The Chicago Bulls began the week with what felt like their easiest four-game stretch of the entire season. They were 18-21 and had a clear path toward surpassing the .500 for the first time since Oct. 30.
The Bulls proceeded to lose back-to-back games to the New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks in embarrassing fashion. They are now 1-4 in their last five games and closer to the No. 11 seed in the East than the No. 9 seed. A stretch like this only makes it harder for the front office to ignore what they should have done a long time ago.
The trade deadline is less than three weeks away. It’s time to do business! More on that here.
- The Chicago Bulls will look to snap their three-game skid against the 9-28 Charlotte Hornets tonight. After making things look easy against them in early December, they narrowly escaped to end 2024. They had significant trouble keeping seven-footer Mark Williams in check, who finished with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks on 9-9 shooting from the field. Miles Bridges also carved up the Bulls’ interior defense with 31 points. Charlotte ultimately won the points in the paint battle a staggering 56-38. Considering how well this worked for them, I’d expect head coach Charles Lee to come in with a downhill game plan. Now, whether or not shot chuckers like Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball will listen to that is a fair question.
- Speaking of which, this will be the first time this season the Bulls face off against the youngest Ball Brother. And that’s pretty terrifying! Ball has free reign over the Hornets’ offense, averaging 29.6 points and 7.5 assists so far this season. He certainly isn’t the most efficient scorer in the league, but he has the combination of ridiculous ball-handling and shot-making creativity that should destroy this Bulls’ backcourt. I expect Ayo Dosunmu to clock plenty of minutes chasing the guard around the floor. Billy Donovan is also surely hoping that Lonzo can play the big brother card.
- The first two battles between these teams had to make Adam Silver cringe. The Bulls shot below 40.0 percent in both meetings and took a ludicrous 60 threes in the second contest (which did go to OT, for what it’s worth). The Bulls and Hornets rank second and third, respectively, in three-point attempts a night. So, again, while attacking the team that gives up the most points in the paint per game is probably the right approach for Charlotte, I’m not sure they will do that.

- The Chicago Bulls mic’d-up Matas Buzelis earlier this week, and the results were as good as we hoped. The best spot on the bench may be next to the very energetic rookie. You have to tip your cap to him for looking so locked in despite the lack of minutes. This kind of constant communication can go a long way, and I think his mere willingness to speak up shows the potential he has to grow into a leadership role.
Matas was mic'd up against New Orleans 🎤 pic.twitter.com/0Hp5uEKzwn
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 15, 2025
- I still see Denzel Valentine’s pull-up three in my nightmares.
- Happy 25th birthday to Ayo Dosunmu! The Bulls’ guard returned after a 10-game absence on Wednesday night and was one of the lone bright spots for the team. While he only clocked 25 minutes of action, he scored 9 points with 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in a +12 showing off the bench. The effort he provides on defense and the speed he brings in transition are legitimate difference-makers for this team. If the Bulls are able to move on of their stars at this year’s deadline, I think Dosunmu is first in line to have a BIG end to the 2024-25 season.
- All five Javontes joined Stacey King on the latest episode of the Gimme The Hot Sauce podcast! A game like the one against Atlanta is when you really miss Green’s relentless hustle. I know it may sound silly to those who didn’t watch him regularly, but he can really change the energy of a whole game.
- Jed Hoyer admitted that the Cubs made a mistake by not keeping one big-name player around.
- There may be some trade interest in one of the Blackhawks’ young forwards. Should they listen? If one thing is for sure, taking calls on Seth Jones feels wise.
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