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Bulls guard Zach LaVine scored eight points and started for Team USA in his Olympic debut, but the Americans were unable to score enough buckets late in a 83-76 defeat in Olympic pool play.

When Zach LaVine made a three pointer with 5:25 left in the game for a 72-67 U.S. lead, it looked like USA Basketball was ready to step into the ring of the knockout round quarterfinals.

Instead they suffered the black eye the USA team in an 83-76 loss that ended a 25-game USA Basketball Olympic game winning streak.

The USA team plays Iran Wednesday in its four-team bracket with France and the Czech Republic. Two of the four teams advance to the eight-team elimination game quarter finals.

LaVine starting for the USA team was sturdy and consistent.

He scored eight points with three assists and two rebounds and was one of the few USA players who shot credibly. LaVine was three of six shooting from the field. Only LaVine and interior scorer Bam Adebayo shot 50 percent overall. Only LaVine with two of four three pointers and USA high scorer Jrue Holiday with 18 points shot at least 50 percent on threes.

Zach LaVine skies for a breakaway dunk against France in his Olympic debut.

Though LaVine missed his three-point attempt in what became the crucial closing sequence for the USA after France high scorer Evan Fournier of the Celtics made a three for a 76-74 France lead with 57 seconds remaining. LaVine, Kevin Durant and Holiday all missed threes with Durant also missing a jumper and Adebayo a layup amidst a frenzied USA three offensive rebounds and a steal in what became five consecutive USA misses.

France with Rudy Gobert adding 14 points then closed the game with free throws for the margin.

The USA's Achilles heel of its mismatched roster again was apparent as France easily out rebounded the U.S. team despite the late flurry of U.S. offensive rebounds. France also moved to a lineup of a second seven footer along with Gobert after halftime when France changed the outcome after trailing 45-37 at halftime.

The USA team is built to outshoot teams instead of being able to dominate physically, which opponents did to the USA team in the exhibition games. France did so again while the USA team flailed on threes, making 10 of 32. Scorers Durant and Damian Lillard were a combined seven of 22 shooting and four of 15 on threes. USA players talked about addition adjustments to the different basketball and the officiating, the latter which isn't giving USA players the typical contact fouls they are awarded in NBA games. Durant was in foul trouble early and fouled out.

"We still have a chance to accomplish our goals," said Holiday, who led the USA team in scoring with 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter despite it being his first day in Japan after flying following the Bucks title parade. "We were up with 1:30 left. France is a good team. We were up nine or 10. We've just got to keep going. I'm very positive about tonight. I feel we'll get better every game."

Adebayo had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Lillard had 11 points and Durant 10,

When the USA took its biggest leads late in the first half, it was behind LaVine with five straight points, a three on a Holiday pass and a dunk on a Draymond Green pass with 1:58 left in the first half for a 42-33 USA lead.

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Zach LaVine scores eight points in Olympic debut, Team USA falls to France.

Team USA dropped their second straight exhibition game, falling to Australia 91-83. Bulls guard Zach LaVine scored five points. The USA Men's Olympic team will look for their first exhibition win when they take on Argentina on Tuesday night.

Maybe it's part of the plan for the rest of the basketball world not to take the USA team so seriously.

The USA Men's Olympic Basketball team Monday suffered its unprecedented second consecutive exhibition game loss, 91-83 to Australia. They play again 5 p.m. Tuesday against Argentina.

Bulls guard Zach LaVine, inheriting a similar role to that assigned to Jimmy Butler in the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro, scored five points, making one of his four three-point attempts and a pair of free throws. All LaVine's attempts were threes. He primarily was used in a supporting role in his 13 minutes of play, defending at the top of the perimeter and playing a facilitating role on offense. It was not unlike the way former Bull Butler was employed with the 2016 team when Butler averaged 5.6 points in the eight games and was ninth in scoring among the 12 U.S. players.

Damian Lillard led the USA team with 22 points, followed by Kevin Durant with 17 and Bradley Beal with 12. They were the only U.S. players scoring in double figures and seemed to be predominantly featured on offense for the USA team in what was the second tuneup for the Olympic games in Japan starting July 23.

But once again like in a loss to Nigeria Saturday, the international opponent with a lineup of NBA regulars including Joe Ingles, Aron Baynes, Patty Mills and Matisse Thybulle were more prepared for team play. The small USA team without a primary facilitating guard was out rebounded again and had fewer assists.

There still are additions for the USA team coming from the Finals series—the USA used Select Team players again—and more practices to come to develop teamwork and continuity. But the USA team suffered, in some sense, from its own talent.

Too often the USA players settled for difficult, long shots instead of working the ball around with patience. It's been noted the roster doesn't include a classic big man with Draymond Green Monday moving into the starting lineup at center for Bam Adebayo. Coach Gregg Popovich said the starting lineup remains uncertain as he experiments with combinations. Durant, Beal and Lillard started both games.

Without much size, the USA team lacked post play. Zone play is permitted in international play. So the Australia team like the Nigeria team was more adept at sealing off and crowding the lane to prevent penetration. As a result, the USA team failed to get into the paint enough to find clear shots from the corners in drive-and-kick actions. There was again too much settling for difficult shots that those USA players usually can make.

Zach LaVine shoots over Australian guard Patty Mills

The Australia team shot 42 percent on threes, though the USA cut down on attempts compared with the opener, and 53 percent overall. The USA team shot 36 percent on threes and 46 percent overall. The USA team came out with more urgency and spirit than in the first game was more forceful to start the game. They led 46-37 at halftime after by 11 earlier.

Popovich believed the USA players tired some in the second half, which led to several turnovers in the backcourt and back door cuts for baskets by the veteran Australian players.

Australia, a highly ranked Olympic team seeking its first Olympic basketball medal, turned around the game with defensive pressure to start the second half with a 14-point third quarter turnaround.

While the USA team is facing more NBA talent on other teams than anytime since the pros began playing in 1992, the USA star players from the NBA also seemed to have difficulty adjusting to the officiating and rules. They didn't react Saturday when a Nigerian player knocked a ball off the rim which would have been goaltending in the NBA. Also, they didn't get foul calls being bumped into, as they would in the NBA, and when colliding with a defender after they shot. The USA team attempted 12 free throws to 10 for Australia with more physical play permitted than by the NBA officials.

Mercifully, there were no replays or challenges.

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Team USA falls to Australia in exhibition play, LaVine scores five

Zach LaVine and Coby White scored 25 points each while Nikola Vucevic knotched a triple-double as the Bulls cruised past the Boston Celtics 121-99 at the United Center. This was the first game this season where the Bulls opened their doors to fans. The Bulls (28-39) will look to keep it going on Sunday night against the Pistons (20-47).

There's a formula these days in the NBA for excellence, and it generally involves great scorers and a facilitator capable of generating a triple double with points, rebounds and assists. Like Harden, Durant and Irving with the Nets; Embiid, Simmons and Harris with the 76ers; Giannis, Holiday and Middleton with the Bucks; Paul, Booker and Ayton with the Suns: Leonard, George and Ibaka with the Clippers: James, Davis and Schroder with the Lakers. And, oh yeah, LaVine, Vucevic and White with the Bulls.

Tatum, Brown and Walker with the Celtics Friday likely took note as the Bulls dominated throughout a 121-99 victory to win the season series from the Boston Celtics.

Finally again playing before several thousand fans in the United Center for the first time in more than a year because of Covid complications, the Bulls got 25 points each from Zach LaVine and Coby White and a triple-double of 18 points, 14 rebounds and ten assists from Nikola Vucevic to dominate the game. The Bulls led by 20 points after three quarters. And when Boston made a mild rally to get within 100-92 with about five minutes left, the Bulls merely shrugged as LaVine, White and Vucevic combined for a 12-0 run and a Tacko Fall appearance.

Talk about lighting up the new symbol of success in Boston.

"We huddled up and we said, ‘Let's put a stop to this. We understand what we've got to do,'" related LaVine. "I had the (baseline driving) dunk. Coby made a big three, made a layup, Vooch scored. We closed the game out really well as a unit. Not just one person. As a group we closed it out.

"We're playing really well, we're really competing," said LaVine. "We know our backs are against the wall right now, so obviously I wish we played like that from the get go. I think we'd be looking at a totally different scenario. But this is the position we put ourselves in."

Highlights from Chicago's dominant 121-99 win over the Boston Celtics

Well, actually part of the issue was Vucevic was in Orlando, White was on the bench as a recovering combo guard and LaVine kept turning around to yell, "Charge!" only to see guys reaching for credit cards.

That's changed, and perhaps the biggest confusion Friday night in the ESPN nationally televised game was the announcers talking about the Celtics as the possible title contenders.

"I think the last two games are good examples that we can do it (defense)," said Vucevic about back to back 99-point yields against teams set for the playoffs and play-in tournament. "I don't think it's been really anything special that we've changed as far as Xs and Os or anything like that. It's just our focus, our effort, us being in the right place at the right time, helping each other, covering each other.

"It feels great to play with other guys who can really score the ball," Vucevic added. "Zach, obviously, we know how great of a scorer he is. I think Coby, he has potential to be a good scorer at this level. It puts so much pressure on the other team's defense and it opens up a lot for us offensively. And when we're efficient and we're playing well as a team and moving the ball and we get good looks, it's hard for defenses. They can't just focus on one guy and take one thing away. They have to focus on multiple players."

Nikola Vucevic shoots a hook shot over former Bull Luke Kornet.

It could be short lived as the Bulls, now 28-39, remain three games out of the final play-in tournament spot with five games remaining. After playing the tanking Pistons Sunday, the Bulls are scheduled against the Nets twice, Toronto in 12th place and Milwaukee. It's still uncertain if those teams will need or aim for wins for position or rest to close the season, particularly the Nets and Bucks. Though if the Bulls could win out, they'd especially put pressure on a slumping team like Indiana in ninth. The Bulls hold the tiebreakers over Indiana, Washington and Toronto.

But if the Bulls spent too much of the season in search of an identify, they may finally have found it in their own actual Big Three with Vucevic's versatility, White's catch-and-shoot and LaVine's flying circus.

We've heard such promises before, but those are the elements of NBA success these days. And they're only just starting to play together in LaVine's return from missing 11 games with Covid, White back in the starting lineup only when LaVine went out and Vucevic still uncertain which lake it is.

"Obviously, Zach and I are the leaders on the team and we're the ones who need to take this team to where it can be," said Vucevic. "We never really had a chance to play together for an extended time. When I first got here, he had little bit of an ankle injury. And he missed time because of the health and safety protocol. Never really had time to kind of mesh. We're really excited to be out there playing together and really want to finish strong and hopefully it gets us to the play-in game. I think him and I fit well together. There have been signs of that already where it shows how we can be efficient. I think we're just going to continue to grow as a duo.

"(With Coby) we've been able to really build a good chemistry out there over the however many games he has been starting," Vucevic added. "He's a player who can be very, very good for a very long time in this league. He's very talented. He can shoot. He can drive. I think all three of us add so much offensively to the team. We can all shoot. We can all create. All three of us can pass. So there's so much we can do and it's hard to defend that way. I think the lineup we had the last two games is the starting lineup that can be a very good lineup for us."

Coby White scored 25 points and hit seven three-pointers in the win over Boston.

The Celtics likely would agree as they has few answers after the only real competition of the game, a 30-28 Bulls lead after one quarter.

Though it was already clear the Bulls bully ball was too much for Boston, which lacks size and physical intimidation. They probably could use a banger like Daniel Theis. Oh, right. Never mind.

Kemba Walker finished with 33 points, and Evan Fournier held the Celtics together with 13 of his 17 points in the first quarter. But the Bulls again made Jayson Tatum look like a mistake from the 2017 draft class, harassing him into three of 15 shooting for nine points. That was after Tatum made three of 17 against the Bulls last month in a Bulls win in Boston.

"It was 99 points for Charlotte (Thursday) and Boston had 99, so I think we are defending." said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. "I think you have to give Patrick (Williams) and Garrett (Temple) a lot of credit just in terms of their effort. Patrick started off on (Tatum), but Garrett guarded Walker and then had to guard Tatum. As much as we could do to show him a crowd. When he does put the ball on the floor in trying to attack the basket, send people at him."

The trapping and double teaming from various angles took Tatum out of the game as he and basically all his teammate began to settle for threes. They made 11 of 39 compared to the Bulls 18 of 40 on threes. The Bulls big guys with Lauri Markkanen playing some small forward shut down the driving lanes and Theis added nine points and eight rebounds.

Boston coach Brad Stevens tried first Luke Kornet and then Fall to counter the Bulls size. But the Bulls apparently were also too physical as Celtics players retreated farther and farther from the basket. The Bulls took a 60-46 halftime lead as White made four three pointers in the second quarter. The Celtics similarly sent help at Vucevic, but he adroitly found shooters who made their shots. Vucevic also had a pair of steals and a block.

Billy Donovan takes questions after Chicago's victory over the Boston Celtics on Friday.

"Zach and Vooch together playing the two-man game, Coby has really been the recipient of a lot of Vooch's post-ups where he's gotten doubled or teams have come down and the ball has gotten kicked out to him," explained Donovan. "If we can generate catch-and-shoot situations for him, I think that really enables him to score at a very, very high level. And then it really puts the defense in a bind. Are you going to double Vuc and give up potential kickout threes to him or Zach or some other guys? Or are you going to play Vuc one-on-one? They went down and doubled him a lot tonight. The ball found Coby, and I thought he really made some big shots."

Actually, he did, seven of 12 threes also with seven rebounds, five assists and just two turnovers as Vucevic did more of the passing to get his second triple double of the season and first with the Bulls. Vucevic now with four in his career in apparently making a move on Russell Westbrook.

Walker made some threes to keep the Celtics within 80-66 until the Bulls put a 9-2 run on them to lead 94-74 after three quarters and leave the national TV audience wondering if that was a new Magnum PI episode on CBS.

The Bulls bench had a bit of a slog to open the fourth quarter as Boston ran off eight straight and made it 98-90 midday through the quarter. We've seen this Bulls movie before. Though not with Zach, Vooch and Coby starring.

"That's where the competition really begins; you knew they were going to make a run," said Donovan.

So Billy ran to get Zach, Vooch and Coby and before too long Zach was gliding down the baseline for a slam dunk, Vucevic passed to White for a three, White drove for a score, Vucevic made a layup and LaVine rose up for one of those he's-got-no-space threes. And with a few Boston turnovers and the Celtics being the nervous guys this time, the Bulls easily got their lead back to 20 with three minutes left.

Seriously, Mr. Van Gundy, you said that's a really good Boston team?

Not too bad of a Chicago team. At least this latest version.

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Bulls dominate Celtics, fans return to United Center

Nikola Vucevic scored 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds while Coby White added 19 points and seven assists as the Bulls defeated the Boston Celtics on the road 102-96. It was one of the Chicago's best defensive performances of the season as they held Boston to 18 points in both the second and third quarters. Boston's Jayson Tatum had a triple-double ( 14 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) but was held to 3-of-17 shooting on the night. The Bulls (24-33) will look to make it three straight victories when they play the Cleveland Cavaliers (20-37) Wednesday night on the road.

It was 48 minutes of intensity. The Bulls are talking defense again. Not just being defensive. And it helped produce—along with 29 points and nine rebounds from Nikola Vucevic—a gritty 102-96 victory over the Boston Celtics.

And when the red hot Celtics, winners of six straight and eight of nine, erased a seven-point Bulls fourth quarter lead to tie the game at 90 with 3:25 left, the Bulls didn't turn green this time. "Our MO (modus operandi, not Cheeks) has been we can't finish games," acknowledged Coby White. So the Celtics went to their stars, Jayson Tatum coming off a 44-point game and averaging 34 the last five and Jaylen Brown coming off a 40-point game and averaging 28 the last five, to close out the underdog hopefuls. Instead, it was the Bulls who were the bulldogs.

After Vucevic, coming out of a timeout, gave the Bulls a 92-90 lead with a 15-foot baseline turnaround jump shot, it was star time. They turned out to be Garrett Temple and Patrick Williams with a little (OK, a lot) of help from their friends.

Need anybody? Could it be anybody? Just try with a little help from your friends.

"It was a great team effort, (Daniel) Theis, Vooch, Lauri (Markkanen) and the guys who (also) were on (Tatum) when I was out of the game," said Temple. "Just try to crowd him, make it tough and get my hands on some basketball when he was trying to shoot."

Highlights from Chicago's 102-96 road win over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

Temple wouldn't let Tatum beat them, who did have a triple double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Temple was relentless with the Bulls constantly trapping and double teaming (if Semi Ojeleye can beat us, fine). And when the game's crucible came, it was first Temple stripping Tatum on a drive and retrieving the ball. Then it was Williams, initially beat off a screen. But then recovering to swipe the ball away from Brown as he went into his step back move.

Vucevic then played pulling guard on a White driving score for a 94-90 Bulls lead. And on the next possession, former Celtic Daniel Theis picked up the 3-17 shooting Tatum on a switch and forced him to miss a jumper short. That led to a full court Temple pass to Williams for a 96-90 Bulls lead with 1:41 left. White then closed it out with four clutch free throws.

"I know (Tatum) likes to bring it down and try to get fouled," related Temple, closing in a defensive oriented lineup with Theis. "So when he brought it down and I was on his right side, I just slapped where I thought the ball was. I got my hand on all ball. Then Pat next play down he was in a help situation. I think Jaylen Brown had done that fake spin a couple times on him, so he knew it was coming and was able to reach in and get the ball right before he shot it. Those plays were really big for us defensively in the fourth.

"Defense can win games," said Temple in his fourth game back after a month out injured. "The old saying still holds true. Obviously, we lost a big piece in Zach (LaVine, out with NBA health and safety protocols), 28 a game. But if we're able to guard like we're capable of, like tonight, we have enough on the other end to score. Vooch did a great job for us keeping us in the game in the first half offensively. Then it opened up shots for Coby (19 points), myself (13 points). The biggest thing is if we defend, we grind, we guard like we're capable of, then we can win any game we play."

Garrett Temple and the Bulls defended well against Boston's Jayson Tatum, who went just 3-of-17 shooting on the night.

And so with 15 games left at 24-33 and tied for the last play-in spot with streaking Washington, it will have to be something of a Pythagorean theorem type formula for awhile. In this current 10th place triangle with Washington and Toronto, the Bulls may look like the short side without LaVine. So just try twice as hard.

"With coach we talked about especially with Zach being out, I'm going to have to be a little more aggressive offensively and create opportunities for us," said Vucevic. "In the post, they weren't double teaming me at first. So I was able to get some good looks. And then once they tried to help more aggressively, it opened up a lot for us and we've got a lot of shooters on the court. So there's a lot of space and we were able to use that whether shooting off the pass or driving and creating for others.

"We put a big emphasis on the defensive end because the games we were losing we were just giving up too many points, 115, 120," Vucevic noted. "It's going to be hard to see somebody score that way and try to win games night in and night out."

Nikola Vucevic led the Bulls with 29 points and nine rebounds in the win over the Celtics.

It was the second consecutive game the Bulls held the opponent under 100 points after the 106-96 victory over Cleveland Saturday (the Bulls face a rematch in Cleveland Wednesday). It's only two games after going 3-9 since the trade for Vucevic. But like Eliza in My Fair Lady—and, really, doesn't the NBA need more show tunes references—the Bulls may have got it.

"I don't mean this maybe how it's going to come out, but the trade kind of really messed up our team a little," said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. "There's no way around it, but I think it took a toll on us. I don't say that in a negative way. What I mean by that is everybody kind of got out of their normal rotation, their normal of how they were playing, how they were being used. It's going to be really good for us and is going to help us. But with the limited practice time, we kind of lost our way a little bit."

That it cost a chance at the playoffs this season? It's too soon to say, and there's certainly still a chance.

"I think we lost a little bit of our competitiveness," Donovan said. "Not because we didn't want to compete and play hard. It was really more guys had to figure out their roles and what to do in their role and I think what happened is when you are thinking a lot it takes away that edge."

Billy Donovan speaks to the media following Chicago's win in Boston on Monday night.

Like Horace said, "Don't think, just do."

No, not Grant, the other one, the Roman lyric poet.

Though "Straight up bitches; that's what they walked off like" from the Last Dance was awfully poetic.

Defense isn't so much poetry as perseverance. And this time the Bulls did persist despite a Chris Bermanesque stumbling, bumbling and mumbling start, trailing immediately 16-9, soon by nine and 30-24 after the first quarter and by 12 midway through the second quarter.

"We shot the ball really poorly in the first half, but our defense kept us in it," noted Donovan. "It would have been a game, I think, with the way we shot the ball in the first half you don't give that kind of effort defensively instead of it being 48-42, maybe it's 68-42. Once we settled in offensively and the ball started to go in the basket, it was good to see us maintain that defensive effort. Really for the entire game."

And now without LaVine the Bulls have a plan.

It's to play to a slower pace, playing bigger with Vucevic and Theis, which hampered the smaller Celtics. Which will ultimately be their Achilles heel. And perhaps a lesson to never dip anything when you're only holding the heel. The Celtics aren't going anywhere in the playoffs with all those little guys running around shooting. The Bulls were 18-4 in second chance points with Celtics mostly jumping into Theis's underarms.

Play big and slower, move and share the ball as the Bulls again had 30 assists. And go to Vucevic, whom White noted, "is a bucket-getter."

Nikola Vucevic shoots over Boston's Tristan Thompson in the first-half against the Celtics.

Vucevic had nine points in the first quarter and 17 by halftime with the Bulls still trailing 48-42. It was almost much worse if not for a late second quarter run from the reserves with Markkanen with nine points overall taking advantage on inside mismatches and Thad Young with 13.

White also got a nice halftime assist from his brother, Will, who played college basketball and now is an assistant coach in college.

"I knew I had missed (Theis on rolls to the rim) in the first half," White related. "When I came back to the locker room I checked my phone because I knew my brother texts me every halftime and he said those exact words. 'You got Theis on the slip every time because they're switching the first screen on the double drag.' So when I came out in the second half, I already knew that they were switching. So when he slipped it, all I had to do was throw it to the rim and I knew he was gonna get it."

Theis got a couple of baskets, but White opened up for 10 points as the Bulls outscored the Celtics 32-18 in the third, the second consecutive quarter the Bulls held the Celtics to 18 points. It also seems like even when LaVine returns, which doesn't seem imminent according to Donovan, White has reclaimed his starting job averaging 18 points and 7.7 assists starting the last three games.

Theis seems settled alongside Vucevic for defense, and then there'll be developments and decisions for Donovan. He relies on Temple and lately has on another good defender, Troy Brown Jr. Lineups and rotations, as Dylan said, they are a changin'.

"No one said it would be easy," White agreed. "I feel like this year it's been hard. But I feel like I've learned a lot over the course of the season. So I'm just going to continue to keep learning and continue to play as hard as I can when I'm out there. I'm just trying to come out here and compete on both ends of the court and help my team win the game."

The Bulls have seen winnin' time slip away oh so many times this season.

And so it seemed again even as Temple's three gave the Bulls an 85-78 lead with 8:17 left. But Tatum finally made a few plays, the Bulls missed a few threes and it looked like it would be nine straight losses in Boston. But in addition to the stops against Tatum and Brown, there was White overplaying Brown in the post and stealing a Tatum pass with 1:12 left that basically led to Celtics timeouts to try to come up with turnovers. But the Bulls apparently practiced the inbounds pass, and White ran to it and got fouled, converting all four of his attempts to never give Boston a shot.

"We defended the way we need to defend," said Donovan. "We helped each other and we had a presence at the rim, we were very aggressive with the players we needed to be aggressive with. And we came up with a couple of good stops at the end."

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Bulls come up big defensively, beat Celtics 102-96

Coach Donovan inserted veterans Thad Young and Tomas Satoransky into the starting lineup in place of Wendell Carter Jr. and Coby White - and it worked, as the Bulls blew out the Toronto Raptors 118-95. Nine players scored double-figures, including Carter Jr who notched a 12-point, 11 rebound double-double. The Bulls improve to 17-20 and next play the San Antonio Spurs (19-16) at home on Wednesday.

The Bulls with Sunday's 118-95 victory over the Toronto Raptors remained undefeated in every game veterans Thad Young and Tomas Satoransky have started this season.

The Bulls sure needed one the way they began this NBA second half schedule with two losses. And not only was this win what they call a laugher around the NBA with a Bulls double digit lead throughout the fourth quarter, but Wendell Carter was smiling on the court—yes, really—and Coby White, who was replaced by Satoransky, was mugging with Satoransky and provoking him to break down laughing during Satoransky's post game interview session.

These guys sure don't know how to handle being demoted the NBA way.

"I'm going to be honest with you," said Carter, who came off the bench for the first time in this NBA career with 12 points and 11 rebounds in 19 minutes. "After the third game of how I've been playing, I would have benched myself if I was the coach. We had the worst plus-minus in the league for the starting unit; he understood he had to shake the table, he had to change some things around. Me and Coby had to sacrifice."

And so Young and Satoransky made their first starts of the 2020-21 season. And if it wasn't aesthetic on the scoreboard as Toronto led 14-10 midway through the first quarter, it produced the appropriate results as the wily, old veterans got the ball moving for 35 assists, 31-11 Bulls on fat breaks and a 60-37 edge in rebounding, nine Bulls scoring in double figures in a game for the first time in 50 years.

What in the name of Chet Walker was that about?

Highlights of Chicago's blow out victory vs. Toronto.

"Obviously, we weren't getting off to a good start with that unit," agreed White, who had 13 points and a team best plus-24 rating. "We're halfway through the season now and we still weren't getting off to a good start. He had to make a change. As a coach, he has to make those tough decisions. I was all for it. I just want to win. It was fun just mixing the lineups up. It was a great team win, especially against a good Toronto team. So it was fun being out there."

Perhaps that's been part of the problem sometimes that someone doesn't get angrier, at least at other than themselves. But as lineups changes—or demotions—go, they generally don't go much like this.

"It has nothing to do with Coby and or Wendell. It really doesn't," insisted Bulls coach Billy Donovan. "It has more to do with how that group was playing. Before we sub (the first time) we had the worst net rating in the league. It's not anybody's fault or any particular guy's fault. I look at maybe development a little bit different. These guys need to learn how to win. The number one component that goes into winning is sacrifice. This was a situation where Coby and Wendell were put in situations to sacrifice. This is good for their development, to be quite honest with you, because obviously we're trying to win. And they're going through real life experiences that will help them grow and get better as players.

"I didn't feel like the group was really helping each other," Donovan said. "I figured we've got to kind of shake it up and maybe look at some other things. I wasn't necessarily convinced that this was the right thing in terms of this lineup, but I felt very, very convinced we needed to do something. They were like, ‘Listen Billy, if you feel that this is the best thing, that's fine. We'll go along with it.' I didn't ask anybody their opinion on it. I gave everybody an opportunity to talk.

Coach Donovan spoke to the media after the Bulls victory over the Raptors.

"This is not set in stone for the rest of the year," said Donovan. "We'll see how it works and what this looks like."

It looked about as good as it could with Patrick Williams the leading scorer with a career-high 23 points, mostly cutting and diving to the basket to receive deliveries from Satoransky and Young with a team high seven assists each. They were so good Williams was signaling thumbs up, delivered with care.

Zach LaVine had just 15 points, his second lowest total of the season. But he was second to White in plus/minus, mostly playing decoy and facilitator with Toronto overloading and double teaming, which most teams now do against LaVine.

"I really respected and appreciated the way he played," said Donovan. "He played the right way. He scored some points late, but sometimes you've got to give yourself up to the team. They really made a conscientious effort to triangle-and-two him and Lauri (Markkanen with 13 points), which was fine because it was leaving other guys open. Other guys got shots; different things were open for us. I think what would have been bad for us tonight if Zach would try to force it."

The Bulls moved back into a tie for ninth place in the Eastern Conference at 17-20 while the Raptors dropped to 17-22.

Patrick Williams rises up for a slam over the Toronto Raptors.

And this wasn't your recent championship Raptors, or even much resembling any of the Raptors teams that had won the last 12 straight against the Bulls. This, literally, was a bunch of guys named Stanley, Norman and Henry with Kyle Lowry, who eventually got so disgusted he got himself kicked out late in the fourth quarter. Three of the Raptors starters and several reserves remained out with Covid virus issues not long after most of the coaches previously were out. Hey, we warned them about trying to spend the season in Florida. But Canada wouldn't let them in. Now seeing them play, they might not for other reasons.

But this wasn't a time for the Bulls to make excuses for any victory. Especially after losing to the 76ers without their two best players and the Heat without its best big man. The Bulls, so hopeful coming into the All-Star break with six wins in nine games, seemed so hopeless out of it with consecutive double digit losses.

Donovan is no Einstein, but he surely knows, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

To be accurate, Einstein never actually said that, though it sounded like something he should have said.

Playing the kids because this is a season of evaluation and analysis is what the Bulls were supposed to be doing. Play the kids as they are the future. Sort of the let them eat cake thing, even if Marie Antoinette never actually said that. But it became off with their heads, as it were, as Donovan continued his mad scientist experiments.

Rookie Patrick Williams scores a new career-high with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting.

It's actually what coaches are supposed to do. And Donovan has been clear all season that he would change rotations and lineups and closing groups regularly depending on matchups, analytics as offensive as that might be, and the more trusted eye test of game films.

"I just didn't want time to keep going by without trying to do everything I could do to try to help the team," said Donovan. "I would worry about their development if I told you, ‘Hey, Coby and Wendell didn't play and we took them out of the rotation.' They're still playing. They're still going to be out there.

"Am I perfect? No," said Donovan, who does risk the wrath of the coach's association with that admission. "Am I going to make mistakes? Absolutely. Have I made plenty of mistakes already? Yes, absolutely. But I want them to know that my intention is to help them. I can't tell you how unbelievable Coby and Wendell were when I met with them. It just speaks volumes of them in terms of their character and who they are and how they feel about the organization and their teammates and the fact that they really want to win."

It actually turned late in the first quarter when Donovan brought in Carter for the first time. He responded with actual shots, scoring seven straight points in a minute for a 28-22 Bulls lead after one quarter.

"It kind of happened to me when I was in college," said Carter. "I think it was halfway through the season I came off the bench, for I think, two games. It humbles you. It lets you know you can't be taking things like that for granted. I see myself as a starter. I trust Billy a lot. He's been a part of winning teams and he knows what it takes to win. I wasn't playing well for like the past five or six games, so I understood that he had to switch some things up and it happened to be changing the lineup. I'm here for him and I'm going to do whatever he tells me to do.

Wendell Carter Jr. bounced back from a tough game on Friday, finishing with a double-double.

"Me and Coby talked about it," said Carter, "and he's like, 'Man, we've got to come out and play as hard as we can when we get in; just show them we're capable of being starters on this team.' We're capable of doing whatever is needed to win in the minutes that we play in. It kind of lights a fire underneath you. Not in a bad way."

They were smokin' this time. Not just hot afterward.

It was the Raptors who mostly were in a bad way after Young with back to back scores on rolls to the basket and Satoransky with a three and a loose ball score led the Bulls to a 9-2 close to the half and 58-49 lead. With Otto Porter Jr. coming back to life with seven straight points early in the third quarter, the Bulls went on a 13-7 run. Williams then scored seven straight to close the third quarter for an 85-73 Bulls lead. Denzel Valentine made three straight threes accompanied by ardent expressions of joy and 11 points in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter that enabled the Bulls this time to charitably be the ones not trying to score at the end.

As Abraham Lincoln once said, "The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of the nature of the substitutions when we change starting lineups." Didn't really say that? Oh well, Bulls win, Bulls win.

bulls-cruise-past-raptors-as-donovan-tries-new-starting-lineup

Bulls cruise past Raptors as Donovan tries new starting lineup

New Bulls guard Garrett Temple met with the media via Zoom on Sunday morning, where he gave high praise to his new teammate Zach LaVine. Also speaking with the media on Sunday, LaVine gave insight about Coby White playing point guard and having a few practices under his belt with Coach Billy Donovan.

Garrett Temple knows talent when he sees it.

The veteran Bulls free agent guard has played with Tracy McGrady, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, John Wall, Bradley Beal and DeMarcus Cousins. Sometimes you can't fully describe it, but you know.

There's a famous 1964 Supreme Court case on obscenity about which Justice Potter Stewart couldn't detail examples, but wrote, "I know it when I see it." You know, like sporting greatness.

Temple has played against several current Bulls during recent stops in Brooklyn, Memphis, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Washington. So Temple said he was excited when Bulls coach Billy Donovan contacted him about signing with the Bulls.

"When he called and told me they were interested, it immediately became appealing from that regard," Temple told reporters Sunday morning by video from his Chicago hotel where he remains in quarantine as he recovers from a case of Covid-19 and expects to rejoin the team later this week. "I loved the roster. I love Wendell Carter. I've known Tomas (Satoransky) since when he came to D.C. And obviously I know Otto (Porter Jr.) from playing (with the Wizards 2012-16). Thad (Young) is a great vet in this league that can really still play."

"I think Zach," Temple declared, "is a budding superstar in his league."

Zach LaVine dribbling up the floor against Garrett Temple in 2018.

You know, just what the Bulls have been looking for.

The difference in the NBA between competence and excellence generally is considered to be the presence of an aspirational star, like Duncan, Manu, McGrady or Wall pre-injury.

Can Zach be that guy for the Bulls? We've asked it before.

There's perhaps no more polarizing sports figure in Chicago than Zach LaVine. He's at the game's elite level statistically, averaging more than 25 points per game last season, among the highest season averages in franchise history with excellent shooting range and spectacular winning performances, like 13 three pointers in Charlotte when he ran back with the ball to make a winning three and 47 points in a four-overtime classic that was one of the most famous NBA games of the 2018-19 season. LaVine scored at least 40 points in four of his last 17 games last season. Yet, community frustration continued to mount with the team 87 games below .500 the last three seasons. Though there certainly were other factors which resulted in a massive coaching and management shakeup.

Zach LaVine drained a career-high 13 three pointers against Charlotte last season.

So despite LaVine being by far the team's most prolific producer, there has been media speculation about LaVine being traded, social media accusations about hollow statistics that don't lead to success. With two years remaining on his contract at an economical rate for an NBA with his production, LaVine's value to other teams is the most on the roster.

But just two years remaining also adds pressure to the new management team about whether to offer an extension or allow LaVine to eventually become a free agent. LaVine has said he likes the team, the city and especially the new apparent stability. Which makes this perhaps a seminal season for both management and LaVine. Is he that player Temple believes is destined for greatness? Though greatness involves more than one player. After all, Michael Jordan still has no other titles than those with Scottie Pippen. LeBron needed Dwyane Wade and now Anthony Davis.

Could the Zach and Coby White pairing we've speculated so much about evolve into that elite tandem?

It does appear White has matured well beyond just one offseason. Often cautious much of last season, the irrepressible North Carolinian has been perhaps the most outspoken player in camp in virtually demanding a leadership role, teammates generally have agreed. Scrimmages began Sunday. Donovan essentially designated White lead ball handler, though White's scoring will remain his metier. High scoring guard duos have led to success in this NBA, if not necessarily titles because of LeBron.

"Obviously we're two very explosive scoring guards and we can both take over ballhandling duties," LaVine said from practice Sunday. "There isn't a set (where) he's the one, he's the two. I think Coby will be the primary ballhandler. But the system isn't to just get a ball to somebody at the top and let 'em sit out there. Coby's going into his second year, I think I know what I bring to the table. It's something that we have to work on; we have to prove it to these other teams. I think at the end of the day it will work with winning, and we have to go out there and do that."

Of course success changes opinions about everyone. Though it's just Zach's luck that as the Bulls have a chance to surprise there's no All-Star game in this shortened 72-game season.

LaVine, 25, is one of the true marvels of the NBA. That the 6-6 guard has been anchored to rebuilding teams his entire NBA career after one year at UCLA shouldn't be his burden. Though because of that few tend to acknowledge his seemingly implausible recovery from ACL surgery to regain his previous slam dunk champion athleticism. It speaks to a substantial work ethic to be celebrated and applauded.

LaVine still recovering from the February 2017 tear eased back for 24 games with the Bulls in 2017-18 following the draft day trade for Jimmy Butler. Since then LaVine has been among the top scorers in the NBA. While the Bulls only have been among the top selectors in the NBA draft.

LaVine is perhaps the most convivial and welcoming player on the team. He even expressed regret again Sunday that media members cannot communicate in person this season. His locker stall has been the focus of media post game after just about every game last season because of his performance and welcoming nature. Though the Bulls have had high quality character players in recent years, many didn't care for the post game questions routine, especially after so many losses. LaVine as the lead scorer understood his responsibility even as he'd often rather dissent at times. He had everyone's back.

Zach LaVine's Training Camp Press Conference from this past Sunday.

"I hear a lot of stuff," LaVine acknowledged. "I let a lot of things drive me. But at the end of the day, I know what I bring to the table. I'm one of the hardest working guys. (You're not) given certain things because of your record. But if you want to be a great player you have to lead your team to wins and I want to do that. They say empty stats or whatever it is. I'm a team player. I'll do whatever I gotta to win. If that's going out there and I have to try to go get 30 or if I gotta go try and defend the best player or get 10 assists or whatever it is, at the end of the day I want to win. So I want to continue to prove that. I know what I bring to the table. I just want to keep climbing that ladder.

"I don't work to be a second, third fiddle guy," said LaVine when apprised of Temple's compliment. "You can get by on cutting work a little bit. I work my body to exhaustion and I'm gonna do that until the basketball stops dribbling for me. I want to be great at all aspects of my game, continue to work on my defense, my playmaking and getting better at the things I do offensively as well."

Ah, defense, which has become the slur often aimed at LaVine. Not that there are many great scorers in the NBA who also defend. LeBron, for example, defends well in circumstances. But certainly at his age he spends most of the game attached to one of the lesser scorers. James Harden is an historically poor defender. So is Russell Westbrook, a former MVP. It's a longer list that many will admit, but it's also an easy accusation even as good defense generally is a team concept.

Though Donovan in brief views has commended LaVine's defensive effort and commitment.

"He's a great team guy; obviously very gifted and talented," said Donovan. "He's had a challenging career. I think I'm his sixth coach he's had since he's been in the NBA. That's an awful lot to deal with. But he's always kept a positive outlook and is very open minded about things. I've enjoyed him a lot. He's a really good person. He cares deeply about the organization, his teammates and wanting to play well. And finding ways within himself in which he can help the group win and be better."

Zach LaVine at the Bulls Minicamp that took place this past September.

Which LaVine says will help thanks to Donovan. Sure, it's training camp and everyone is undefeated and everyone is an All-Star and it's Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. But Bulls players do seem to be trying to suppress a vibe, that they're going to be better than many believe. But since they said that before they'll try to show ‘em first this time.

"He's been great, very vocal, very straight up," LaVine said about Donovan. "Bringing a winning attitude, talking to us about winning habits and making sure the practices are competitive. I played against him over the last couple of years. (He promotes) a lot of motion offense. Obviously, different pieces with his former teams. But still the same base of a lot of movement, a lot of cuts, playing fast, getting up and down the floor, not have to try to set up plays if you have these athletes. Just go out and get a good shot. But cutting and obviously getting better opportunities by catch and shoot; it's been good.

"I don't like giving up too many of the secrets we have," LaVine said when asked about the team's defensive plans. "We're not blitzing every play anymore, so that's definitely keeping us in a little better condition throughout the game."

Then he laughed. They're all smiling now. Garrett Temple is among those who believe if you keep watching LaVine you'll be smiling. Preseason games begin later this week.

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New Bulls guard Garrett Temple sees a "superstar" in Zach LaVine

Sam Smith analyzes how some of the consensus top players in the 2020 NBA draft would fit with our current Bulls team.

Seven has many meanings. There's the seven days, the seven continents, the seven colors of the rainbow, Mickey Mantle, and, of course, the Bulls annual draft position. They're not exactly craps, but Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Coby White weren't able to get the Bulls into the NBA's top 22.

The NBA's delayed lottery drawing is August 25. If there is no change through the lottery drawing, the Bulls will be selecting No. 7 again based on the team's 22-43 record when play was stopped in March. Twenty-two teams are expected to resume in Orlando later this month with a championship game in early October if all goes as planned. The verdict isn't in yet on the Bulls recent No. 7 selections. But it sure would be nice for the team to get a break this season and advance into the top four in the draft via the lottery.

While there are star players who emerge even from outside the draft lottery, like Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, there's a much better chance picking in the top five. Especially, it seems in this draft.

Consider the last three drafts when the Bulls selected No. 7. Some of the players selected in the top five in those drafts include Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Trae Young, Zion Williamson and Ja Morant. Teams are beginning to build around players like that.

New Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas said in recent media conference calls he believes this draft is stronger and deeper than many project. Which means there could be starting players throughout the top 10. But are there stars? There's no guarantee even with a top three pick a team will be able to draft a star. Here are some of the top five selections the last three years: Markelle Fultz, Josh Jackson, Marvin Bagley, De'Andre Hunter. And in 2016 Dragan Bender and, yes, Kris Dunn.

There aren't exactly all can't-miss players projected at the top of this 2020 draft. But there does seem, at least, an opportunity for an impact player among the top five. There are possibilities beyond that top five, though, it seems, mostly among that next five. And then there's your Pascal Siakam type, who fools everyone until he becomes an NBA star. Can the new Bulls executive team find one of those guys?

That's generally above our pay grade. So here's a look at perhaps how the consensus top players in the draft would fit with the Bulls current roster:

Anthony Edwards, 6-5 shooting guard, Georgia.

Would Edwards, Zach LaVine and Coby White be the next decade's version of the Steph Curry/Klay Thompson/Kevin Durant Warriors? OK, probably not. But the Warriors did win 73 games with Curry, Thompson and Harrison Barnes starting. Could that Bulls trio with Edwards be a version of the James Harden high scoring Houston Rockets? Presumably Markkanen and Carter would complete the starting lineup. But if Markkanen didn't think he had many good shooting opportunities this season, then he'd better learn to pass playing with that threesome. Edwards is a strong, physical guard who draws some comparisons to Bradley Beal. I see more J.R. Rider, at least in style. He didn't shoot threes well at Georgia, but that should change. He might work better with a true point guard, which the Bulls still don't have. It could be appetizing to see the offensive potential of those three together. Could they be persuaded to pass and move? After all, Curry and Thompson didn't do much of that until Steve Kerr took over as coach. One NBA standard is to add talent and then let them figure it out because you can't teach talent. I doubt the Bulls would select Edwards if they got the No. 1 pick. If they moved up to No. 4 and he still was available, that would be an interesting decision.

Probably the closest to a can't miss candidate in this draft, if not necessarily a superstar. He's older, 22, and thus more experienced and prepared for the NBA. He's an active, physical athlete with a good touch who'd be a power forward for the Bulls, likely matched with Markkanen as starters. Hey, isn't Markkanen the power forward? Well, yes, but it's that new NBA thing. With Toppin at power forward, Markkanen could become the center, though not the kind we usually consider. Markkanen could play, at least on offense, something of a perimeter center the way the Dallas Mavericks use Kristaps Porzingis, often in transition to shoot threes. Toppin could defend some centers or come off the bench behind Carter, who may be ready to break out after injuries. Carter or Toppin could enhance a defensive oriented second unit with Kris Dunn, Thad Young and Daniel Gafford.

It's been awhile since the Bulls were the story around the NBA. With LaMelo they could be at least among the few. Perhaps not ultimately the best talent from this draft, but with a Dostoevsky family and basically famous since he was 14, the most talented brother may be the most watched player from this draft. Perhaps not Zioness. But maybe Luka-like, at least in interest. The Bulls could use some eyes. And talent. Ball happens to play a position the Bulls need. The Bulls have more talented players than their record suggests. But they mostly don't have anyone who makes anyone better. Ball should with fabulous passing ability and playing flair. Not so good a shooter, but probably better than his brother in New Orleans. With great size, he steps right in at point. Perhaps with Coby White at shooting guard and Zach LaVine at small forward. Again, not much defensively. LaVine and White have played some point guard at times. So the possibilities are enticing. Then probably Markkanen and Carter filling out the starting lineup. Ball could help both get more involved on offense. If Otto Porter Jr. remains the starter at small forward, then White probably becomes that Jamal Crawford/Ben Gordon sixth man with the green light. Not a bad assignment.

Along with Ball, he fills another missing piece for the Bulls, the athletic seven footer who can match with the game's big men. He's a big time athlete, skilled and talented. Though Carter has NBA starter potential at center, he's missing those vital four inches or so and some of the impressive athleticism. That's Wiseman, who would join Markkanen, Porter, LaVine and White starting. That's still missing the elite point guard, though White tries, Kris Dunn has shown some potential and Tomas Satoransky maybe needed adjustment time. If Satoransky shows more, White could lead that second unit, again giving the Bulls potentially impressive depth. Carter also could play some power forward coming off the bench in a mix with Gafford and Thad Young and giving Chandler Hutchison another chance at wing.

He'd be the wing player of the future, a skilled and athletic big man who appears nimble and can run the court with an improving shot. In many respects because of his injuries, Porter probably is more an NBA stretch power forward at this stage of his career. There are potential lineups for the Bulls with Markkanen playing that big man, transition center. Perhaps with Porter at power forward and then Avdija, LaVine and White. Avdija appears to have big potential as a secondary ball handler and facilitator who could relieve White or LaVine from some point guard duties as a point forward. Some compare him to Danilo Gallinari. We always compare international players to other international players, though Avdija has some Mickey Johnson in him and maybe eventually some Grant Hill.

I know, not another 6-9 center. But he's not just another 6-9 center. He's scary physical like the Clippers Montrezl Harrell and more athletic and longer than Miami's Bam Adebayo, who became an All-Star. He'd provide the physical complement to Markkanen. Perhaps with his defensive prowess, rim protection and shot blocking the Bulls could start him with Dunn to have strong interior and perimeter defense like the Clippers have with Patrick Beverley and Harrell. Okongwu can play effective pick and roll perhaps with a guard like Dunn, leaving White to run that second unit with Carter, Hutchison, Thad Young and perhaps Satoransky or Denzel Valentine. Or White still starting with Carter and Okongwu proving that second unit defense. The Bulls with a top six or seven pick should come into next season with little drop-off from the first to second units, which should be a strength.

Tyrese Haliburton, 6-5 point guard, Iowa State

Just what you feared, a six player draft with the Bulls currently in the seventh spot. The group with Edwards, Ball, Toppin, Wiseman, Okongwu and Avdija generally is regarded as the first tier. Though we know how wrong that often is. Haliburton could be another overlooked top starter at 6-5, a good shooter and excellent playmaker. Even though he's not a top athlete, he could move in at point immediately for the Bulls with perhaps a little more physical heft. White and LaVine could slide down a position, like they would with Ball, and Haliburton be a better shooting option than Ball. Which would mean three dangerous scoring options where you could envision that Golden State game with passing and movement with the right direction.

Something of a left handed version of Halliburton. Good size for the position, a good but not great athlete with good shooting range who is adept at pick and roll and running a team. He's very left hand oriented for now and seems to model himself a little more like James Harden with a scoring mentality. He was born in the U.S. as his father, a former ABA player, went on to finish his career playing in France. He's probably not quite ready to run an NBA team, but should grow into it with strong point guard instincts. He'd likely come off the bench for the Bulls to start, which perhaps makes Kris Dunn a defensive shooting guard like Patrick Beverley or Keith Bogans a decade ago.