The Conor Bedard Era officially begins tonight! If you’re not following our coverage over at BN Blackhawks, I highly recommend you do so. Most of our Chicago teams have decided to kick us in the groin while simultaneously giving us a wet willy. But the Blackhawks are here to hand us a napkin and a pack of frozen peas!
Bedard might truly be the next Chicago superstar. I can’t wait.
I have to give the Chicago Bulls credit. After weeks of preaching a new mentality on the offensive end, they showed fans exactly that. What we saw in the first preseason game resembled the first 35 games of this core, when Lonzo Ball turned Chicago into the Showtime Bulls. Likewise, an emphasis on getting into the paint was apparent. The Bulls created numerous open looks behind the arc through drive-and-kicks. We also saw far more off-ball screening that helped generate more half-court movement. It was a highly encouraging first 12 minutes, and I wrote a little more about that in a separate post here.
At the same time … it was only 12 minutes. The last thing we want to do is get ahead of ourselves after one preseason game. Adjusting to this new style isn’t going to be easy, especially for players like DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. One thrives as an isolation machine, while the other is at his best when he’s either posting up or pick-and-popping. Don’t get me wrong, I think both are invested in making this offense work. But both will also need head coach Billy Donovan to meet them halfway. While I actually do believe that you can teach an NBA veteran new tricks, it sure can come with some bumps in the road.
One thing I worry about with this group is overcompensating for the offensive struggles. I understand that changes have to be made, but we also don’t want things to swing too far in one direction. The defense ranked top 5 in the NBA last season. We’ve seen they are capable of playing well on that end of the floor, and they only added more help in this area with Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig. If they want to find true success this season, it’s all about finding a balance. And that’s where some of my questions about the rotation we saw in Sunday’s game come into play.
I mapped out the Chicago Bulls’ first-half rotation on Monday, and you can read that post here. Billy Donovan tested out a 10-man unit, which involved a four-man swap late in the first quarter to form a full bench lineup of Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter, Alex Caruso, Torrey Craig, and Andre Drummond. On one hand, yes, this could be a stiff defensive lineup that keeps opposing units from creating any separation. It kind of reminds me of what we saw in the early Thibs years when Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah were off the floor. The plan was to simply have guys like Ronnie Brewer, Taj Gibson, and CJ Watson out-work the opponent defensively. It can work.
On the other hand, those old Bulls lacked a lot of offensive weapons. They also at least had it set up where Kyle Korver was checking in to knock down some 3s. When I look at this Bulls team, I see an opportunity to pretty easily balance things out. Guys like Carter and Craig can both help the starters play in transition while also delivering above-average defense. Meanwhile, by either having Coby White in the second unit or staggering one of LaVine/DeRozan, the Bulls can ensure there is a talented on-ball scorer on the court at all times. Again, I just fear having the tale of two units. If one is scoring in bunches but providing poor defense, and the other is defending their butt off only to struggle to score, things could become a wash on certain nights.
We shouldn’t forget to monitor what the Chicago Bulls’ youngsters are doing this preseason. With little playing time in their future, this is the best opportunity for those out-of-rotation players to make an impression on their coaching staff. And, unfortunately, both Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips struggled to accomplish that. Both finished 1-5 from the floor against the Bucks’ scrubs. Now, to Phillips’ credit, his first NBA basket did come on an impressive jam. The rookie also recorded two blocks and a steal. If we’re being honest, looking at the two, I find it a bit easier to see how Phillips can fit into the picture down the road. I just value his sheer athleticism, and the potential for a more refined jumper seems to be there. I’m eager to see if he can show some steady improvement over this preseason.
Derrick Rose went 6-8 from the field for 13 points in his first game with the Memphis Grizzlies this weekend. For somebody who rode the bench nearly all of last season, he looked like a veteran with some good basketball left in the tank. I mean, look at that touch around the rim!
The Los Angeles Lakers sound ready to strike nearly any deal with the Chicago Bulls. While conversations have largely centered around the organization's potential interest in Zach LaVine, recent reports state that he may not even be first on their...
I knew what was going to happen last night. You knew what was going to happen last night. And, worst of all, the Chicago Bulls knew what was going to happen last night. The Boston Celtics came into the game...
The Chicago Bulls' full 82-game schedule is finally set. Due to the NBA's addition of the In-Season Tournament this season, initial team schedules only included 80 games. The first week of December was left open to ensure the following rounds...
We've seen a lot of bad Chicago Bulls basketball since the 2016-17 season, but we've never quite seen a team like this. There is no question that there is talent on this roster. Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic...
Near the end of the third quarter against the Boston Celtics, the Chicago Bulls announced that Zach LaVine was done for the night with right foot soreness. The two-time All-Star exited the matchup with just 2 points on 1-9 shooting...
Shocking news from Dallas today as long-time Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has reportedly sold a majority stake of the team to the Adelson family for roughly $3.5 billion dollars. Cuban will retain shares of the team and remain fully in...
The Bulls head to Boston to take on the Eastern Conference-best Celtics who are 7-0 at home. Let's have some fun! https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1729515740871401822?s=20 Game Info Chicago Bulls (5-13) at Boston Celtics (13-4) – 6:30 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV)...
Like your girl and guy "friends" who are always sitting next to each other at the bar, Zach LaVine and the Los Angeles Lakers should just kiss already. Whether it be LaVine's West Coast roots, LeBron James' relentless pursuit of...
Buckle up, the ride might only be getting bumpier for the Bulls. It was an abysmal 0-4 performance for Chicago last week. The Bulls failed to score 110+ points in any of their losses and allowed 116+ points in all...
After a 5-13 start that has seen the Chicago Bulls tumble to 13th in the Eastern Conference, Arturas Karnisovas decided to say some words. To be sure, those words were not plentiful nor particularly meaningful, but they did represent the...
[lasso ref="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003" link_id="859391"]In a Week 13 NFL schedule that includes a lot of competitive contests, the Indianapolis Colts versus the Tennessee Titans is a game to see.One of the most fun ways to wager on football is via NFL...
[lasso ref="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003" link_id="859389"]Will Brandin Cooks get into the end zone when the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks play in Week 13 on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET? In the article below, we dive into his anytime TD player...
[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]When Will Dissly suits up for the Seattle Seahawks in their Week 13 matchup versus the Dallas Cowboys (on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET), will he find his way into the end zone? Before placing any wagers, let's...
[lasso ref="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003" link_id="859387"]Will Jake Bobo cash his Week 13 anytime TD player prop when the Seattle Seahawks take on the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET? Below, we dive into his upcoming matchup and dissect the relevant...
[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]When CeeDee Lamb takes the field for the Dallas Cowboys in their Week 13 matchup versus the Seattle Seahawks (on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET), will he hit paydirt? Before putting any money down, let's take a closer...
[lasso ref="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003" link_id="859385"]Will D.K. Metcalf pay out his Week 13 anytime TD player prop when the Seattle Seahawks play the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET? Below, we dig into his upcoming matchup and dissect the important...
[lasso ref="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003" link_id="859383"]Should you wager on Jake Ferguson getting into the end zone in the Dallas Cowboys' upcoming Week 13 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, which starts at 8:15 PM ET on Thursday? Keep reading for an in-depth overview...
[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]In the Week 13 tilt between the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys at 8:15 PM ET on Thursday, will Noah Fant score a touchdown? Continue reading for odds and info on whether he's a good bet to...
[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]When the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys match up in Week 13 on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET, will Colby Parkinson get into the end zone? To see how he stacks up in this week's matchup and...
[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]The Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks are scheduled to play in a Week 13 matchup at 8:15 PM ET on Thursday. Will Jalen Tolbert hit paydirt in this game? Let's take a peek at the anytime TD...
