How bad are we really? How watchable are we?

[pipfan]

I was pro tank since last Jan-and I am enjoying the rebuild. I watch with a detachment, focusing on Dunn, Lauri and a few others. But so far, so good for me

[Ice Man]

How bad are we? Every player on the squad has a negative real plus/minus score, that is how bad we are. We are unwatchable for any general NBA fan, and watchable only for Bulls fans who like tanking strategies.

[McBulls]

After a 40 year absense, I have returned to Professional Hockey. In part because my short stature Mayan son is playing hockey rather than basketball. And in part because the Bulls seem likely to suck for at least the next 5-10 years.

The Derrick Rose signed banner is hidden behind toys and books in the family room. My kids wonder why I wear Bulls hoodies, when BlackHawks stuff is not only flashier, but celibrates Native Americans.

Still, I peek at the Bulls sometimes on WGN from time to-time, check their box score after games, and tune into this site to see what neversaydie Bulls fans think is going on with the team. Not sure I’ll have as much interest in a year or two if management continues to trade what little talent they have for “cap space”... Go Hawks!

[greenl]

But to me, this team is far more watchable than the Cartwright teams

Granted, I really only like watching when Markennan, or Dunn, or even Nwaba are on the court

when felicio is on the court, I fast forward the recording because he is not an NBA player

I am...still watching every game, ...as a recording so I can fast forward and watch more condensed.

Helluva endorsement for watching this train wreck. Bulls PR team might be contacting you to discuss some advertising for the team.

[The 6ft Hurdle]

The only thing that keeps me connected to the Bulls is the fact that I frequent this board out of habit. Almost 2 decades of habitually looking for "news" for a team that I really really loved at one point, ironically, the most during the post-MJ Krause era.

I first checked out of following this team everyday when BG was first gone. Some of you might be surprised to know that I didn't even really enjoy the Rose-Thibs era all that much, but at least I know I could tune in and watch the playoffs. I really, really tuned out when Nate Robinson was not re-signed.

All of this apathy is mainly because I hate Garpax and don't have any confidence in their ability to make anything that will resemble a championship team or at least even challenge a championship team. Just waiting for them to be gone, but not sure how soon that will be.

At the moment, I kind of know who is on the team, more so than even last year. Every year, I'm just waiting for a 2004-2005 Ben Gordon type-moment when something totally random happens and I see a pattern of winning that could actually give even just a glimmer of hope for future viewing.

Have not been a metrics person, but I do casually view box scores and the very basic player stats, but I don't see anything compelling. I waste my time following other things.

In my full laze and armchair GM Lavar Ball mode with a lot of anger still directed at Garpax, and without having watched a single game, I am fully compelled to say that Markkanen is Elton Brand 2.0. I reserve the right to change my opinion. LOL, any "rational analysis" might return if we return to winning with the younger, long-term pieces.

I actually might want to watch Zach Lavine however for a game or two, and that's only because he went to UCLA. Though, my negative nancy viewer identifies him as Ron Mercer 2.0.

Ben Gordon and Nate Robinson were the major attractions? Ouch.

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For me, yeah. BG's hey day was far more fun for me to watch than MVP Rose; I guess I liked the idea that we had the prospect of coming back in every single game based on his shooting and his ability to "heat up." I mean his rookie year when he showed that is what basically re-energized my waning interest in a team that started 0-9 in 2004-2005. To a much lesser extent, Nate Robinson provided the same. I guess the fact that we weren't even sure if we were a playoff team was enough reason for me to tune into regular season games religiously from 2005-2008, then again for Rose's/Del Negro's rookie season with BG inserted as a starter.

Rose's game was a lot more dominant but it was based on him physically dominating other point guards or whomever guarded him. During the Thibs era, the regular season was more of a formality to the 'real' season. I mean I appreciated it and liked the 60-win seasons from afar, but I wasn't really entertained and/or captivated by it. I was also kinda resigned to the idea that we didn't have enough to beat the Cheatles, and it didn't seem like Garpax had any cunning to tinker or know how to tinker (different sport, but I think of the current Blackhawks management as tinkerers whom I kinda have confidence to get us close to contention) with the rest of our roster to get us past them.

Different strokes.

[Clint Eastwood]

But to me, this team is far more watchable than the Cartwright teams

Granted, I really only like watching when Markennan, or Dunn, or even Nwaba are on the court

when felicio is on the court, I fast forward the recording because he is not an NBA player

I am...still watching every game, ...as a recording so I can fast forward and watch more condensed.

Helluva endorsement for watching this train wreck. Bulls PR team might be contacting you to discuss some advertising for the team.

Cherry picking my quotes. I used them as a foil to the fact that I still am watching and have hope and am enjoying more than last years playoff team.

[nomorezorro]

i think the most watchable aspect of the bulls this season is that there aren't that many stoppages in play, so the games go by quickly

the bulls are 10th in opponent fta per game and dead last in fta per game. makes it easier to tune out for a few minutes when the players i care about are out of the game

[waffle]

FOR THE MOST PART I have enjoyed watching them. The exceptions:
- When, for some reason, every game, they just absolutely forget how to play D for about 10 minutes. Usually get outscored by 10-20 during that time
- Holiday when he is...himself, but moreso. He is ALMOST good, except when he really isn't at all.

[SfBull]

I know we are on pace for a historically bad year. And I know we only have potentially a few long term pieces on the roster at this time. And I know we need a generational player with our number one pick in the draft next year. I think its ayton, but wont be upset with bagley, and think Doncic would be a mistake.

But how bad are we really? I am not a big metrics guy. But watching this team play doesnt make my eyes bleed even as much as watching last years more competitive team. Look at our point differential which sits around 11pts. Compare that to the teams that have similar point differential that have won more games than us. Really in most games we have been competitive minus a few outliers. The beauty is because we have no 4th quarter stud players, we lose all close games which is ideal for the tank.

But to me, this team is far more watchable than the Cartwright teams. And there is far more hope.

Granted, I really only like watching when Markennan, or Dunn, or even Nwaba are on the court because I consider them long term roster pieces. And Lavine I expect to feel the same about as well. And granted, when felicio is on the court, I fast forward the recording because he is not an NBA player but we decided to give him a really stupid contract. But overall, I am somehow still watching every game, usually as a recording so I can fast forward and watch more condensed. So this tells me I like what is going on, and there is hope.

Just my thoughts.

I really think that drafting Doncic will be a huge mistake.
It's more and more unbearable to watch this Bulls team , especially when Fred plays the bench.And it reinforces the need of drafting a potential franchise player next draft,we don't have it know,Dunn and Lauri can grow into good role players,we don't know if Lavine will fulfill his potential so we really need a potentially great player .

[SfBull]

The worst in the NBA.

Very watchable.

We are really bad. Definitely the worst in the league and potentially the worst in the league in the past five-or-so years. I agree though that we're much more watchable than a number of other teams in the league this year and also much more watchable that last year's club. Watching this year's team is also easier because losses hurt less knowing that we want a great draft pick. There's definitely hope and hope makes teams watchable. We have more hope for our future than we did last year, in my opinion.

I'd have more hope if we have more draft picks but we don't have many assets for trades.We should have 2 picks for this very deep draft.

[Jeffster81]

Right now I am usually boxscore reading and watching highlights of very select players on the team, ie Lauri, Dunn, Nwaba. I know that is NOT condusive to analyzing players growth and talent, so I live that to those with better eyes and understanding of the game and player improvement. I simply cannot watch a Hoiberg coached Bulls team, just like I could not watch a Floyd coached team.

If Dunn and Lauri are playing decently by the time Lavine comes back, I think the second half of the season will be "watchable" at the very least. But until then, I think the Bulls bad and sometimes unwatchable.

[ThreeMileAllan]

Thank god there are a lot of people who think this team is unwatchable. I thought I was going crazy reading how this team is more "stylistically" fun to watch, lmao.

It's effing awful is what it is.


AND **** THE RED UNIFORMS ON THE RED COURT. MY EYES BLEED WITH RED ON RED.

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[pjflyer]

I find them watchable, but only because I bet under 22 wins at the start of the season. Also bet Lauri over 8 pts.

[molepharmer]

I like the players on this years Bulls more than those on last years team. So i start out watching every game. But if an opponent I dislike is blowing them out, I tend to turn off the game. Generally they've played competitively and merely suffer from having a brain fart for one quarter which leads to the final point spread.

[aramada]

We wanted tanking, we get tanking.
Even young "promising" players don't know how to win, i.e. minimizing mistakes and maximizing the expression of their talent in a team setting. This roster minus LaVine has very little talent - it will have a little bit of raw talent once Zach gets back. They seem able to play hard (for now), which is a positive. But they'll still make tons of mistakes, partly due to their lack of experience, partly due to limited talent. And that will make them unwatchable most of the time.
I do expect LaVine to make a (relatively) huge difference if he can take some of the load offensively, once back in rhythm. That will send back many players who were overextending themselves (looking at you Justin + Robin, Kris) back where they belong - low usage role players. And combined with Niko's return, it will hopefully kick out players who don't belong (Denzel, Zipser, post-pay Felicio).

[MrSparkle]

Personally I'm skipping out on a lot of games. Dunno why near-guaranteed 20+ point losses against most good teams are watchable, but I suppose if you catch the 2 "ok" quarters it's ok. Besides Lauri and possibly Dunn, is anybody looking forward to any other player long-term? I see Nwaba/Holiday netting themselves better deals elsewhere after their short Bulls campaigns. I don't see attractive prime ceilings from Felicio, Grant, Valentine, Portis and Zipser. RoLo is a pretty boring player.

What made the Bulls painful the past few years was the lack of athletes. Would've loved to have Nwaba, Holiday on the "least athletic team in the league" (per Rondo's words, and that was an understatement), or even in the days of broken down Jo and Rose and old men Pau and Dunleavy.

[CubsFanInAR]

No doubt the Bulls are awful this year, but they aren't unwatchable. I have actually watched them more often this year than the last few years because I have had more free time. They're not the Bulls of the 90s or the Lakers of the 80s, but as a fan of basketball in general I have been able to watch and enjoy the games (even if you aren't necessarily always appreciating the efforts of the team you would prefer to see win). I guess I approach it from the perspective of somebody who has watched (in person) everything from grade school and junior high and high school to NAIA, division 2, division 1, development league, and NBA games. Every one of those games was watchable if you are fascinated with observing and studying the game.

Good basketball? Well, the Bulls are better than all the other levels I have watched, but they're not competing on the same level as the rest of the NBA right now, so the fan in me says they're not as entertaining/fulfilling as I might like, but they're just fine to fill some free time with if you can step back from your Bulls fandom and put on your basketball fan hat.

[johnnyvann840]

Do you even have to ask? Just look around. Talk to people who are casual fans and they can't even name half the team. Five years ago we routinely had 50 page post game threads. Look at them now. There is not much interest and many have just bailed on this mess.

There's maybe a dozen people here who actually think this is watchable.....and watch every game. And we are the hardcore fans. Hell, most friends of mine who used to be HUGE HUGE Bulls fans, don't even follow the team anymore. Most couldn't even name 6 players on the team. It's just really bad and unorganized and hard to watch. You wonder the long term effect of this tanking on the "Bulls Nation" itself. How many kids won't be die hards because their parents don't watch anymore?

[Warren G]

Do you even have to ask? Just look around. Talk to people who are casual fans and they can't even name half the team. Five years ago we routinely had 50 page post game threads. Look at them now. There is not much interest and many have just bailed on this mess.

There's maybe a dozen people here who actually think this is watchable.....and watch every game. And we are the hardcore fans. Hell, most friends of mine who used to be HUGE HUGE Bulls fans, don't even follow the team anymore. Most couldn't even name 6 players on the team. It's just really bad and unorganized and hard to watch. You wonder the long term effect of this tanking on the "Bulls Nation" itself. How many kids won't be die hards because their parents don't watch anymore?

Sounds like you're describing bandwagon fans? They'll be back once we're good again.

[johnnyvann840]

Do you even have to ask? Just look around. Talk to people who are casual fans and they can't even name half the team. Five years ago we routinely had 50 page post game threads. Look at them now. There is not much interest and many have just bailed on this mess.

There's maybe a dozen people here who actually think this is watchable.....and watch every game. And we are the hardcore fans. Hell, most friends of mine who used to be HUGE HUGE Bulls fans, don't even follow the team anymore. Most couldn't even name 6 players on the team. It's just really bad and unorganized and hard to watch. You wonder the long term effect of this tanking on the "Bulls Nation" itself. How many kids won't be die hards because their parents don't watch anymore?

Sounds like you're describing bandwagon fans? They'll be back once we're good again.

Not really. Would you call people who post here who admit to not watching games bandwagon fans? I wouldn't. I can't say I blame them. Are their kids going to be as big of Bulls fans as they are? I think that is the question. I've tried to watch and seldom get through a game. Mostly watch the condensed version on LP. What I'm saying is that we ARE the hardcore fanbase. The ones who care the most. If a lot of us aren't watching, what do you think the ratings are going to look like?

I grew up with some pretty crappy Bears teams, some really good Bulls and Hawks teams that never won a title and some really bad Cubs teams. But I know I'm a fan because my dad watched all the games and went to the Stadium a lot for both hockey and basketball, and I went with him. I'm seriously worried about long periods of disinterest having an effect 20 years from now, not so much with the 25-70 crowd, but the youngsters who don't have Michael Jordan to watch play for their team and may not get much exposure to the team during their formative years. We avoided this in the aughts with the tear down/rebuild because Bulls fans were still fresh off the dynasty. This feels different.