I’ve been watching a lot of baking and cooking competitions over the last couple of months, and I think I’m just now realizing that it has subconsciously filled a competition void. It might explain why I cheered at my TV when Christopher’s pineapple upside-down cake came out of the pan so effortlessly. I mean, he handled the pan perfectly, drove to the table, and went up and under for the beautifully clean finish. *chefs kiss*
So, yeah, I need sports back.
• Basketball is kinda-sorta back in Chicago. On Friday morning we got news that the Advocate Center had reopened, but Bulls players will not be able to begin on-court workouts until June 3rd. How much these workouts will actually matter is yet to be determined, as it remains unclear if the 24th-ranked Bulls will be asked to play another game this season. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will reportedly hold an NBA Board of Governors meeting later today, but we’ve been told not to expect an official decision on what a league resumption would look like.
• Remember the World Cup-style playoff format we heard about earlier this week? Well, it seems like NBA GM’s aren’t ready to go that bonkers. According to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Conner (or as I like to call him, Kevin O’Baller), only 25 percent voted for the group stage proposal. Most believed a play-in tournament would be the best route to go.
Sources: On today's call with NBA general managers, Adam Silver revealed the results of the GM survey. 75% of GMs voted for a play-in tournament for the final playoff seeds. 25% voted for a World Cup style group stage.
All the results and more on @ringer: https://t.co/2OgesoIqgy
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) May 29, 2020
• The Athletic’s Shams Charania weighed in with results of his own, again demonstrating that most GM’s want the “Playoff Plus” format, also known as basically a play-in tournament.
Additional results from NBA's GM survey, per sources:
– Most GMs want season to end no later than Oct. 1
– GMs want larger roster/more flexibility to manage their roster
– 53 percent voted to maintain traditional playoff seeding; 47 percent for reseeding https://t.co/sVwYF0ZYPT— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 29, 2020
• Before I share some more thoughts, read what I initially said on Twitter last night:
FWIW: What do we expect those guys to say?
They put all their eggs in the Boylen basket, and they’ll act “loyal” until Karnisovas makes the final decision to let him go.
I’m not sayin it’s right at all, they’re just to stubborn to walk back that extension. https://t.co/U0JUOvtRGf
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 29, 2020
• Done? Cool. I’m kind of fed up with this conversation about the Reinsdorfs and Paxson still supporting Boylen. Like I said above, do we really expect otherwise? Not only are these three guys loyal to the bone, but also they aren’t going to damage their image further by walking back the extension. We can make the case that admitting their faults might actually slightly improve their standing among some fans, however, we all know nothing they can do right now will make that happen. Either way (admitting their wrong or not), it’s a lose-lose for these three guys, and I think they know that. The easiest way for them to avoid having to open their mouth and poorly answer questions on this topic is to wait for Karnisovas and Eversley to fire Boylen so they can say “we supported Jim, but we’re heading in a new direction and fully trust out the new front office.” I’m not supporting these three, but I understand where this thought process is coming from.
• Also, as The Sun-Times reminded us, Karnisovas and Eversley have full control: “Sources reiterated to the Sun-Times over the last week that while ownership and adviser John Paxson have expressed their appreciation for Boylen to Karnisovas and Eversley, they will remain completely hands-off in the final decision the two men make and fully support it.”
• Do you want Kris Dunn to stick around?
Kris Dunn ranked 2nd in the league in steals per game before the season stopped
Locking up all types of players in year four 🔒 pic.twitter.com/v0Bxgz0VVa
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) May 27, 2020
• With this upcoming offseason’s salary cap situation up in the air, and teams still trying to save for 2021, I’ll be curious to see what happens with Dunn. He’ll have a qualifying offer from the Bulls on the table, but I still wouldn’t be shocked to find out other teams around the league are interested. While Chicago can match any offer, I’m not sure they’d be willing to make any longterm commitment. Besides we’re not sure how Karnisovas and Eversley view Dunn. Does he even fit the kind of team they’re trying to build or would they rather use that potential money on a new face?
• Yes yes and more yes. The Bulls season should be over.
Why the Bulls are better off not being invited to the NBA bubble | NBC Sports Chicago https://t.co/wMDkZ0ZWNR
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 29, 2020
• Uh, this guy has a crazy Michael Jordan toy collection.
• I know this photo was just taken in the heat of the moment, but I love how it makes the entire Thunder team look like they’re witnessing a real-life Superman fly through the sky. In more ways than one, it’s also one of those photos that makes you ask “what if?”
Just sharing this photo again because it’s absolutely incredible. pic.twitter.com/j7CZabeRQG
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 29, 2020