NEWSLETTER
I’m about as emotionally stable as a Jenga tower right now.
If I have to watch the Chicago Bulls lose to the New York Knicks on their home floor again … I will collapse into a very loud and annoying-to-pick-up pile of sadness.
- The Bulls have played just a smidge under painfully average over the last 10 games, according to Kirk Goldsberry’s latest efficiency chart. All things considered, that certainly aligns with their 4-6 record during that stretch, which included strong wins over Milwaukee and Utah and gut-wrenching losses against the Hawks and Knicks. Speaking of which, what’s especially frustrating about the Bulls is that if they were just a bad clutch team as opposed to the NBA’s worst clutch team, they would likely be in the postseason picture right now. Only two games separate them from the Play-In Tournament, and only 3.5 games separate them from a top-6 seed.
- So, as doom and gloom as this season has continued to feel, there is still a lot of opportunity for the Bulls to right the ship. But can that please start tonight? The Bulls have to stop beating themselves. While the New York Knicks deserve credit for pulling off that OT victory on Wednesday, the Bulls handed them that game on a silver platter through far-too-typical self-inflicted wounds. Not only did they settle for some questionable shots in crunch time, but they let New York generate extra possessions at the worst times. New York won the rebounding battle 48-31, which included an absurd 15-3 advantage on the offensive glass. If the Bulls want to right their wrongs tonight, it will start on the glass.
- The Knicks can’t shoot 52.8 percent from downtown again, right? I can’t even get on the Bulls’ case for letting the worst shooting team in the NBA knock down 18 3-pointers. There just seemed to be some dumb luck involved in that shooting performance, and I’m really hoping that New York’s regression to the mean will help the Bulls tonight.
- If I had a dollar for every time somebody said the Bulls need to do a better job playing a full 48 minutes, I’d be able to buy Twitter.
- I’m not saying the Bulls win that last game if Ayo Dosunmu is on the floor, but it sure wouldn’t hurt to have him back in the lineup tonight. His length could be a real asset against Jalen Brunson, who carved up Chicago for 30 points on 11-21 shooting. The current injury report lists Dosunmu as questionable, and head coach Billy Donovan apparently made things sound like they were trending in the right direction on Thursday:
- Get that bag, rook! Dalen Terry announced that he has officially inked a new shoe deal with Adidas. The No. 18-overall pick joins 11 other rookies in giving the company its largest draft class ever. Some of the other players to join Adidas include Jabari Smith, Benn Mathurin, Keegan Murray, and MarJon Beauchamp, per Nick DePaula.
- Sportico’s latest NBA valuations only confirmed what Forbes told us earlier this year: The Chicago Bulls are worth *a lot* of money. The business journal listed the Bulls as the 4th-most valuable franchise in the league behind only the Warriors, Knicks, and Lakers, respectively. Man, thank goodness they spend like it! *begins to cry*
- ESPN released their first MVP Straw Poll of the year, and Jayson Tatum currently leads the way for the prestigious honor. For a complete look at how 100 league insiders voted, go here.
- Checking in fourth on the MVP ballot was Stephen Curry, but I think it’s fair to say he’ll drop as he misses *at least* a few weeks with a shoulder injury. Are the defending champs in trouble?
- Rarely do you see someone so young call a quits. Wishing Tyrell Terry the best.
- *books ticket to Milan*
- ICYMI: I ranted about the front office …
- Speaking of new front offices …
