Pg: THE BULLS ARE THE TEAM OF DESTINY!

[coldfish]

Other stats that are wonky for early in the season:

• The Bulls have allowed 42.7 shots at the rim per game (0-5ft). The next highest team (Wizards) has only allowed 35.7.
• The Bulls are allowing only 58.6% on those shots, which is 6th best in the league.

Vuc (7.7 DFGA at 52.2% DFG%) is 5th in the league in shots defended at the rim and 12th in DFG% amongst centers on the leaderboard.

Out of 23 guards who have defended >5 DFGA/game at the rim, Josh Giddey has the best DFG% (50%). That'd also make him #2 behind all Guards+Forwards (because defensively he's much more of a forward.

One thing I have seen is that the Bulls are pre-rotating onto shooters. What I mean by that is that most teams will have their defenders run out on players with the ball behind the 3 point line. The bulls have taken that to the next level. They have been running out on people who might get the ball around the arc.

On multiple occasions defenders have left people under the hoop to go guard players around the arc and that guy under the hoop got the ball for an easy score. Its crazy but Chicago's 3p defense is no fluke.

[Red8911]

I think it was reasonable to be skeptical about last season's finish.

I think it is reasonable and fair to state that the Bulls have given us reason, in these first 3 games, to reconsider our position (if it was your position) that last year's ending was all because of the situation (poor and tanking opposition). I think the Bull's do deserve some recognition for how they have started this season.

I think it is fair and reasonable to point out that opponents have shot poorly so far, and it's not all because of defense. When I think about it, I don't think there has been even one opposing player who got hot in any of these first 3 games. Any or all of the 3 games could have ended differently had the Bulls run into that.

And it is fair and reasonable to say that ifs and buts don't change that they have, against most projections, started 3-0.

And it is fair and reasonable to say that we shouldn't get out over our skis over 3 games. The Bulls won them all. They aren't dominant in any of them.

What a great situation. Early season success allowing everyone on this board to be fair, reasonable and correct. We don't see that too often.

That whole theory that the bulls were only winning last season because of poor or tanking opposition was total nonsense.

People were just hating on them and didn’t want to believe that this team actually turned it around. They didn’t think it was possible with these guys.

Now looking back don’t you agree that trading Zach Lavine was a great move ? Once he left and Tre, Collins, Huerter came in they turned into a totally different team that plays good basketball and actually win games.

[Red8911]

I don't think he's bad, but there were a couple things of concern in this game.
1. He's still passing up open shots.

2. It was notable that in the 4th we fell behind and they took Giddey (and Okoro) out and replaced them with Ayo and Huerter and immediately went on a big run to get the lead back and keep it for good.

Giddey came back in after we were ahead, but it's something to watch. He didn't finish the Magic game either. So I think he's playing ok, but he's not quite where we need him to be.

Overall, it's obviously good to win, but my observation is that we've won 3 relatively close games against teams that are very offensively challenged right now. I think our defense looks good mostly because we're playing teams that don't score very well against anyone.

We had an entire offseason of deflecting improvement because of wins against tanking teams, teams not trying, and teams with injuries. And now, it's because we aren't playing anyone who's good enough offensively. Detroit went on the road and beat Houston the next game. Orlando beat a good Miami team.

At what point can we just attribute anything to the Bulls playing good basketball and just playing better than good teams? We're doing all of this without our best scorer and a quality reserve big man.

FWIW Orlando is 1-3 on the season and lost last night 136-124 to Philly. Detroit is 2-2 & lost last night to Cleveland 116-95.

What’s your point exactly? These teams now suck of all of a sudden because the bulls beat them ?

[Chi town]

We are going to run the Kings off the floor tomorrow. Tough loss at OKC with their starters playing 35 mins tonight.

Hero ball from Lavine and DDR to the tune of a good A$$ whoopin will be fun.

[gf2020hotmail]

We are going to run the Kings off the floor tomorrow. Tough loss at OKC with their starters playing 35 mins tonight.

Hope so, but they'll also probably have a level of desperation. They've got Bucks, Nuggets, Warriors and Thunder after the Bulls so this is their best chance at win for a while. Tough to be an existential despair this early in the season.

[nomorezorro]

lavine always did have a good revenge game against the timberwolves so anything's possible

[NecessaryEvil]

Bulls bout to run em out the gym

[BullChit]

lavine always did have a good revenge game against the timberwolves so anything's possible

Let him score 50... we all know it will lead to a Kings loss.

[Bulldog23]

Let's go, 3-0!

Shout out to this legend

Love this picture..I saw this during the game.

[BullsSD]

Love this picture..I saw this during the game.