts. Can this become the new norm, please?
  • Aw, he posted a picture with his buddies.
  • https://twitter.com/MarkkanenLauri/status/1220348915951788032?s=20

  • If the Bulls win a ballgame, it’s safe to assume Zach LaVine was the reason. After Chicago blew a 19-point lead earlier in the game, LaVine went to work and scored 7 of the team’s last 9 points to give them their 10th home victory of the reason. Yes, that means the Bulls have surpassed last season’s home game win total of 9. I swear, the front office better not use that as an excuse or sign of “progress.” Everything is still a mess.
  • LaVine has another All-Star worthy performance in the books, but if his impressive January hasn’t already swayed voters his way, it’s hard to believe he’ll crack the roster. ESPN’s Zach Lowe shared his All-Star selections, and LaVine just missed the cut. Bummer.
  • NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson has a new mailbag where he talks about Boylen’s “system” and what to do about Lauri Markkanen. Also, with the trade deadline looming, Johnson shared once again he believes the only Bulls players that could be on the move are Thaddeus Young and Denzel Valentine. He also makes sure to note he is strongly against trading Zach LaVine (which isn’t to say the front office is considering it), and I find the reason he gives to be quite valid: “Maybe he’s not a No. 1 piece on a championship team. You traded Jimmy Butler for him and if you’re trading him away, you’re looking for a player like him from the draft lottery to replace him.” Good point. Trade high-volume scorer … and the Bulls will be stuck looking for a high-volume scorer.
  • BIG CRIS DOUBLE-DOUBLE ALERT!
  • Cool. Now, please go back tot he bench.
  • SIGN HIM! SIGN HIM! SIGH HIM!
  • The Bulls constantly make me mad, but he’s right, the pre-game introductions will always be (as the kids say) #lit.
  • Jim Boylen is making such bizarre comments that Stacey King can’t even hold it together on the live broadcast.
  • D-Rose is on FIRE.
  • written by

    Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

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