Bulls @ Rockets 7pm CT Mar. 15 2025

[pipfan]

Sloppy game, but they played hard. Hous does not look like a contender

Starting to think maybe we resign Jones (if he'll take a fair deal) and trade Ayo?

We could always buyout Carter as well

[WesPeace]

Solid game from Bulls..

I just dont like White as main offensive guy on the team, he is forcing too much, many iso shots, on current team, maybe ok - but going forward, naaah, dont want it! Just trade him in offseason please..

I just dont see him as efficient smart leader of Bulls future..

[dougthonus]

Win or lose, Patrick and the team have looked good tonight.

Right up until the point where his laziness gives the Rockets a key offensive rebound put back to seal the game.

[dougthonus]

Tough loss. Pat at PF just doesn't work, because he's a massive liability on the glass. Williams gambled and nearly got the steal, but he didn't get back to box out Green for basically the game-winning play. We don't really have an advantage when he's the four. Just play him at the three.

We also don't really have an advantage with him at the 3 because he's not good enough to create an advantage.

[pipfan]

One big thing this summer is for PWill to focus on being a 3. He needs to lose weight and improve his handle

I want us to pick Newell from Ga for a real, old school PF. Matas to me should be a 3. PWill can back up both (Phillips too)

I agree we SHOULD trade White but we won't-I see us in the Playin next year again too-but at least we'll have a bunch of expiring deals in case a star (for some reason) wants to join us

[Red8911]

Solid game from Bulls..

I just dont like White as main offensive guy on the team, he is forcing too much, many iso shots, on current team, maybe ok - but going forward, naaah, dont want it! Just trade him in offseason please..

I just dont see him as efficient smart leader of Bulls future..

Right now Coby is the go to guy on this team.If anyone is going to take these shots it’s him. You’re right though he’s probably not the player to lead a successful winning team but it’s also not his fault that he’s the best offensive weapon the bulls have.Either they need to add or yes if possible trade him for something better.

He’s been a lot better lately, the only way they trade him is if they REALLY like someone specific in the draft who they think will be a difference maker and sacrifice Coby in order to move up in the draft or if he’s included a bigger deal to acquire a star which is unlikely.

Will be interesting to see what they do with Coby. I’m sure he will be involved in trade talks. We know he’s also up for a contact extension and will most definitely demand a big raise.

[Red8911]

Tough loss. Pat at PF just doesn't work, because he's a massive liability on the glass. Williams gambled and nearly got the steal, but he didn't get back to box out Green for basically the game-winning play. We don't really have an advantage when he's the four. Just play him at the three.

We also don't really have an advantage with him at the 3 because he's not good enough to create an advantage.

Pat is neither a 3 or a 4 but something in between lol.

[sco]

Did not expect a win. Probably closer than it would have been if HOU hadn't played prior night. Only good to come from fact that Billy tried to find Smith minutes (of course they should have come from Vuc's). They massively outrebounded us and got to the line a ton more, but the game was closer than the stats would suggest.

Coby struggled with his shot, but got to the line 8 times.

Jones continued to play well as well.

We win this game if Vuc doesn't play. Collins/Smith >> Vuc.

Matas was marginally impactful. Good to see a couple 3's fall for him. He blew a couple easy one at the rim.

Pat seems to be shaking off the rust. He didn't make many obvious mistakes, which is a win.

[Red8911]

Sloppy game, but they played hard. Hous does not look like a contender

Starting to think maybe we resign Jones (if he'll take a fair deal) and trade Ayo?

We could always buyout Carter as well

Yeah Houston is nothing special despite them being #2 in the west. They have ways to go before they are an actual contender but still they are a very good and young team which should get better later on.

I agree about Tre, bulls need to start making plans to bring him back. I don’t think they have an issue with too many guards, they like playing them together anyway but yeah if someone needs to be moved it’s first Lonzo, if not then Ayo.

My only concern now is that Tre will most definitely have interest around the league and if he can pick he ll end up somewhere like Miami.

[Chi town]

Win or lose, Patrick and the team have looked good tonight.

Right up until the point where his laziness gives the Rockets a key offensive rebound put back to seal the game.

That was probably better for him than getting the steal and then missing the tying dunk and becoming a meme.

Helped the tank.

Yes. He enjoys watching more than competing.

[dougthonus]

Tough loss. Pat at PF just doesn't work, because he's a massive liability on the glass. Williams gambled and nearly got the steal, but he didn't get back to box out Green for basically the game-winning play. We don't really have an advantage when he's the four. Just play him at the three.

We also don't really have an advantage with him at the 3 because he's not good enough to create an advantage.

Pat is neither a 3 or a 4 but something in between lol.

It's not that Pat is just a tweener. It's that Pat has terrible basketball IQ. If he had good basketball IQ then he'd be fine as a 3 or a 4. He's physically okay just being a wing at either position. Mentally, he just still doesn't know what he's doing and has terrible instincts on both sides of the ball.

I think it's an important distinction to realize his problems aren't related to how he's being played or what he's being asked to do, it's that he's not good enough to do all the things demanded of him to be a good player regardless of the position he plays.

Obviously we can hope this changes over time. He's been in the league along time to not come along more mentally at this point, but he's young enough that it isn't crazy to think he slowly gets better.

[Chi town]

One big thing this summer is for PWill to focus on being a 3. He needs to lose weight and improve his handle

I want us to pick Newell from Ga for a real, old school PF. Matas to me should be a 3. PWill can back up both (Phillips too)

I agree we SHOULD trade White but we won't-I see us in the Playin next year again too-but at least we'll have a bunch of expiring deals in case a star (for some reason) wants to join us

Giddey is the 3. Billy always plays 3 guards and a PF as a wing.

Pat will get his shots coming off the bench when Giddey sits.

Billy should be trying Giddey Zo Pat Buz Collins once they are back. We have to experiment playing big.

[Chi town]

We also don't really have an advantage with him at the 3 because he's not good enough to create an advantage.

Pat is neither a 3 or a 4 but something in between lol.

It's not that Pat is just a tweener. It's that Pat has terrible basketball IQ. If he had good basketball IQ then he'd be fine as a 3 or a 4. He's physically okay just being a wing at either position. Mentally, he just still doesn't know what he's doing and has terrible instincts on both sides of the ball.

I think it's an important distinction to realize his problems aren't related to how he's being played or what he's being asked to do, it's that he's not good enough to do all the things demanded of him to be a good player regardless of the position he plays.

Honestly, I think Pat just has no motor. That would solve nearly all his problems.

[Chi town]

Solid game from Bulls..

I just dont like White as main offensive guy on the team, he is forcing too much, many iso shots, on current team, maybe ok - but going forward, naaah, dont want it! Just trade him in offseason please..

I just dont see him as efficient smart leader of Bulls future..

Right now Coby is the go to guy on this team.If anyone is going to take these shots it’s him. You’re right though he’s probably not the player to lead a successful winning team but it’s also not his fault that he’s the best offensive weapon the bulls have.Either they need to add or yes if possible trade him for something better.

He’s been a lot better lately, the only way they trade him is if they REALLY like someone specific in the draft who they think will be a difference maker and sacrifice Coby in order to move up in the draft or if he’s included a bigger deal to acquire a star which is unlikely.

Will be interesting to see what they do with Coby. I’m sure he will be involved in trade talks. We know he’s also up for a contact extension and will most definitely demand a big raise.

PG Coby is no bueno. SG Coby next to a PG like Giddey is solid starter.

Coby’s defense… Yikes. He’s far worse than Giddey.

[dougthonus]

Pat is neither a 3 or a 4 but something in between lol.

It's not that Pat is just a tweener. It's that Pat has terrible basketball IQ. If he had good basketball IQ then he'd be fine as a 3 or a 4. He's physically okay just being a wing at either position. Mentally, he just still doesn't know what he's doing and has terrible instincts on both sides of the ball.

I think it's an important distinction to realize his problems aren't related to how he's being played or what he's being asked to do, it's that he's not good enough to do all the things demanded of him to be a good player regardless of the position he plays.

Honestly, I think Pat just has no motor. That would solve nearly all his problems.

I agree, and I think we're saying the same thing in slightly different ways.

I think he has no motor because he doesn't know what to do. He's slow to understand what the right thing is, and then by the time he does it is too late, and he is behind the play. My guess is that he's not lazy and rather he's non instinctual, but in the end, I think the result is just as you say.

The only difference is that if you view the root cause like me, then you understand it will be hard for him to fix it. If you think he's just not trying hard then you might think a different coach could whip him into shape by being harder on him, but I don't think that's the case.

[HomoSapien]

Tough loss. Pat at PF just doesn't work, because he's a massive liability on the glass. Williams gambled and nearly got the steal, but he didn't get back to box out Green for basically the game-winning play. We don't really have an advantage when he's the four. Just play him at the three.

We also don't really have an advantage with him at the 3 because he's not good enough to create an advantage.

I would argue we have less of a disadvantage with him at the 3.

[ChettheJet]

I think HOU could have looked better against a Bulls team without Goddey and Ball. Green and FVV really seemed to carry them. n expected loss so nothing to be upset about.

With Ayo done, Giddey and Lonzo out and HOU playing a big front line it was worth finally playing Smith at the 4. For a few minutes that put either Patrick or Phillips at the 3. Have to look at Smith at the 4 more and moving several guards for next year.

[WesPeace]

One big thing this summer is for PWill to focus on being a 3. He needs to lose weight and improve his handle

I want us to pick Newell from Ga for a real, old school PF. Matas to me should be a 3. PWill can back up both (Phillips too)

I agree we SHOULD trade White but we won't-I see us in the Playin next year again too-but at least we'll have a bunch of expiring deals in case a star (for some reason) wants to join us

Pat should be SF from next season with potentially going back to almost rookie body.

But I disagree on Matas, he should be PF, especially when he adds a bit muscle, he is good rebounder and blocker..

[ShouldaPaidBG]

I honestly thought that a lot of Pat's low-IQ plays were due to Billy telling the team not to crash the boards, or him wanting to defer to the vets. I thought in a different context he'd be better.

But now it's a different context and he looks the same, and not only that but all the other players we put at the wing positions regularly crash the boards and don't have any qualms doing what they want out there, implying Billy gives the guys freedom and Pat simply doesn't know what to do with it.

He has poor reactions, poor anticipation, poor spacial awareness....stuff you take for granted at the pro level.

[kodo]

Will be interesting to see what they do with Coby. I’m sure he will be involved in trade talks. We know he’s also up for a contact extension and will most definitely demand a big raise.

Agreed that's a tough situation. There's no chance of him taking an extension, he's not a $15M player and that's our extension max. He's not going to be OK getting paid less than bench players like Collins & Huerter. He's done here after 1 year, we can sign him in FA just like every other team in the league. Bulls need to decide if they are willing to overpay to keep him and outbid all 29 other teams, or trade him while they still have control.

In the same situation Toronto opted to trade OG rather than lose him for nothing, since they could only extend for $26M and he ultimately got $42M. Not sure if AK will navigate this the same as Masai.