Bulls @ Raptors 6:30pm CT Jan. 31 2025

[Dan Z]

One of our best games, solid all around. Great to see Matas and PWill play well.

I hope White can put another few solid games together, then we deal him. I don't want to keep both he and Giddy, and I want the one that stays to be the 6th man

How much do you think Giddey will get for his next contract? I bet it's more than 6th man level money, but I have no idea how much it''ll be.

[WindyCityBorn]

One of our best games, solid all around. Great to see Matas and PWill play well.

I hope White can put another few solid games together, then we deal him. I don't want to keep both he and Giddy, and I want the one that stays to be the 6th man

How much do you think Giddey will get for his next contract? I bet it's more than 6th man level money, but I have no idea how much it''ll be.

Giddey is probably looking at $20 million. He has flaws, but way more proven than PWill. I also think he is a starter.

[Dan Z]

One of our best games, solid all around. Great to see Matas and PWill play well.

I hope White can put another few solid games together, then we deal him. I don't want to keep both he and Giddy, and I want the one that stays to be the 6th man

How much do you think Giddey will get for his next contract? I bet it's more than 6th man level money, but I have no idea how much it''ll be.

Giddey is probably looking at $20 million. He has flaws, but way more proven than PWill. I also think he is a starter.

Didn't he get traded in part because he didn't want to come off the bench on OKC?

He started 44 games this year, so I'm sure he agrees with you.

[burlydee]

did he call that timeout just so he could bench matas? i really do not care for that

Bench Matas as he was about to get an alley-oop. Like, what?

Well he took all the bench guys out so no.

He literally called timeout in the middle of a fastbreak

[WesPeace]

Bench Matas as he was about to get an alley-oop. Like, what?

Well he took all the bench guys out so no.

He literally called timeout in the middle of a fastbreak

I just can't handle this much of stupid from chewy Billy anymore.. he has to go! But with AKME still here,uugh! Unless Billy doesn't want to coach rebuilding team.. I'm 99% sure he ain't the right coach to develop young guys..

[drosestruts]

You're not going to lose much when Coby, Giddey, Matas, Williams, Smith, and Terry all have good games

Throw in an efficient 21 and 12 form Vuc and yeah, you're not losing that.

I'm hopeful we move Vuc and give Smith a lot more minutes - potential for that to have been a really good signing.

We've been so singularly reliant on Vuc for rebounding in the past, and I don't think Smith will have the same rebounding numbers but Giddey is here now and is a great rebounder, and somehow Williams moving to the bench reminded him that rebounding is a thing. Matas also seems like a decent rebounder. It will be more of a team effort but we have the personnel.

Ayo didn't score well - but like that he finds other ways to make an impact. Good defense and 8 assists on the night.

[ChettheJet]

It comes up almost every game, the offense is generated by the defense. The Bulls look so different without Zach, they play with a lot more movement on defense, that applies to Smith being out there when Vuc is out, you see more active hands because they move their feet to be more in position. THT isn't a great defender but when a guy is 3 inches from the basket he's not afraid to hack him to stop the dunk and make the guy think the next time. That in turn creates transition offense so the other team doesn't have time to organize their defense. You see it when Ayo or Coby takes off and even if there is a rim protector back there's no one to stop them. Yes Zach shoots at a high percentage, yes he breaks down the defense driving to the basket, there are parts of every game that he hits a couple of shots then misses a few with a heat check to see if he can take over the game. And the offense bogs down waiting on him.

The reason I'm so wiling, if not eager, to trade Zach and Vuc is part that you see how engaged and aggressive Patrick is when they aren't on the floor. The way Smith reads a situation quickly, how Matas is more free to roam to the basket on both ends. Look at last night 34 assists on 45 made baskets, when they play less selfishly, less big star time, move the ball and get everybody involved, less ISO they look like a different team. Coby, Ayo, Giddey Patrick don't let the ball stick in their hands unless they're on a path to the basket. They move the ball In very different ways than when the two big names suck the energy out of the offense.

Coby, Ayo and especially Lonzo have been around long enough that they don't need older veteran leadership to guide them. THEY can be the leaders for Matas and Phillips. A guy like THT has been around, got a ring, he commands respect. Giddey and Williams aren't leaders but they don't need the phony rah rah guy telling them 'come on we can win this'. They can be there to back up when the trio of leaders say something to tell the younger guys, 'shut up and pay attention.'

I think this game is an example of post trades what the 2nd half of the season could look like.