NEWSLETTER
WARNING: The following news may cause Bulls fans to experience an instant headache.
Klay Thompson is back. The man who dropped a historic 14 three-pointers on the Chicago Bulls back in October of 2018 will rejoin the Golden State Warriors for their matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight. This will be Thompson’s first NBA appearance since Game 6 of the 2018-19 NBA Finals.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1480207732431110148?s=20
• Head coach and Bulls legend Steve Kerr spoke about Thompson’s upcoming return on Saturday, and he referenced Michael Jordan’s own return from retirement when talking about the moment Thompson steps back on the court. While I think that’s a stretch, I understand the general point the guy is trying to make. Thompson was one of the most impactful players on one of the most dominant teams in the NBA before missed two full seasons. The emotions inside the Chase Center tonight will be intense, and I’m sure many people around the league will react when he hits his first bucket. Will it be anything like when Jordan made his heroic return? No. Not at all. But it will still be a pretty cool and special moment!
Steve Kerr compares Klay Thompson's return to Stephen Curry in New York and Michael Jordan's return back to the NBA:
"With Klay, the moment will be about a guy's perseverance, and his love for the game, and everyone else's love for him. That's why it's going to be special." pic.twitter.com/CtohKDtmhy
— Mark Haynes (@markhaynesnba) January 8, 2022
• Also, we now have to wonder know whether or not the Bulls will see Thompson when these two squads meet on Friday. It will be the backend of a back-to-back for the Warriors, with the first game coming against the reigning champions in Milwaukee. Will the Warriors allow Thompson to play back-to-back stints or will they monitor his initial playing time closely?
• The Bulls will look for their 10th-straight win later today as they try to take down a banged-up Mavericks team. Big man Kristaps Prozingis has already been ruled out due to Health and Safety Protocols and both Luka Doncic and Dorian Finney-Smith have joined him on the injury report as QUESTIONABLE with varying injuries. Obviously, no Doncic would be significant news for the Bulls, who could then potentially make it a short night for guys like Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan as they embark on a stretch of five games in seven days.
• The Chicago Bulls Instagram posted some photos of their players boarding the flight to Dallas on Saturday, and one image grabbed the attention of Bulls fans. Patrick Williams could be seen carrying his Starbucks without a noticeable brace on his left wrist. The 2020 No. 4-overall pick suffered a dislocated wrist that required surgery back on October 28th, and the team set his return timetable at four-to-six months. With that in mind, we still have a while to wait before Williams is expected to rejoin the team, but it’s fair to wonder whether a brace-less Williams is a sign that could point to the front-end of his recovery estimate.
— Derek “Young Jordan” Briscoe (@YoungJordan) January 8, 2022
• I should say, it’s also possible Williams is still wearing a brace in certain settings. Also, the lack of any kind of support doesn’t mean he is anywhere near 100 percent. The starting power forward still likely has weeks of rehab to go through, but I guess we should keep an eye out for any kind of potential updates as the All-Star break nears. FArturas Karnisovas did talk briefly about Williams’ recovery earlier this week, but he didn’t provide any kind of target date for Williams’ return.
Still No Timeline for Patrick Williams, But Arturas Karnisovas Provides the Slightest Glimmer of Hopehttps://t.co/U2gr2xbSCL pic.twitter.com/3jaTc2WEMB
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) January 6, 2022
• What the Miami Heat have done in the wake of all their injury trouble is impressive … but the exact same can be said about a Bulls team that sits 3.0 games ahead of them in the standings. As far as COY voting goes, I’m not sure how Billy Donovan isn’t the front-runner. Not only has Chicago been one of the hardest teams hit by COVID absences this season, but this is a group that has never gotten to the promised land before. Vote today and it’s Donovan.
Other coaches have done a really good job this year. But no one has done a better job than Erik Spoelstra has. Miami just keeps winning games no matter who they put on the floor.
Taylor Jenkins is right behind him for me, with Billy Donovan third on that list.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) January 9, 2022
• Draymond Green was up at 3:40 in the morning the night before a game apparently subtweeting Ayo Dosunmu about his wardrobe. Yes, that is a real sentence I just typed.
I’m not a big suit and tie guy. Wearing a suit doesn’t make you smart nor does it mean you are a good business person. But… To all the young brothers out there getting their jerseys retired, dress yourself up. Those pics will live forever! That brand you’re wearing WONT!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) January 9, 2022
• FWIW: I think (1) a person can pretty much wear whatever they want and (2) Dosunmu still looked plenty fly while watching his jersey go up into the rafters. I mean, this pic is cold.
Legend. Congrats @AyoDos_11! pic.twitter.com/4frN9l4mSt
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 7, 2022
• Before highly-anticipated meetings with the Nets and Warriors, the Bulls will play an 8-30 Pistons team that just acquired Windy City Bulls legend Bol Bol. Revenge game?
Nuggets are acquiring a 2022 second-round pick via Brooklyn in Bol deal, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/T2ODjTNErm
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 9, 2022
• Swap out Sabonis for Vucevic and it looks good to me!
Eastern All-Stars, determined by RPR MVP Predictor:
Starters
G: Trae Young
G: DeMar DeRozan
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
F: Kevin Durant
F: Joel EmbiidReserves:
G: James Harden
G: Zach LaVine
F: Jarrett Allen
F: Jimmy Butler
F: Jayson Tatum
WC: Fred VanVleet
WC: Domantas Sabonis pic.twitter.com/WqYgGoOQz0— NBA Math (@NBA_Math) January 9, 2022
• I joined the Bulls Gold podcast for a conversation about the team’s latest win-streak, upcoming trade deadline, and playoff potential. Give it a listen if you somehow aren’t sick of me yet.
🚨NEW BULLS GOLD@Schuster_Elias joins @Salim_BGhoops & @EdwardShulerJr to talk about the Bulls recent win streak, rotation with Ayo/Coby/AC, trade options not involving Pat, and much more!
🟢: https://t.co/dgDIfKXbTe
🍎: https://t.co/TqMEQsI6AJ@BarroomNetwork #BullsNation— Bulls Gold (@BullsGold) January 9, 2022
• Wow, a win!
Enhanced Box Score: Blackhawks 2, Golden Knights 1 — January 8, 2022https://t.co/1WqudHk7JR
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 9, 2022
