My nightmare scenario is getting out of the Play-In and somehow pulling out 2-3 games vs Boston, who then goes on to make it to the Finals. Queue AKME "See!!! Two years in a row we got ousted by a Finals team!!! We're so close!!!"
This team is monumentally odd but still not altogether hopeless IMO. In hindsight, AKME did some interesting things when they finally got to work after Boylen-watch. But since Lonzo went down, they've lost their ever-lovin' minds (or regressed to innate stupidity). Zero ability to evaluate what they've got, make good trades or signing/re-signing decisions, or be at all relevant in the NBA GM Game of Thrones. Yes, this team appears royally f*cked. I just can't unsee what could have been and what still might be with even a glimmer of aggressiveness, good basketball sense and creativity from the FO.
The real question - will the Bulls turn comments off on the post-season press conference YouTube livestream after the debacle that was the last press conference??
I cannot adequately express my level of loathing for AK. His incompetence, dishonesty and general lack of accountability are all just too overwhelming considering he’s in charge of my beloved. I genuinely have no cause for hope except for pure dumb luck…
People are getting down on the Bulls .. you shouldn’t
The GM is not an idiot.
Here’s what he must do…
1. FIRE BILLY hire a smarter coach who knows how to win.. defense..rebounding.. limit turnovers.. beat your opponents in all 3 and you will win over 50%. Add 3 point shooting efficiency and you win 2/3… thats a team that can go deep in the playoffs.
2. RETAIN ANDRE AND JAVONTE… Also Terry and the kid from Arkansas both of whom
Have a lot of promise.
3. TRADE ZAC PAT AND VUC
4. Use the draft , free agency and trades to acquire a good 1, an All Star Caliber 4 and a rim protecting defensive center ( trade for the Duke kid on Dallas who’s on their bench). I’m assuming Ball will never recover his former form and effectiveness.
5. Play Andre 30-35 minutes and get him 10-15 pounds lighter for next year. He is the best rebounder in the NBA. He is an excellent on ball perimeter defender for a 5. His offensive repertoire is limited but extremely efficient.
Billy leaves him on the bench for 30 minutes when healthy. Vuc helps you win 5-10 games a year and helps you lose the rest. He is a horrible defender and a 29% 3 point shooter who continues to launch. He is a poor offensive rebounder. He also goes away in the last quarter of close games. Trade him!
6. New coach must put plus players on the floor not leave them on the bench.
Caruso, Javonte Ayo Coby and Andre are or could be plus players. Demar is a quality guy who is a great scorer and team leader. Retain him.
Get a quality 1 and an All Star 4 and that team can win a lot of games.
Still, without granting the Bulls any quarter, there are even worse-off franchises. There are arguments for any of the six teams below them being in even worse straits. The Hawks nepotistic, meddling ownership is even worse than the Dorfs. Toronto has finished last in the Atlantic 3 of the past 5 years. Brooklyn has mortgaged all their draft capital to end up with a team of role players. The Hornets' star can't stay on the court and they are directionless. The Wizards were finally smart enough to enter a long, dark tunnel that will take years to get out of and draft even worse than the Bulls. The Pistons were actually trying to win this year and are historically bad, with a joke GM and a checked-out, overpaid coach. In the West, the Rockets went all-in and finished 2 games better than the Bulls. The Trail Blazers have one season over .500 in the last five years. The Bulls are misery, and they have plenty of company.
Apr 17·edited Apr 17Liked by your friendly BullsBlogger
Sorry I've been awol from this blog. Ever-lurking; but at some point living the definition of insanity takes a toll. I stepped away from the bulls, and though Id like to write that I was better for it.... I wasn't. I miss watching them, rooting for them, writing about them..... But I'd put a game on and it wouldn't take long for the frustrations to come through. Not just when they were losing or just looked like the mediocre garbage they were... But even when they played well... Because it makes you think "damn, if the front office actually gave a damn this could have been nice"
The 70 million on the bench isn't an excuse, it isn't admirable. It's the fucking knife in the back, twisting. Zach should have been traded last year. Vuc never signed. Don't get me started on the disappointing psyche of pat williams. Lonzo gets a pass I guess, call it an effect of my love for drose, but man we hardly know the guy.
The bulls are in a better spot than they were at the start of the season. There's options.... I know it's hard AKME... But as a wise man once said.... Do. Your. Job!
Bulls had 236 dunks this year, which was ... last in the league. I'm not sure where to find missed dunks, but if they had 100 missed dunks I wouldn't be surprised. The dunk was not an efficient play for this team.
Tell us how you really feel. Love it!
My nightmare scenario is getting out of the Play-In and somehow pulling out 2-3 games vs Boston, who then goes on to make it to the Finals. Queue AKME "See!!! Two years in a row we got ousted by a Finals team!!! We're so close!!!"
This team is monumentally odd but still not altogether hopeless IMO. In hindsight, AKME did some interesting things when they finally got to work after Boylen-watch. But since Lonzo went down, they've lost their ever-lovin' minds (or regressed to innate stupidity). Zero ability to evaluate what they've got, make good trades or signing/re-signing decisions, or be at all relevant in the NBA GM Game of Thrones. Yes, this team appears royally f*cked. I just can't unsee what could have been and what still might be with even a glimmer of aggressiveness, good basketball sense and creativity from the FO.
The real question - will the Bulls turn comments off on the post-season press conference YouTube livestream after the debacle that was the last press conference??
Bulls signing Boban this offseason. Intentionality missing free throws for free chicken keeps the real (paying) fans happy!!!
I cannot adequately express my level of loathing for AK. His incompetence, dishonesty and general lack of accountability are all just too overwhelming considering he’s in charge of my beloved. I genuinely have no cause for hope except for pure dumb luck…
People are getting down on the Bulls .. you shouldn’t
The GM is not an idiot.
Here’s what he must do…
1. FIRE BILLY hire a smarter coach who knows how to win.. defense..rebounding.. limit turnovers.. beat your opponents in all 3 and you will win over 50%. Add 3 point shooting efficiency and you win 2/3… thats a team that can go deep in the playoffs.
2. RETAIN ANDRE AND JAVONTE… Also Terry and the kid from Arkansas both of whom
Have a lot of promise.
3. TRADE ZAC PAT AND VUC
4. Use the draft , free agency and trades to acquire a good 1, an All Star Caliber 4 and a rim protecting defensive center ( trade for the Duke kid on Dallas who’s on their bench). I’m assuming Ball will never recover his former form and effectiveness.
5. Play Andre 30-35 minutes and get him 10-15 pounds lighter for next year. He is the best rebounder in the NBA. He is an excellent on ball perimeter defender for a 5. His offensive repertoire is limited but extremely efficient.
Billy leaves him on the bench for 30 minutes when healthy. Vuc helps you win 5-10 games a year and helps you lose the rest. He is a horrible defender and a 29% 3 point shooter who continues to launch. He is a poor offensive rebounder. He also goes away in the last quarter of close games. Trade him!
6. New coach must put plus players on the floor not leave them on the bench.
Caruso, Javonte Ayo Coby and Andre are or could be plus players. Demar is a quality guy who is a great scorer and team leader. Retain him.
Get a quality 1 and an All Star 4 and that team can win a lot of games.
Still, without granting the Bulls any quarter, there are even worse-off franchises. There are arguments for any of the six teams below them being in even worse straits. The Hawks nepotistic, meddling ownership is even worse than the Dorfs. Toronto has finished last in the Atlantic 3 of the past 5 years. Brooklyn has mortgaged all their draft capital to end up with a team of role players. The Hornets' star can't stay on the court and they are directionless. The Wizards were finally smart enough to enter a long, dark tunnel that will take years to get out of and draft even worse than the Bulls. The Pistons were actually trying to win this year and are historically bad, with a joke GM and a checked-out, overpaid coach. In the West, the Rockets went all-in and finished 2 games better than the Bulls. The Trail Blazers have one season over .500 in the last five years. The Bulls are misery, and they have plenty of company.
Sorry I've been awol from this blog. Ever-lurking; but at some point living the definition of insanity takes a toll. I stepped away from the bulls, and though Id like to write that I was better for it.... I wasn't. I miss watching them, rooting for them, writing about them..... But I'd put a game on and it wouldn't take long for the frustrations to come through. Not just when they were losing or just looked like the mediocre garbage they were... But even when they played well... Because it makes you think "damn, if the front office actually gave a damn this could have been nice"
The 70 million on the bench isn't an excuse, it isn't admirable. It's the fucking knife in the back, twisting. Zach should have been traded last year. Vuc never signed. Don't get me started on the disappointing psyche of pat williams. Lonzo gets a pass I guess, call it an effect of my love for drose, but man we hardly know the guy.
The bulls are in a better spot than they were at the start of the season. There's options.... I know it's hard AKME... But as a wise man once said.... Do. Your. Job!
Bulls had 236 dunks this year, which was ... last in the league. I'm not sure where to find missed dunks, but if they had 100 missed dunks I wouldn't be surprised. The dunk was not an efficient play for this team.