We might as well have an unhealthy relationship with the Chicago Bulls. One day, they will show up with flowers and a hand-made vase they learned to sculpt after months of secret pottery classes.
The next day, they’ll leave you sitting alone in your brand-new outfit at dinner only for the extremely attractive host to recognize you and say that they’ve been the one teaching that secret – and very much one-on-one – pottery class.
We don’t know what’s real. We don’t know what’s fake. We just don’t know right now.
- So … if you need a team that isn’t going to play with your heartstrings, may I recommend the one in Hoffman Estates! The Windy City Bulls are off to quite the electric start in the G-League. Now 6-2 and tied for the third-best winning percentage, they cruised to another win last night against the Cleveland Charge. Malcolm Hill led the way with 20 points and 8 rebounds on an efficient 7-12 performance from the field, while Ethan Thompson, Javon Freeman-Liberty, and Marko Simonovic all added at least 16 points.
- A team that currently averages the third-most assists per game and shoots at a top-5 mark, they’ve proven to be an unselfish and well-rounded basketball team. And, shocker, those are two adjectives that also describe rookie Dalen Terry. The Chicago Bulls have allowed their No. 18-overall pick to play five games in the G-League thus far, where he’s averaged 14 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals.
- Look, I don’t actually expect you to start donning WCB gear and selling out the NOW Arena, but give the Windy City Bulls a follow on social media or something. Whether it be Marko Simonovic putting up numbers, Kostas Antetokounmpo rocking the rim, or Dalen Terry doing a little bit of everything, it’s fun to see that group of guys playing so well.
- Taking a peek at the estimated box plus-minus for Patrick Williams … things couldn’t be more different on each side of the ball. Dunks & Threes gives the Bulls’ power forward a -1.9 EPM on the offensive end compared to a +2.0 on the defensive end, which happens to rank in the league’s 96th percentile.
- All things considered, though, I think the recent eye test has suggested that Williams is starting to level out. While he’s led the Bulls in blocks this season and continues to draw some of the toughest matchups of the night, he’s also beginning to sink more shots than ever before. Over the last six games, Williams is averaging 11.8 points on 58.5 percent shooting from the field. What’s even more impressive is what he’s doing behind the arc, as he’s now shooting 45.6 percent on a career-high 3.0 attempts per game.
- Williams has hit at least 50 percent of his 3-points in seven-straight games. And, yes, I know the volume isn’t anything to rave about, but it still feels like a pretty big deal for a Bulls team that has an extreme lack of reliable downtown shooters. Not to mention, the more Williams forces opposing defenses to fear that shot, the more the floor can open up for him and his teammates. He has the kind of ball-handling and athleticism to also attack closeouts and finish strong around the rim. So, yeah, this feels like another nice step in his development, which I wrote a lot more about below …
- There was some beefing in the basketball world this weekend. In case you missed it, some slaps were thrown in the Syracuse-Bryant game, which led to multiple ejections. While I don’t condone any of this behavior … the video below is kind of hilarious. Dude ran away so fast.
- Russ also got into it against the Spurs after taking a tough fall (blood warning):
- Not going to lie, this sounds like a great deal …
- Also seems like a good deal …
- Rest up, JF.