Sit back, relax, and strap it down – 82 games of Chicago Bulls basketball starts tonight!
Game 1 tips off tonight in the Big Easy and the Bulls will be in their beautiful black uniforms.
Bulls Bullets
- Who’s ready for a full season of Bulls basketball?! I know the team is going to take a step back this year, but I’m oddly a little more excited for this year than either of the last two. Provided the front office does the right thing and moves on from Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic at some point, at least there appears to be a chosen path of getting younger and trying to build for the future.
- So let’s talk about that chosen path. What are some expectations for this season? Well first, one should be that the front office does what they can to ensure Vooch & LaVine are moved at some point. If LaVine looks like he has throughout the preseason and shows off that he’s healthy, can shoot lights out in catch-and-shoot opportunities, and help out defensively I do think someone will take a flier on him (probably the Lakers). If Vooch can continue being a rebounding menace, facilitate offensively, and get back to shooting in the mid-30% range from three, someone will take him and his contract.
- Coby White is by far the player I’m most excited to watch this season. Last year was so much fun seeing him take a step from a rotation guard who can get hot to a legitimately dangerous scorer. Now with DeMar DeRozan gone and Zach LaVine (hopefully) out the door soon, this is going to be White’s show. Will he level off or will he be able to take an even bigger leap forward in 2024-25 now that he’s going to be the go-to scoring option? He seems like the type of player who will take the opportunity and run with it, and I really hope that he does.
- Ayo Dosunmu is another player I’m intrigued by this season. He took such a massive jump from beyond the arc last season going from 31.2% on 2.4 attempts per game in 2022-23 to 40.3% on 3.9 attempts per game in 2023-24. He really came into his own as a scorer which drastically increased his ceiling given that he was already a very good defender. In his final 38 games last season, he scored double-digit points in 33 of them. I’m not sure how much more of a leap he can take offensively, but if he can pick up where he left off last year it’s just going to further establish that the Bulls have something in him long term.
- Matas Buzelis is going to be a bit of a roller coaster at times, but I have a feeling we’re going to have a lot of fun watching him in his rookie campaign. He’s afraid of nothing. He attacks the hoop with a purpose. He’s strong defensively. His three-point shooting is going to be a work in progress, as will his shooting in general, but given the opportunity to grow and develop on the fly, I think he’ll be a player that flourishes. I love his mentality and approach to the game and his basketball instincts.
- I wasn’t all that excited by Julian Phillips headed into the preseason, but then in a couple of those games we saw flashes of an improved three-point shot which caught my attention. Phillips shot over 40% from deep across four games. I don’t expect him to be a 40% three-point shooter this season, but if he can establish himself as a threat out there and become a legitimate three-and-D option for Chicago that’s a huge win.
- Obviously as well, Josh Giddey will be someone to watch all year. He’s a great facilitator and passer offensively, can he develop a legitimate jump shot? He’ll get his chance to play with the ball in his hands and run the show this season, and that’s a role that suits him a lot better than being off-ball in OKC with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander running the offense. He’s still so early in his career at age 22, so there’s a lot of growth to be had. Hopefully, he can achieve it here.
- Speaking of Giddey, he spoke with the media yesterday about not reaching a rookie extension with the Bulls and pretty much said it was no big deal and how he expected it to go. He knows last year wasn’t as good as it should have been. He even said last year his contract situation weighed on him a lot and that heading into this year, knowing it wasn’t likely to get done, he doesn’t feel as concerned about it. Let’s hope he can play a little more freely in his first campaign in Chicago.
- As for Opening Night around the NBA, it was kind of a little bit of a snooze fest. The Celtics dominated the Knicks from the word go outscoring them 43-24 in the first quarter en route to a 132-109 win. For all the excitement the Knicks had heading into this year, that’s a bit of a buzzkill to tip off the season. Boston shot 61 (!!) threes last night and hit 47.5% of them, so if they’re going to do that all year maybe just give them the Larry O’Brien trophy now.
- After a slow start for both teams, the Lakers used a 33-19 second quarter to power them to a 110-103 win over the Timberwolves. Minnesota tried battling back after that second quarter, but LA was able to keep them at arm’s length. Also, whether you love LeBron James or not, last night’s moment with Bronny was cool. LeBron and Bronny checked into the game together during the second quarter, and even though it might have been mostly a photo op, good for them. LeBron has had an amazing career, one of the best ever (not my GOAT), and he got to share this incredibly unique moment with his son.
- Lonzo Ball is officially off the injury report and ready for his first regular season NBA action in over two years. It was awesome seeing him take the floor in the preseason and look healthy and effective, and it will be even better seeing him tonight in the regular season. Yesterday, Billy Donovan was on the Mully & Haugh Show on 670 The Score and discussed Ball’s spot in the rotation and how he plans to distribute minutes early on.