PG: That was way too difficult

[Louri]

Young -9 and Markkanen +13 even tho they played many minutes in same lineup with Dunn-Coby-Archi. If benching Lauri is about effort in D, then Lavine should not play at all at the end.

[Red Larrivee]

Young -9 and Markkanen +13 even tho they played many minutes in same lineup with Dunn-Coby-Archi. If benching Lauri is about effort in D, then Lavine should not play at all at the end.

LaVine is the best shot creator we have until someone else steps up. So, benching him in a close game probably isn't smart right now.

Markkanen's defensive flaws are easier to exploit as a big defending pick and roll.

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[RastaBull]

I haven't seen it hammered as much as I'd expect but our rebounding feels like an extremely pivotal flaw in the three crap loses. Drummond is always gonna get double double against any team, but he's def gonna get 20-20 against our weak front line and that's sad.

When you loses close games against bottom their teams, and you give up second chance points or can't get any off rebounds of your own, that's a big difference maker in the outcome.

Our two stronger "bigs" that could maybe bang and box out strongest are also our shorter: Thad and WCJ (is he really only 6'9"?). Then our two tallest are so clearly way tp weak to handle themselves under boards against stronger bigs (Lauri and Kornet). My worry is there really nothing fixable, it's just really bad personnel fir this facet of the game.

Wendell is showing instinct and IQ. Good assertiveness. But his young body and frame ultimately isn't going to really hang with Drummond or even the Tristan Thompsons (Embiid, KAT, Joker, Kanter, Adams, Whiteside, Gobert, Davis ... honestly I feel like listing starter centers on every team I'd expect 25 or so to outplay WCJ on the boards ... for the time being). Will WCJ body develop like these guys (who were all much thinner their first years), and build up and out like Adams and Noahs of the league? He's showing really great mental aspects, put him back in college this year (would be a junior) and I'd prolly average 18+ rebounds. I'll be ao impressed as year continues if he can continue to improve over this matchup even though he'll still be behind physical than other vets.

Lauri feels like a net neg on the boards with little room for improvement. He does well positionally at times to rack up boards. And by that I mean he's got to be in right position so that he can use his height and length to snare some boards without having to worry about banging with other bodies. This would totally suffice if the other big was Tyson Chandler style vet, but with WCJ still developing it comes out very weak. All in all, I don't want Lauri to go route of adding bulk to try to change (Lauri has tons of questions I'm sure we are addressing in other threads)

I don't see Kornet adding value in this ballpark. Not to say he shouldn't be on the floor ever, but when this is a MAJOR weakness must be much more careful in picking his spots.

I want to see Gafford he's no answer because his body is so young and not developed as necessary to go against NBA vets. But he does have a frame and style of play that I have a feeling will really develop that way. Hope it happens as a Bull.

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[Louri]

Young -9 and Markkanen +13 even tho they played many minutes in same lineup with Dunn-Coby-Archi. If benching Lauri is about effort in D, then Lavine should not play at all at the end.

LaVine is the best shot creator we have until someone else steps up. So, benching him in a close game probably isn't smart right now.

Markkanen's defensive flaws are easier to exploit as a big defending pick and roll.

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If Lavine could also be best shot creator to teammates, then things would look different in Bulls. I know there is argument that other players don’t make shots when he does pass, but I don’t mean just shots. Lavine is elite at running past his defender. But after that he is so damn limited. When he drives, everyone is just waiting for Lavine drive to basket and take layup. He hardy passes ball. That has created culture where everyone is just standing there and watching when someone has ball. Off-ball movement is so limited now.

Lauri has been really bad at D but I don’t see Young that much better.

[NWIBullsFan]

Drummond is always gonna get double double against any team, but he's def gonna get 20-20 against our weak front line and that's sad.

There is nothing sad about your team "giving" Drummond a 20/20 game. Last night was his 6th game of the season, and his third 20/20 game. He also has an 18/18 game for good measure.

We 'gave' him 25 and 24, well he's averaging 22 and 19, so we barely 'gave' him above-average numbers for the night. That's not sad, that's expected.

[Ctownbulls]

Lauri was also hurt last night. I think people are overanalyzing.

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[PaKii94]

Honestly, I think Lauri was saving face with the "injury". If it is a legitimate injury, hopefully it's nbd

[PaKii94]

Also, I think Lauri is utilized less because WCJ is coming into his own... which is fine. We want the team to succeed, not just the individual

[DuckIII]

I just want small things with the rotation at this point. Play Coby a little bit more, warts and all. Dunn and Sato have done nothing to distinguish themselves so there is no significant downside.

And stop playing Kornet. Completely. He’s one of the absolute worst big men we’ve had in many years who gets regular run. He’s played like a total bum. Go small. Whatever. Just get that scrub off the floor.

[mtron32]

Drummond is always gonna get double double against any team, but he's def gonna get 20-20 against our weak front line and that's sad.

There is nothing sad about your team "giving" Drummond a 20/20 game. Last night was his 6th game of the season, and his third 20/20 game. He also has an 18/18 game for good measure.

We 'gave' him 25 and 24, well he's averaging 22 and 19, so we barely 'gave' him above-average numbers for the night. That's not sad, that's expected.

Yeah, he's become a beast.

[mtron32]

Honestly, I think Lauri was saving face with the "injury". If it is a legitimate injury, hopefully it's nbd

He hasn't been flourishing in the offense, it feels like he doesn't know where to be and just settles. Didn't he bulk up over the summer? Why does he let guards push him around? They should run 1 on 1 with Lauri vs guards, dam the belt, just get him comfortable banging around in the post and standing his ground on offense and defense.

[PrimzyBulls81]

WCJ height really bothers me.. Just too small and not build for classic C role. Yeah I know he will get stronger as years go by, but still. He has no perimeter game to be PF, but he will also never be star C in the league I think. Just solid defensive starter with 16/9 averages most likely. Is that good enough for Bulls, if we dont have enough firepower and stars around him? But to be honest I much rather trade Markannen than WCJ,if it comes to that.

[mtron32]

WCJ height really bothers me.. Just too small and not build for classic C role. Yeah I know he will get stronger as years go by, but still. He has no perimeter game to be PF, but he will also never be star C in the league I think. Just solid defensive starter with 16/9 averages most likely. Is that good enough for Bulls, if we dont have enough firepower and stars around him? But to be honest I much rather trade Markannen than WCJ,if it comes to that.

Luka would've made Lauri an allstar, the way that man finds looks for his guys is insanely good, plus theyre both imports so you have that. Ugh as much as I like WCJ, we should've traded up that year.

[MrSparkle]

WCJ height really bothers me.. Just too small and not build for classic C role. Yeah I know he will get stronger as years go by, but still. He has no perimeter game to be PF, but he will also never be star C in the league I think. Just solid defensive starter with 16/9 averages most likely. Is that good enough for Bulls, if we dont have enough firepower and stars around him? But to be honest I much rather trade Markannen than WCJ,if it comes to that.

Same thought here. He's a hair short to "dominate" (either end) and less perimeter-oriented than we hoped.

But he can become a very, very good player. The tough reality is whether that very, very good player can also be a $15m compliment, available in almost any decent summer (free agents and trade market).

I have a hard time believing Lauri and Wendell ever outplay Griffin and Drummond. Granted Griffin has had injuries (with about similar frequency to Lauri and Wendell so far), but even when those 2 were in playing well, you didn't at any point peg the Pistons as a contender. Yes, they've had a garbage perimeter but still - do you start your build around the big men, or the wings?

Cause I'll tell you what; Jerry "dumped" Blake on Detroit. I'm sure the right offer would take Drummond off their hands.

We're basically back to the predicament of Pax's 06-08 roster, minus .500 ball and Isiah/NYK future picks. You've got a lot of pieces but by the time they're ready to actually play, you'll be capped out. It's a dead-end "marrying" 2 big men with non-superstar ceilings (due to physical short-comings: Lauri's athleticism and WCJ's height). I get waiting out a Gobert (freak height/athleticism) or Embiid (freak skill) project, where they're pretty high impact off the get-go (you never want them off the floor).

[ChettheJet]

Anybody who expected more from this team at the beginning of the season doesn't know much about being a team. They have a roster and rotation that didn't play together much last season with White, Satoransky, Kornet and Young being brand new. It takes time to develop to timing and knowledge of the other players on the floor and the coaches need to learn who they can count on. They're going to be inconsistent during the first 25 games until they learn who fits what situation and players find their roles at the end of the half and game.

Get off the damn ledge the season isn't lost after 6 games, despite the same idiots over on the trade board thinking they should ship out everybody for draft picks like they've been posting for 3 years.

[Jcool0]

I like Lauri but in his third year he no longer needs to be coddled or get entitlement minutes. If he's playing poorly and we have a very solid Thad available, play him. It will either make Lauri inspired and improve, or it will expose him sooner rather than later and help us decide on him before it's too late.

It can't be overstated how important it is that Porter stepped up. He can be a leader.

Thad is not very solid and should not be playing in close games over Lauri. Unless the Bulls are trying to lose games? Which i guess is possible. But the truth is that Boylen is a terrible coach who has no idea what he is doing. Its the same BS when he was running plays for Lopez last year that pretty much the worst idea possible.

[Daxel]

After the win, WCJ was the best single thing last night.
Can't wait to see a (hopefully) full season of him.
Go Bulls!

[Jiipee84]

What do you guys think about Lauri being benched for two straight games? I know there was some injury talk, but that was just a convenience that Boylen could use last night. Without that injury, I still don't think Boylen would've played him either.

I personally think he deserves it. His play has been less than stellar lately, and Thad Young has just been outplaying him on both ends of the court. But man, it does suck when one of your supposed franchise players can't even see the court during crunch time because he's not jiving offensively with your other supposed best player (Zach) and he's below average soft defensively. No entitlement minutes until you figure out how to play better.

Also, I'm done with the Luke Kornet experiment. We immediately blow our lead whenever he checks in.

As a Finn i hate agree on that right now and so long when Lauri is **** and soft inconsistent euro clown
he has earned all **** what Boylen can ever give him. If that makes Lauri feel bad, unhappy and demanding trade so be it.
NBA is big boys league and there's no room for slackers.

And as much i hate to say this Boylen should not just sit and bench Lauri in 4th quarters.
He really should give Lauri's starter PF minutes to Young.
Even blind baboon can see that Young is outplaying Lauri 100-0 in every aspect of the game.

Maybe Bulls really is better team without Lauri.
And if / when this Lauri's inconsistent fooling-around and joking of his bench assignment goes any further then next stage should be DNP decision for Lauri and if even that won't help or fix his attitude then assign him to Windy City Bulls or trade him.

Lauri had his honeymoon and now it's over.
The Finnisher is Finished

[Clocian]

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[sco]

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That isn't a bad move. He's a rook and needs to be playing if we can't give him rotation minutes here yet.