Bulls @ Hawks 6:30 CT

[Indomitable]

They should be locked in and fired up on Monday.. right ? They get the undefeated Cavs at the UC and they played them twice in preseason a few weeks ago .

20 pt lost

[Stratmaster]

I dont know why or how to even explain how we go down 17-20+ points and come all the way back or make it closer. Do we lul teams to sleep because they are up so big or do we finally hit a switch.

Our first and beginning of second quarters are consistently horrible. But in the second half, we look like a real team again. I have no idea.

But I guess yay we broke the losing streak?

We definitely gotta get off to faster starts. Gotta get easy baskets in the paint and slow down other teams on the other end. Teams get hot early against us and if the 3 isn't falling on our end, it leads to a lot of huge first half deficits.

Makes you wonder what the pregame routines are because how do you go so many games in a row where no one is locked in to start a game offensively

I agree, and the head coach needs to do something about it.

[Jvaughn]

I dont know why or how to even explain how we go down 17-20+ points and come all the way back or make it closer. Do we lul teams to sleep because they are up so big or do we finally hit a switch.

Our first and beginning of second quarters are consistently horrible. But in the second half, we look like a real team again. I have no idea.

But I guess yay we broke the losing streak?

We definitely gotta get off to faster starts. Gotta get easy baskets in the paint and slow down other teams on the other end. Teams get hot early against us and if the 3 isn't falling on our end, it leads to a lot of huge first half deficits.

Makes you wonder what the pregame routines are because how do you go so many games in a row where no one is locked in to start a game offensively

Yeah that definitely on coaching. Either have to have a better prep, a better gameplan, or even have to change your lineups a bit. Can't keep being down 20 every game and expend so much energy fighting back.

[Ccwatercraft]

But I guess yay we broke the losing streak?

A W is nice because the Cavs-Knicks-Cavs is likely 3 straight L's.

I'm hoping for different results, I'll be at the 2nd cavs game, with some family up in CLE. Time to dust off my #23 jersey

[ThisGuyFawkes]

I turned the game on towards the end of the 2nd and saw we were down. Told my wife she could watch the British Baking Show for a bit but I'd like to watch the 4th quarter.

I knew we'd come back and win. The faster pace and deeper bench plus the Hawks being on a 2nd night of a b2b. These are the games that we're going to win this season. It's the only way to overcome our inferior talent. Run the opponent until their legs go out, and play 10+ guys, even if 5 of them don't belong in the NBA.

[Muzbar]

Ayo I believe should start. He gives the better balance to the starters.

Oh, but you can't bench Coby, you'll hurt his feelings.

Sarcasm

A little bit.

[sco]

Watched this on replay. I would get frustrated and skip ahead, and we would hit some 3's and be back in it. I was sure this was going to be a loss and somehow they battle back again and win a game that looked like a sure loss. I gotta say despite the cringeworthy bad play on both ends with passes to nobody and blown defensive assignment after blown defensive assignment, our guys don't quit. Say what you want about much of that on bad coaching, but you gotta give Billy credit for getting our guys changing the way they play this season and sticking with it, even when things aren't going well at the start of games.

I still think we should bench Coby for Ayo. Ayo isn't an above average defender anymore, but even average is a big improvement over Coby. I think maybe half of the bad defense and stupid TO's on offense may go away as this team gets more used to the new system and each other...especially if Ball ever comes back.

I was happy to see a good bounce back game from Phillips. I love Terry's grit, but he's so bad as a shooter. Similarly, I know they won't bench Pat after his new contract, so I'm rooting hard for his early season stupidity and bad plays being, at least in some part, just rust and being out of shape.

[Dan Z]

When Zach and Vucevic are both healthy are the Bulls a play-in team? If so, this could be a season leading nowhere.

Any news on Zach being traded?

[Muzbar]

When Zach and Vucevic are both healthy are the Bulls a play-in team? If so, this could be a season leading nowhere.

Any news on Zach being traded?

Sounds like AKMEs perfect team.

[Stratmaster]

When Zach and Vucevic are both healthy are the Bulls a play-in team? If so, this could be a season leading nowhere.

Any news on Zach being traded?

How about a 5 seed? Would that be enough to make it worth it? I'm just trying to understand how good do the Bulls need to be to make tankers say it was worth it?

Right now the Bulls are 4-3 in games where Zach has played. 0-3 when he hasn't.

[Dan Z]

When Zach and Vucevic are both healthy are the Bulls a play-in team? If so, this could be a season leading nowhere.

Any news on Zach being traded?

How about a 5 seed? Would that be enough to make it worth it? I'm just trying to understand how good do the Bulls need to be to make tankers say it was worth it?

Right now the Bulls are 4-3 in games where Zach has played. 0-3 when he hasn't.

I'd be surprised if the Bulls ended up the 5th seed and if that happens I still think they don't go far in the playoffs.

I think the Bulls need to use this year to develop players like Matas and build towards the future. The 2025 pick could help with that, especially since the Bulls have no player with the potential to be a franchise player.

Continuing to be a team that just misses the playoffs, or gets into the play-in, is pointless. They've already done that for a few years.

[WindyCityBorn]

The good news is Lavine and Vuc are playing at AS or near AS level. The bad news is everybody else is a weak starter or worse.

This is actually the best case scenario.

No it’s not. That means even if we land a generational talent in the draft we will still have years of rebuilding left. And protection on the pick gets lower and lower.

[Chi town]

Didn't think they'd come back form that horrific 1st half. Didn't do it by chucking 3s either.
Awesome and-1 dunk by Ayo to seal it.
4-3 with Lavine in the lineup.

Shocking they did it with defense. Pat and Jalen helped a lot.

[DuckIII]

WHY THE **** is Carter playing?

Later tonight Jevon Carter himself will +1 this.

[Stratmaster]

When Zach and Vucevic are both healthy are the Bulls a play-in team? If so, this could be a season leading nowhere.

Any news on Zach being traded?

How about a 5 seed? Would that be enough to make it worth it? I'm just trying to understand how good do the Bulls need to be to make tankers say it was worth it?

Right now the Bulls are 4-3 in games where Zach has played. 0-3 when he hasn't.

I'd be surprised if the Bulls ended up the 5th seed and if that happens I still think they don't go far in the playoffs.

I think the Bulls need to use this year to develop players like Matas and build towards the future. The 2025 pick could help with that, especially since the Bulls have no player with the potential to be a franchise player.

Continuing to be a team that just misses the playoffs, or gets into the play-in, is pointless. They've already done that for a few years.

A 3 seed? Title or bust?

I'm really pleased that they are 4-3 when Zach is healthy and still figuring out a new system. If they had a coach who would actually have tried to do something to address the q1 issues they would likely be 5-2 in those games. Granted, they weren't playing the Cavs and Celtics.

Personally though, I would love to watch an over .500 team and a first round playoff series for a change. That's not a prediction byv the way. Just a preference.

[WindyCityBorn]

When Zach and Vucevic are both healthy are the Bulls a play-in team? If so, this could be a season leading nowhere.

Any news on Zach being traded?

Zach is nowhere close to being traded. You can forget about that. Vuc on the other hand could be gone by the deadline if he keeps this up. He is playing like the guy we gave up two lottery picks for. About 3 years too late though.

[Dan Z]

How about a 5 seed? Would that be enough to make it worth it? I'm just trying to understand how good do the Bulls need to be to make tankers say it was worth it?

Right now the Bulls are 4-3 in games where Zach has played. 0-3 when he hasn't.

I'd be surprised if the Bulls ended up the 5th seed and if that happens I still think they don't go far in the playoffs.

I think the Bulls need to use this year to develop players like Matas and build towards the future. The 2025 pick could help with that, especially since the Bulls have no player with the potential to be a franchise player.

Continuing to be a team that just misses the playoffs, or gets into the play-in, is pointless. They've already done that for a few years.

A 3 seed? Title or bust?

I'm really pleased that they are 4-3 when Zach is healthy and still figuring out a new system. If they had a coach who would actually have tried to do something to address the q1 issues they would likely be 5-2 in those games. Granted, they weren't playing the Cavs and Celtics.

Personally though, I would love to watch an over .500 team and a first round playoff series for a change. That's not a prediction byv the way. Just a preference.

They're not going to be a 3rd seed or even a title contender, so I'm not even going consider it.

I'd like the Bulls to build toward being a team that has a chance at a title or will at least have an outside chance at it. When AK came here he went all-in and it didn't work out (one first round playoff loss...on top of that the Bulls are still paying for it...they own the Spurs a first round pick). It's time to try a different direction.

I say that and think AK will continue to take it year-by-year and fight to get to the play-in or better.

[kodo]

I still think we should bench Coby for Ayo. Ayo isn't an above average defender anymore, but even average is a big improvement over Coby. I think maybe half of the bad defense and stupid TO's on offense may go away as this team gets more used to the new system and each other...especially if Ball ever comes back.

Yeah Coby is a little redundant with Zach, and Zach is better as a pure SG. He's also redundant with Giddey, and Giddey is better as a pure passer. Coby can do some of either but not as well as either guy, and he's one of our worst defenders.

Lineup performance:
Coby-Lavine-Giddey-Pat-Vuc: -12.3 points per 100
Giddey-Ayo-Lavine-Pat-Vuc: +15.3 points per 100

Pretty big swing for changing just 1 starter. But we want Flagg, so keep that starting lineup.
Zach's playing extremely well, so he's probably gone by the deadline anyway.

[Muzbar]

How about a 5 seed? Would that be enough to make it worth it? I'm just trying to understand how good do the Bulls need to be to make tankers say it was worth it?

Right now the Bulls are 4-3 in games where Zach has played. 0-3 when he hasn't.

I'd be surprised if the Bulls ended up the 5th seed and if that happens I still think they don't go far in the playoffs.

I think the Bulls need to use this year to develop players like Matas and build towards the future. The 2025 pick could help with that, especially since the Bulls have no player with the potential to be a franchise player.

Continuing to be a team that just misses the playoffs, or gets into the play-in, is pointless. They've already done that for a few years.

A 3 seed? Title or bust?

I'm really pleased that they are 4-3 when Zach is healthy and still figuring out a new system. If they had a coach who would actually have tried to do something to address the q1 issues they would likely be 5-2 in those games. Granted, they weren't playing the Cavs and Celtics.

Personally though, I would love to watch an over .500 team and a first round playoff series for a change. That's not a prediction byv the way. Just a preference.

Would you like .500 ball and first round exits for the next several years? Without a future or way of improving going forward?

Because that's what this team has basically been for the last 3 years.

[bubonicphoniks]

Bulls ruined my parlay by remembering how to play basketball at the end.