NEWSLETTER
Folks, I’m not sure when the heck the Bulls are going to win again.
I know tonight they had an undermanned team (literally seven players were sidelined due to injury), but with how this team has managed to lose games in nearly every situation, I have no real confidence that they’ll be able to beat the Wizards, Thunder, or Knicks coming up.
At this point though, I can’t say I truly care about the win-loss column. Sure, an 8-game losing streak is embarrassing, but the harder this team falls, hopefully, the louder the front office change hits this offseason. I mean the team had a season-high 25 turnovers tonight and practically looked like a rec-league team in the closing sequences that didn’t include Coby White.
But speaking of White, the rookie had a career-high 33 points in an absolutely awesome performance (FG 11-22, 3PT 7-13). At the end of the day, this is what the remainder of the season is all about. Look for these big performances, even if they come on an individual basis in losses – these type of outings (from the right player) at least provide some level of optimism.
The more guys like White or Gafford can gain confidence on the court, the more they can counteract the bad vibes everywhere else.
However, it’s frustrating to know that even White’s improved efforts and results may not be rewarded with a spot in the starting lineup.
From the sounds of it, Jim Boylen doesn't plan on starting Coby White, who had a career-high 33 points off the bench tonight.
"I like Coby where he's at," Boylen says.
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) February 23, 2020
More minutes is all Coby actually needs (and that doesn’t necessarily require a spot in the starting lineup), but I also believe it would go a long way in terms of development. We can put a pin in it for now, but that’s going to be a discussion we’ll continue to have over the next 25 games.
Oh, and before we go, Boylen called another late-game timeout with the Bulls down double-digits, and guess who was pissed? Well, yes, all of us … but also Zach LaVine.
Boylen pulls Zach LaVine into the back room to discuss TV cameras picking up LaVine, obviously agitated with a late-game Boylen timeout. Detention handed out?
— Joe Cowley (@JCowleyHoops) February 23, 2020
Zach LaVine said he and Jim Boylen talked about some “player-coach things we talk about every once in awhile” postgame. About Boylen’s late timeouts with Bulls out of it, which cameras have shown LaVine reacting to twice now, LaVine said: “That’s what he does. I’m not the coach.”
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 23, 2020
LaVine: “He told me he likes working on things we do in practice. He’s the coach. He can call timeout if he wants. I just wish we were in the game. It’s frustrating. Obviously, you never know what can happen. But you’re down 10 with 30 seconds left, it’s tough to stay locked in.”
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 23, 2020
I. Just. I. UGH. WHATEVER.
Just go enjoy your Saturday night, and get ready to do this all over again tomorrow against the Wizards! Woohoo!
