The 2023-24 Indiana Pacers will never be the 2023-24 Chicago Bulls!
As hard as Tyrese Haliburton and Co. tried, they couldn’t channel the same clutch magic we witnessed from this frustrating Bulls team all season long. Instead, despite having a shocking Game 1 lead with under a minute to go against the Celtics, Indiana turned the ball over twice and allowed a back-breaking Jaylen Brown 3-pointer in the corner.
The Mike Breen double-bang-worthy shot sent the game into OT, and the Pacers fumbled what felt like a must-win.
Watching Brown sink his shot that could go down in Boston history reminded me of DeMar DeRozan’s big bucket against the Pacers this season. With Indiana only seconds away from claiming another W, DeMar DeRozan got loose and nailed a baseline jumper at the buzzer. Refresh your memory …
Of course, even with the Bulls also winning in extra time, that loss for the Pacers surely didn’t sting as much as it did last night. I was honestly baffled by how well they played for nearly 47 minutes of action. The ball movement was stunning, and the defensive energy was there. Boston – despite being the far more well-rested team – looked caught off guard by Indiana’s tiring pace and efficient shotmaking. Still, this serves as a reminder of what experience can do. The Celtics knew they weren’t out of it until the very end, and they took full advantage of some sloppy Pacers mistakes. Also, the “foul when up 3” committee now has a new piece to review at their next meeting.
Rick Carlisle took full responsibility for the team’s loss, saying that he should have taken a time out to advance the ball before Indiana’s turnover with 8.1 to go. Pascal Siakam couldn’t corral the inbound from Andrew Nembhard.
"This loss is totally on me. With 10 seconds in regulation, we should have just taken the timeout, advance the ball and found a way to get it in and made a free throw or two and ended the game."
Considering my job is to make everything about the Bulls, Carlisle’s response does remind me of something Billy Donovan has always done well – take accountability. Unlike the previous two coaches for the organization, I genuinely feel like Donovan has always looked inward before pointing figures. Now, does he still deserve a portion of the blame for the Bulls’ subpar play? Absolutely. But I hate when people suggest that he isn’t making adjustments or trying to find solutions. Donovan is a good coach who’s always trying to make things work. Whether or not he will be able to that, however, is a completely different story.
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
I got to give it to Luke Kornet. Watching him on the Bulls a few years back, I thought he’d be out of the league sooner than later. Instead, he’s carved out legitimate playing time for one of the best teams in the NBA. Did he still get carved up last night by the Pacers’ backcourt? Absolutely. But I still tip my cap to the guy for finding a role in Boston in the last two seasons.
You all know I can’t talk about Luke Kornet without sharing this gem …
Jim Boylen says Luke Kornet reminds him of Robert Horry. Stacey King could not contain his incredulity after hearing this news. pic.twitter.com/B9tkjUHEGQ— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) January 23, 2020
Speaking of Chicago Bulls’ big men, this might be the draft to find a new one. Andre Drummond is likely headed out the door, while Nikola Vucevic is only under contract for a couple of more seasons. Thinking about a center of the future might not be a bad idea at No. 11. While this year’s draft leaves a lot to be desired, it’s surprisingly deep when it comes to potential rim protectors. And we all know the Bulls could use that skill!
Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso hit up Wrigley Field on Tuesday to throw out the first pitch! The Sky documented their trip to the mound, and you can give that watch here:
I love how hyped the fans were to see those two walk into the building. They really are starting to feel like two of the bigger stars in the city, especially Reese. The No. 7 overall pick also can’t stop gushing about how much she loves being a part of the community, which is sure to help her rise up Chicago’s athlete ranks. Here is what she told reporters this week about starting her career in the city …
“I’m happy to have this support system. No better place than Chicago. I love Chicago so much on and off the court and loving to be here. I think I’m settling really well into the WNBA. Obviously, I’m still learning and growing, but I’m happy to be here, Reese said (h/t Chris Smith of Clutchpoints).
Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.
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