NEWSLETTER
I’m not very confrontational. In fact, I’d say it takes quite a lot to get an actual rise out of me. I try to put a lot of effort into seeing the positive and the best in most life situations. And, come to think of it, that is probably what also gets me in trouble sometimes when it comes to my Chicago Bulls opinions.
With that said, if 2020 was a cowboy and walked up to me in the saloon, I would force-feed him about 20 knuckle sandwiches. I’m sure he’d then whistle-in the back-up (you know … COVID-19, the grim reaper, murder hornets, and such), thus creating a full-blown bare knuckle, old-timey western bar fight.
Fortunately, though, once all the bottle were shattered, the stools were broken, and the bartenders came out from hiding in the bathroom, me and the rest of my fellow 2020-haters would stand victorious. After all, tonight 2020 dies, and all we can hope is that when 2021 rolls into town, he’s less of a dick.
Saying goodbye to 2020 like … pic.twitter.com/POu222U8cE
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 31, 2020
• Now, back to the positives. In a vacuum, Chicago Bulls fans had a decent year. The organization finally decided to move on from their old ways and hire two front office leaders from outside the organization. This then led to the signing of a highly qualified and experienced head coach. We also saw the expansion of the player development department, as well as the Bulls draft with their highest pick since 2008. Sure, the start of the season has not been all that inspiring, but the Bulls did grab their first win on Tuesday and have a chance to close out the year with another W against the same team this afternoon. Even if they don’t, however, that isn’t going to change the fact that this franchise will enter 2021 on a much better path than how they entered 2020. The future of this organization, that many of us painfully love for some reason, is finally heading in a new direction – for that, I thank you, 2020.
GAME DAY. Wizards. 4 pm CT.
Let's say goodbye to 2020 with a W. pic.twitter.com/Rd1ZQYR1h1
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 31, 2020
• Ok, so are the Bulls going to build off their best performance of the season or come out and slightly ruin our New Years Eve celebrations? Considering this team has not been in this situation under their new coaching staff yet (playing after a win in the regular season), I truly don’t know the answer to this question. What I do know is that Lauri Markkanen’s availability remains a question mark for tonight’s game, and that certainly worries me a bit. Sure, the team was able to hold onto their lead after he left the game on Tuesday night, but he still clocked an important 19 minutes of action for them. He has been a go-to scoring threat at the beginning of games, and the team has relied on his revamped aggressive play to start this season. Plus, it doesn’t help that Markkanen might miss this game while the Wizards get back power forward Rui Hachimura. The second-year player might only clock around 20 minutes, but that still gives this Wizards team a new look to throw at the Bulls.
Hachimura should play in the range of 20 minutes tomorrow against the Bulls, Brooks says.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) December 30, 2020
• Regardless of whether Markkanen plays tonight, though, the Bulls will have to hope they get similar production from Coby White. He is coming off one of his most well-balanced games at the starting point guard position (18 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds), and the time is now to show he can build off such productive outings. Donovan has said himself several times this season, the Bulls are only going to go as far as White can take them.
• The Bulls also better keep-up their defensive intensity. This team is not going to be an individually talented defensive unit this season, but Donovan has rarely run a team whose defensive effort didn’t rank in the upper half of the league (ya know, if you could actually quantify that sort of thing). Effort is half the battle on that end of the floor, and the Bulls finally showed the right amount in their last matchup against the Wiz.
Billy Donovan noted a lot of areas the #Bulls need to improve in defensive but added, "We’re doing a better job of helping one another, which I think is an important place to start with."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) December 30, 2020
• If the Bulls can also dictate the pace of play by, once again, taking advantage of the foul-prone Wizards, their chance of picking up a second-straight victory should go up.
The Bulls Have Been One of the Best Teams Getting to the Line This Season, Can They Keep it Up?https://t.co/qbkEs3XGlY
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 31, 2020
• Kawhi Leonard is a fun guy, and don’t you forget it.
https://twitter.com/TomerAzarly/status/1344523895475343361?s=20
• Zach LaVine’s game-winner against the Hornets was robbed.
The NBA had no shortage of amazing highlights this year
Counting down the best plays from 2020 ✨ pic.twitter.com/Kaye5cZAzz
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 31, 2020
