NEWSLETTER
I guess the basketball gods saw that Chicago was having too much fun.
Nikola Vucevic Reportedly Tested Positive for COVID-19, Will Miss Multiple Gameshttps://t.co/oWexHlAYiF
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 11, 2021
In all seriousness, I wish Nikola Vucevic a speedy recovery. The good news is the team is said to be 100 percent vaccinated, so the big man has at least put himself in the healthiest position he can be. I hope he can remain asymptomatic and rejoin the boys with little to no setbacks.
• I saw a lot of confusion yesterday around how long Vucevic should be expected to miss. The majority of reports claimed that the Bulls All-Star center would be out for at least 10 days. All things considered, I think this is the most likely outcome, but we should note that vaccinated individuals can technically get back on the floor before that mark with two negative tests in a 24 hour period. Not only has this been standard protocol across professional sports for vaccinated players, but Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed this in his article on Thursday. Again, I think we should mentally prepare ourselves for Vucevic to miss the entire Bulls road trip, but this does feel like an important note:
The Bulls listed Vucevic in the protocols, but the positive test means the two-time All-Star selection will be sidelined for 10 days or until he has two negative PCR tests in a 24-hour period.
• Yes, I’d probably rather have the Bulls face this adversity sooner than later, but I still can’t stop thinking about how unfortunate the timing of this news feels. Vucevic finally broke out of his 10-game shooting slump with an 8-14 shooting night against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. His 18 points were his second-most of the year, as he played with a noticeable boost in confidence. Now, the momentum he finally got back has been stalled, and we have to wonder how that might impact him upon his return. We also have to wonder exactly how competitive this Bulls team will look as they continue arguably their toughest stretch of the season. Matchups with the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Denver Nuggets rest ahead.
• The Bulls have gotten to 8-3 with Vucevic playing like crap, so why should a five-game absence change anything? Look, it’s a somewhat fair point. The Bulls have been able to take down some pretty talented opponents with Vucevic shanking shots left and right, but we can’t forget all the other important qualities he brings to the table. I wrote about this earlier this week, so instead of hashing it all out again, I’ll drop the link here. In short, Vucevic has continued to be one of the league’s best rebounders, a go-to playmaker, and a top screen-setter. Each of these things has played a role in the Bulls’ success and each will be hard to make up for over the next handful of games.
• Time to show us what you’re made of Tony Bradley! When Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley inked Bradley to a deal this summer, they put a lot of trust in him. As the only other play on the roster who stands 6-10 with NBA experience, the possibility of him having to give this team a spot start or two (or three … or four) had to come to mind. He now gets to show Bulls fans what he can do in that role, and whether or not his rim-protecting capabilities can help make up for his lack of offensive versatility. Alize Johnson will also likely reclaim a rotational role. The small-ball five started the season as the Bulls’ primary backup before head coach Billy Donovan opted in favor of the more size-appropriate Bradley.
• One reason the Bulls have possibly lucked out is that several of their upcoming opponents don’t rely on strong center play. Not only have the Warriors always had a knack for playing small, but big men Kevin Looney and Nemanja Bjelica should be formidable opponents for Bradley and Johnson. Likewise, while Ivica Zubac has his moments for the Clippers, he doesn’t feel like a particularly dangerous matchup for the more physical Bradley. I also can’t help but mention that three of the Bulls’ next five opponents have not yet proven particularly lethal on the offensive end. The Clippers, Lakers, and Nuggets all sit bottom-19 in offensive rating so far this season.
• At least the scariest matchup of the road trip comes first, right? The Warriors are like my sister: the one who can do no wrong (no … I’m not bitter!). To start the season, Stephen Curry and Co. have the league’s top Net Rating by a large margin, with surprisingly their strongest attribute being their defense. They have held opponents to the third-lowest effective field goal percentage this season and have averaged the third-most steals per game. Fortunately, the Chicago Bulls have made their own presence felt on this end of the floor, ranking as the league’s 6th-most efficient defense. So while I expect the Vucevic absence to hurt this Bulls team, I still expect a competitive and bruising battle between these two pesky and fastbreak-loving teams.
• If you want some more insight on the power of the Olympic team and the influence it had on Zach LaVine, I can not recommend the post below enough.
“I talk to him about a lot of things. Life skills. Upbringing.”
An unlikely friendship formed between Zach LaVine and Draymond Green in Tokyo. And the Chicago Bulls’ star is all the better for it.
✍🏾 with @DarnellMayberry https://t.co/F9B3GZx9dn pic.twitter.com/vQYYBAwgJ0
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) November 12, 2021
• Will you still love us the same after we crush you?
Kerr, noting his strong ties to Chicago still run deep, is pleased the Bulls appear to have turned things around this season: “I’m happy for the Bulls. I still cheer for them all these years later … they’re becoming a real contender so that’s exciting.”
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) November 11, 2021
• bUt hOw aRe tHeY gOiNg tO fIt?
The list of duos in Bulls history who have scored 20 pts each in seven straight games:
• Zach & DeMar
• MJ & ScottieThat's the list. pic.twitter.com/RPS91EJxNZ
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 11, 2021
• If the Bulls need more big man insurance, they might have another name worth considering in the G-League.
🗣️ That's a man's move by @oturu65
Oturu has scored 20+ points in all three games for Windy City so far 💪 pic.twitter.com/NsIZ0UQ9MO
— Windy City Bulls (@windycitybulls) November 12, 2021
• Bruh, it looks like they were trying to hug.
Things got heated between Myles Turner and Rudy Gobert after Turner blocked Gobert's shot. pic.twitter.com/O34Z7gckwC
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 12, 2021
• *eyeball emoji*
This might look like a small measure, but it’s one that could have significant implications around the NFL. https://t.co/AxIU5NTbT2
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) November 12, 2021
• So kinda like Vooch?
Jonathan Toews came back this season with a mix of expectations. Through 14 games, he’s done everything we could expect of him … except score a goal. https://t.co/RQvcmv6iAn
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) November 12, 2021
