Bulls @ Knicks: Game 82

[The Box Office]

I was way wrong with my preseason prediction of 23-28 wins or something like that. I'm shocked that I was wrong.

39-43 is respectable, but not good.

[umfan83]

Billy played everyone because he needs them to have a sense of urgency in the do-or-die game. Can't let them rest up and then get punched in the mouth against Atlanta. Imagine how bad that would be if he sat everyone for two games and then we get blown out?

*And now you guys have me defending Billy Donovan.. wtf

I agree. I don't know if I would have played 4 of the 5 starters for over 40 minutes (the 5th being Green), but the right move was resting in game 81 and playing them in game 82. I see your point about mentality, but would prefer them not being pushed to their limits in an otherwise meaningless game. But my optimism for the Bulls is such that all their games seem ultimately meaningless to me lol.

[umfan83]

I was way wrong with my preseason prediction of 23-28 wins or something like that. I'm shocked that I was wrong.

39-43 is respectable, but not good.

It's respectable for maybe a team that is actually building something but for a team like the Bulls who are essentially running in place with little future upside (outside of Coby and hopefully Ayo) and haven't been even on the fringes of the contender conversation for almost a decade its **** IMO. They did lose LaVine for virtually the entire season, Williams for half the season and Ball for the second consecutive entire season (not that this year's team was built with him in mind), so credit for that. But I also don't know how much different they would have made the outcome of this season (AKME will tell you a LOT different)

[Dan Z]

39-43...one win less than last years record (basically the same). Do we do the same thing again next year and make it back-to-back-to-back?

[GoBlue72391]

Billy played everyone because he needs them to have a sense of urgency in the do-or-die game. Can't let them rest up and then get punched in the mouth against Atlanta. Imagine how bad that would be if he sat everyone for two games and then we get blown out?

*And now you guys have me defending Billy Donovan.. wtf

Ok that actually makes sense, but 40+ minutes for all the starters is definitely overkill.

[GoBlue72391]

39-43...one win less than last years record (basically the same). Do we do the same thing again next year and make it back-to-back-to-back?

AKME after last season:

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[WindyCityBorn]

I was way wrong with my preseason prediction of 23-28 wins or something like that. I'm shocked that I was wrong.

39-43 is respectable, but not good.

The problem is that we are locked into a similar record for the foreseeable future. If somehow Zach, Ball and Williams are healthy and play well next season we might be able to push for 50 wins again. That’s our absolute ceiling I think. Front court is a disaster with PWill have Coby White type breakout season being our only hope.

[Muzbar]

39-43...one win less than last years record (basically the same). Do we do the same thing again next year and make it back-to-back-to-back?

It wouldn't be very 'continuity' if they didn't...

They'll 100% double (triple? quadruple?) down on this roster with a late lottery/mid round FRP.

Another fun season of mediocrity will be upon us soon.

[Dan Z]

39-43...one win less than last years record (basically the same). Do we do the same thing again next year and make it back-to-back-to-back?

It wouldn't be very 'continuity' if they didn't...

They'll 100% double (triple? quadruple?) down on this roster with a late lottery/mid round FRP.

Another fun season of mediocrity will be upon us soon.

I don't think AK really understood what the word "Three Peat" means to the Bulls franchise.

[step]

39-43...one win less than last years record (basically the same). Do we do the same thing again next year and make it back-to-back-to-back?

And there's a good chance we come back with 'less' ... depending on finances.

[Dan Z]

39-43...one win less than last years record (basically the same). Do we do the same thing again next year and make it back-to-back-to-back?

And there's a good chance we come back with 'less' ... depending on finances.

One good thing is that the Bulls have their pick this year, but there's a chance it might not be in the lottery.

[Red8911]

I was way wrong with my preseason prediction of 23-28 wins or something like that. I'm shocked that I was wrong.

39-43 is respectable, but not good.

If they hadn’t started the season at 5-14 the record would have been a lot better. Positive though is that the young players picked up their games after that awful start and have been solid since.

Record wise it was hard to make up after losing so much and being at the bottom of the league. They atleast turned it respectable and they did it without core pieces.

[samwana]

39-43...one win less than last years record (basically the same). Do we do the same thing again next year and make it back-to-back-to-back?

It wouldn't be very 'continuity' if they didn't...

They'll 100% double (triple? quadruple?) down on this roster with a late lottery/mid round FRP.

Another fun season of mediocrity will be upon us soon.

Another year like this one and this place will be dead. In the late Krause and early Paxson years we were a way more active community here. Sad to see. I miss this place being so active. No way I could read every post every day it was too much. I'm getting old when I say that those were great times to be here. Like an old forgotten bar, with pluche furniture and cigar smoke all around.

[Ice Man]

Thibs is certifiable. Only a loon would play a starter 52 minutes in Game 82, so that the team would have a *worse* first round matchup. Then again, much as a downplay what effect NBA coaches have on their teams' records, who but Thibs could have nursed (pun intended) 50 wins out of this Knicks squad?

[sco]

I will say that I learned something from the Knicks after Randle went down and they took a ball dominant forward out of the mix who was one of their best players and, IMO, got better. We might actually be fine if we let DDR go. That said, I just love that guy (and Caruso).

And despite Vuc's good play, IMO, we'd be so much better starting AD (or a different good defensive C - like Hartenstein if we could somehow S&T him away from NY...for Vuc and our 1st - anyone?).

[Stratmaster]

I was way wrong with my preseason prediction of 23-28 wins or something like that. I'm shocked that I was wrong.

39-43 is respectable, but not good.

It's respectable for maybe a team that is actually building something but for a team like the Bulls who are essentially running in place with little future upside (outside of Coby and hopefully Ayo) and haven't been even on the fringes of the contender conversation for almost a decade its **** IMO. They did lose LaVine for virtually the entire season, Williams for half the season and Ball for the second consecutive entire season (not that this year's team was built with him in mind), so credit for that. But I also don't know how much different they would have made the outcome of this season (AKME will tell you a LOT different)

There is no doubt that a healthy, happy Lavine and PWill would have made a significant difference, regardless how good you think those players are.

I don't think PWill is a starting quality player. But having him starting means Caruso becomes a 25 mpg all-purpose bench player, or that Pwill would be coming off the bench against players he is as good as.

Having Lavine (and PWill) means you don't have 6th man level guys starting at both Guard spots.

It means that you have a stronger 1 through 8 rotation overall. You have 70 less minutes per game of guys like Bitim, Carter etc...

But all teams have injuries. Unfortunately for the Bulls one was their best offensive player and the 2nd was also a starter.

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[Stratmaster]

Everybody ready for the miracle Bulls to run their way through the play-in and upset the Celtics on a miracle run to the Finals?

Ok. I will see myself out now.

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[kodo]

Chicago has 2 players that are top 3 in minutes (Coby, Derozan). Thibs' most used player only comes in at #10.
Billy is out-Thibing Thibs.

[Repeat 3-peat]

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