Greg Young: I enjoy watching what Coby/Ayo have done this year. It certainly is a bright spot and hopefully portends good things over the next couple of years. I am under no illusions about how far the Bulls will go. I am happy that they continue to play hard and the effort is almost always there. They don’t ever give up, the night in Sacramento being a great example. The talk of a total rebuild always causes me to flinch. No certainty of success and I am getting older! Cheering the Bulls on to a strong finish is easy because of what the players put into the game. A bit pollyanna but there you go.
Sam: What did Pollyanna say about life in that story, that it’s the Glad Game. We can go with that for the Bulls the rest of the way. They often talk about consistency as a weakness, though it’s more the distribution of talent. But what they have been consistent about is a consistent commitment to compete, which has been the most impressive thing about this team since the Lonzo Ball injury season. It hasn’t been so much always on court success as the entertainment value of the product that you are generally always going t get a good show no matter the result. And, like in the theater, isn’t that worth the price? The potential for a Coby/Ayo starting backcourt is one of the biggest questions going forward at a time when just a few months ago neither was even viewed as a potential starter. But like we always say it’s all about opportunity. And taking those shots! It’s become pretty clear whatever the strategy going forward may be it’s never going to be a full teardown/rebuild. So in that respect it’s good management doesn’t have Twitter. And with some games left against left against Indiana and New York, and a bunch still with woeful Washington perhaps there's also still room to grow in the regular season.
Wayne Warner: DeRozan shows again in Utah game that Bulls need to resign him to 24/25 & beyond long-term contract. I was wrong about him not starting as can start him & LaVine but manage their ~32 minutes so one of them is always on floor thus ~only 16 minutes when on floor together…maybe 5 minutes opening @ half then 6 minutes together to close out game.
Sam: And then Golden State; heck maybe he gets equity in the franchise! It’s deja vu all over again like that Indiana/Washington week of winners a few years back. That’s also probably as they step back the biggest decision Bulls management will have to make after the season and you hope while it’s fun for the fans to enjoy those great DeRozan closeouts of this week that there’s also a long term plan. Though I agree it will be difficult watching this week to say goodbye. DeRozan always has been a remarkable shotmaker and perhaps even if no longer considered among the top 10 individual performers in the NBA maybe the most difficult player not to foul. But there is that going on 35 thing, and you do wonder even with those great fourth quarters this week about how much DeRozan may have been pacing himself considering that he hasn’t attempted much offense in the first half of games, at least until the Golden State game. Which also may suggest a positive for him in San Francisco seeing the Bulls in trouble to start he knew he needed to don the cape sooner. Billy Donovan has talked about how DeRozan has come into games looking to get others going first and then do what he does, which he often can, though not as often this season until lately. Contact run? But after all, it often was a tactic followed by Michael Jordan. Can DeMar sustain or is it just strategy? I assume Zach LaVine returns, but you have to wonder if each side already has moved on and it’s just to get him up and running for a trade. Though the larger question is the road ahead. The way the Bulls have started to play, does the team look to Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu as their backcourt of the future and to build around them? And then address the ancillary issues that are crucial, like shooting and front court size? If the Bulls still have LaVine next fall and return DeRozan with a big extension, the team you see is the team they will be. Is that the team they want to continue with? But hey, maybe the way DeRozan is going now they can make a post season run and justify giving it a fourth look. Lonzo Ball's salary comes off after next season, and probably by then also LaVine. And then the Bulls will finally have big time flexibility. Would DeRozan accept one year? Offer two and see if he’s interested? Accept three and then he is the baton that can help the Bulls hand off toward the next stage of their race? Questions, questions, questions.
Mike Queensworth: Is DeMar the best midrange scorer we have seen since MJ? Perhaps Rip Hamilton? Kawhi? Shai hasn't been around enough.
Sam: You’re right that Michael probably is considered the best in the last 30. Other than in Game 1 in the 1992 Finals against Portland, and thus the shrug. That distinction would probably have to definitely separate eras because before the three there were great shooters and everyone was a midrange shooter. Though Kevin Durant has three-point range, he probably is actually more a midrange guy, and in the midrange is as deadly as DeRozan for a different reason. DeMar has more moves and shakes and feints while no one is tall enough to deny Durant. Going back a few years you’d have to add Dirk to the conversation. Midrange assassin. But before that there were snipers in previous eras like Jerry West, who was Mr. Clutch, after all, and the league’s symbol, George Gervin, the always overlooked Alex English, and some will mention Kobe and Bird. But, yes, DeMar has to be top five perhaps all-time the way not only he gets his shot but everyone knows the fakes are coming and can’t stop fouling him. What a delight it’s been to watch him and especially know that he’s back lately after a bit of a drought to making the big closing plays.
Ryan Trgovcich: Do you think the Bulls can ultimately win a championship with Coby White being the starting PG? Year 5 in the league is generally when you know what a player is. I love Coby and he's been great as of late, but he's still prone to more than a few off nights as defenses start to scheme for him more. By this stage in his career I'm just not sure he's going to keep developing into an all NBA guard. I hope he proves me wrong, but If he doesn't, I don't think the Bulls have a realistic chance.
Sam: A championship is a few stops from here with shooting, size, etc. along the way. There was an interesting clip making the rounds this week of former NBA player Tim Legler on a podcast — I assume since everyone has one — saying that Coby actually is what an NBA point guard looks like these days. It was welcome to hear if only for having a national NBA personality actually mentioning the Bulls. But Legler isn't one of the crazy ones with the wild comments for attention, and he is thoughtful with analysis. It’s been a breakthrough season for White and he has a good chance to be named the league’s Most Improved Player. Actually, year three always was the he-is-what-he-is season. Though with the one and done we have to reconsider that. Coby sure looked most like a sixth man, Jamal Crawford instant offense type. But to his credit he came back this season as a different player which began late last season when all of a sudden there he was driving to the basket, his footwork more active and engaged, taking hits at the rim and finishing. It was a sneak peak, and once LaVine went out he took advantage. Similarly with Dosunmu, who had the sophomore jinx season last year. He doesn’t have quite the offensive explosive ability that White has or the quick shooting range, but he’s got size and length and has become an adept finisher. Legler’s point which is valid and not necessarily about a championship is the NBA has changed, and rarely do teams have point guards committed to setting up an offense as much as getting themselves offense and making the defense react. And then others benefitting from the extra attention he gets. Like Damian Lillard, who was far from a championship in Portland. The point is Coby can be that kind of point guard for a winning team, but one that has to address some of the needs the Bulls have.
Ateeq Ahmed: During the games they were saying Bulls have the most clutch games this season. I know there’s always the woulda coulda shoulda talk but this team really was on the cusp all season long. A few extra points here and there and who knows where we could have been. Just need to strengthen our three-point shooting. Dare I say 5th or 6th seed? I wouldn’t want to see them in the play-in if I were the other 3 teams.
Sam: I had seventh preseason in my picks, so I guess I’m still in the game even if I only have reputation at stake. There’s been much talk about that clutch stat, which is impressive in the sense the way we see these Bulls never give up on games to the surprise of many opponents. The point you raise is the salient one and the one we won’t know about until we see. It often was said about Thibodeau’s Bulls teams, that they competed so hard during the regular season would they have the same edge when everyone else was playing as hard? That seems to me a credit to Thibs and to these Bulls that they take the regular season seriously. It’s also respect and a tribute to the fans from the players. It also may be a fallacy that other teams can raise their games. I don’t care much for that clutch stat because while it reflects late game positives it also suggests taking your foot off the gas and letting opponents back in games you have to then rescue. Like the stat about the guy who drowned in water that averaged three feet. There’s more depth to it. And then as we saw last season and as Bulls management has alluded to, this isn’t quite the NBA of the 80s and 90s as we saw the Bucks go down meekly early in the playoffs last season and a sprained Tatum ankle eventually took out Boston. So as they say, the playoffs are the start of a new season. The hope is the Bulls at least get a look at that second season, and not just the extra week.
Michael Murden: Reading about Patrick Williams reminded me about the time a few years ago when Deandre Ayton went through restricted free agency with the Suns. They didn’t offer him a deal, or much of one but they matched the offer sheet he got from another team and resigned a player they had deliberately disrespected. They eventually traded him but what’s the logic of turning a player into a locker room cancer by jerking him around like that? I guess there’s the “we didn’t want to lose him for nothing” angle but it didn’t seem worth poisoning your team chemistry like that.
Sam: The last thing I see is Williams, no matter what occurs, as any sort of cancer. Maybe the biggest criticism of Williams, at least internally, is he is too satisfied with the success of his team and teammates to exert himself more. I can’t see him ever being an internal distraction. But you also don’t just pay someone what they want because they want it. Though as workers we all sort of wish that was the way it was. The players association with the league agreed to the restricted free agency/right to match concept, so everyone has been aware of the circumstances. Both Jimmy Butler and Zach LaVine tested and experienced it and returned with positive attitudes. More significantly for the Bulls in this pivotal season where it seems now the direction of the team may just be determined by what occurs after April 14, you want to have some flexibility regarding decisions and what will be available to you this summer. So Williams may get an extension, or he may choose to test the market with the Bulls then having the right to match or just go with the qualifying offer. I can’t see any having a deleterious effect internally.
Michael Metz: Speaking of old guys, Gordon Hayward and Gallinari have done nothing for new teams.
Sam: Which is the other part of the buyout market; it often sounds a lot better than it is in actuality, and especially when you buy a name and not a body. Those are two guys who have had great careers, but have been through long time injures and it’s likely given they haven’t played much are having trouble adjusting to the speed and endurance of the game in practices. I suspect with both it’s more for perhaps one big sequence in one playoff game that could in retrospect prove a pivotal moment for a contending team. That’s often how these buyout players have delivered compared to any sort of regular roles to conclude the season given the rotation usually is pretty well set after 60 games of who the coach trusts.
Tony Reed: What do you think is going through Zach’s mind as we stay in the playoff hunt sans his presence? With the improved play of Coby, Ayo, et al, what do think management and coaches are thinking regarding the makeup of next season? And then is Zach back or is he gone? And if he is back, what role does he play?
Sam: Well, the Bulls still are ninth and while the public perception often is the team is better without LaVine, I would like to have seen what this looks like with LaVine’s scoring. The assumption is Coby White wouldn’t have had this breakout if LaVine were not injured, and perhaps not. But now that he has, it doesn’t go back in the bottle with his confidence and knowledge, and maybe it’s just yet another offensive possibility. Zach’s always been a supportive teammate. I’ve had some texts back and forth with him and he’s both pleased for Coby and missing playing. Though as I’ve wondered, is the river of doubt too wide between both sides anymore? It seems unlikely the Bulls could make a trade before he plays regularly, but then would he automatically be a starter? Donovan always insists players earn that. And we also forget about Patrick Williams, who’ll be a restricted free agent. But will he get an offer before showing he’s over his injury? Which would I assume bring him back on the one-year qualifying offer before he could become unrestricted. And would he even want to assuming it’s back to a reserve role assuming LaVine and DeRozan return? More questions.
Aaron Smith: Drummond cares about starting. Hearing his name announced by Tim Sinclair hearing the crowd cheer as he takes the court call it vain or whatever either way it matters to him. He made a big deal about it, about his family seeing him start. It doesn’t even really matter how many minutes he plays after that although since the reboot, I guess we’re calling it he’s been playing starting level minutes anyway. Why not throw him that bone sometimes especially against a team like Milwaukee that’s starting Giannis and Lopez. When he cares he plays better.
Sam: I hope that’s not the case — and I don’t think it is — that the ego of being in the starting lineup this time in his career would matter that much. That’s certainly not going to occur with Vučević healthy and playing well, and I think the Milwaukee thing was Giannis being too quick on the perimeter for either, and Giannis actually was making shots in that game when Drummond was defending him and giving him so much space. Donovan has compromised often this season to play both together given you can tell it’s not his favorite lineup. But as the season winds down the coach goes to what he’s most comfortable with and Drummond mostly has gone back to that 15-minute role, and he’s done well. Also, the way Donovan substitutes it shouldn’t matter all that much as DeRozan often goes out early and plays with the reserves and then matchups change throughout the game depending on who’s playing. I know Drummomd says he believes he’s a legitimate starter and could be somewhere be next season, but he hasn’t started regularly for the last three years. It’s still a very good life.
Mike Sutera: Take a look at the Mavs. Since the all-star break they are ranked 30th in defense. Luka, Kyrie, Hardaway will do that to you. I used to like Luka but he's really become unlikable with his style of play which is just concentrate on offense and nothing else besides crying to the refs.
Sam: And yet still in the top five MVP betting. The Bulls return home Monday and get to see Luka and the Mavs, who also look like a play-in team for now. Maybe that’s why Mark Cuban sold. Mostly flash, so better to take the cash. It’s another example of the importance of makeup. Not many understood the acquisition and then doubling down on Kyrie, who also is a ball control, isolation guy. Luka is not quite as much as he will move the ball, but more when he decides to. He’s obviously a strong guy as we’ve seen from him on offense, so I guess he can defend. And does from time to time. Not sure Kyrie ever has cared to. Though he doesn’t get criticized for it as often as players like, say, LaVine. Though perhaps you can’t tell that much since Kyrie sits out so often. I’m not that down on Luka and can understand the appeal as he’s a remarkable talent with the ability to slow the game to his pace, though true he hasn’t believed he wasn’t fouled on every drive this decade. And they did make nice trade deadline additions with PJ Washington and old pal Daniel Gafford. Hey, Derrick Jones Jr. also is there. Former Bulls are everywhere!
Mark Quick: Take a look at Josh Hart’s minutes the last six or seven games. It’s Thibs.
Sam: Just 43 minutes a game; Luol Deng would understand. That has been Thibs, and I’ve pretty much noticed no one in New York was saying much when they were winning. And they have been decimated with injuries with Brunson out recently. But it is more interesting as a sociological case study of reputation. Thibs from pretty much when he began coaching the Bulls—very successfully as you may recall—carried the reputation that he will wear down his players and thus they will burn out in the playoffs. I never really was one in that camp having experienced the 80s and 90s Bulls when Michael Jordan for five seasons through the first championship year not only missed an accumulated total of one game but for three of those seasons consecutively averaged more than 40 minutes per game. I maintain this quaint view that the game is better when the best players played. I know! Imagine that. Anyway, I bring this up because the questions regarding Thibodeau we never hear in relation to Billy Donovan, whose top players lead the league, DeMar DeRozan even at 34 years old, in minutes per game and Coby White in total minutes. And 30-plus Vučević is in the top 25 in total minutes. I applaud them all for not only wanting to play but trying to produce the best product for the game. But we never hear a whisper regarding Donovan because, well, it’s not his conventional wisdom. Just as I recall there used to be all this knowing head shaking about how bad a defender Toni Kukoč was. Mostly because it was popular agreement. While everybody loved Steve Kerr, but then he went to the Spurs as a free agent and they said, whoa, he can’t stay in front of anyone and out of the rotation he went. Just a reminder to avoid the public posse. The conventional is not often wisdom.
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