PG: Close, but no cigar

[WindyCityBorn]

It’s one game. On to the the next. Replace Johnson with Bradley permanently as he brings absolutely nothing to the table.

[smw6230]

We're better than the Knicks. Shots didn't fall, calls went the other way, we missed many defensive rotations and gave up offensive rebounds, and still only lost by one.

On to the next game.

People see what they want to see I suppose. NY controlled the game with their best player scoring a total of 13 points. NY lead by 13 with 2 minutes left in the game.

The final score might look close but the Bulls internally know that NY poses huge matchup problems for them.

BTW, if LaVine scores 13 points at MSG the Bulls would get run off the floor. They simply lack NY's scoring depth.

Kemba & Fournier were shrewd additions by NY. Veteran professional shot makers that can space the floor.

OTOH, NY basically left Lonzo unguarded and focused their defense on LaVine & DeRozan.

[chefo]

That play was probably designed for Zach to drive down the middle after the handoff. Because it's middle-school bad if DD was the main option and Vuc dragged the athletic 7 foot shot blocker right to the corner where the ball was going. DD probably doesn't pump fake if he's 1-on-1.

It can be argued whether Coach D letting guys play through rough stretches and with bad lineups is better or worse than Thibs micro-managing stuff all the time, but I sure miss Thibs. You can tell these Knicks wear his persona on their sleeves, just like the Bulls used to his first 4 years here.

[Ice Man]

Well, at least Zach got to the free throw line.

On roster construction, we have by my count four midsized Try Hard, athletic guys in Green, Brown, Johnson, and Caruso who don't score very well. That's two more than we need. Getting Coby back will help our bench scoring punch. Then we need to move a couple of those extra Try Hard 6' 6" guys for a Try Hard 6' 10" guy who can rebound, block shots, and body up opponents.

[mtron32]

We lost a one-possession game to a legit playoff team, after fighting back from a deficit.

If you're gonna have a meltdown about this, you're wrong. It's a long season.

That said - our halfcourt offense needs to be better, our rebounding needs to be better, and if we aren't going to get any other interior defender in the near future, Tony Bradley needs more minutes.

Hope PWill is ok.

All of this. Tony Bradley looks fine to me, let him stand in the dunkers spot, defend and rebound for us.

[Michael Jackson]

Rewatch Ball on Randle in the 4th. He made Randle look like playoff Randle.

[FecesOfDeath]

The biggest flaw in the gameplan was that their offense played right into the hands of what the Knicks defense wanted them to do. In hindsight, they needed to get their ballhandlers dribbling downhill, and against a team with good size and decent length 3-5 but with less speed than the Bulls, they needed to set vertical screens high up the halfcourt by the hashmarks. It's quite a viable play with Vuc, because he can shoot the 3 ball, so it's not like they can just leave him alone after the screen is set.

[aramada]

Second unit offense is painful to watch. Zero spacing, only one ball handler in DDR or Zach. 2 out of Zach, DDR, Ball, and Vuc should be in at all time until Coby gets back or Pat decides to start playing basketball.
Rebounding is our other glaring weakness. Have Alize play more minutes w Vuc. He rarely works at the 5. Bradley should play more as the backup (coming back from injury?)

[chicago paxsons]

You cant win every game but I was satisfied what I saw. We are certainly going to be a tough playoff team for sure. And I know at some point AKME will get us basement bin bigs around mid season.

Knicks played a great game and we had a meh game and only lost by the last second. I will take it.

We need to make some adjustments but this was a great practice test to what we might see in the playoffs.

Why wait until mid-season? It is costing us games now.

You realize we are the same size as Miami's roster right? Yes midseason or earlier if we are lucky. Just a guy that is beefy that can rebound and defend.

Essentially Daniel Theis would be perfect.

In the meantime we should actually give bradley minutes instead of dnp.

[DASMACKDOWN]

You cant win every game but I was satisfied what I saw. We are certainly going to be a tough playoff team for sure. And I know at some point AKME will get us basement bin bigs around mid season.

Knicks played a great game and we had a meh game and only lost by the last second. I will take it.

We need to make some adjustments but this was a great practice test to what we might see in the playoffs.

AKME will get us basement bin bigs around mid season. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Let this be true!

Yes its the obvious move. Like I have said previously, it doesnt have to be some star player. Just someone to do the dirty work for the playoffs.

[FriedRise]

I know it didn’t feel like it, but that was the first game where our Big 3 actually performed like how they’re supposed to.

Just didn’t get much contribution from anyone else offensively.

Too bad Pat got hurt because he was really starting to find his mojo there. Hope it wasn’t too serious.

[MrSparkle]

I'm ready to be frustrated with this team through January or so, with our new roster and a really hard schedule. I honestly think we will hit a great groove at some point and go on a real run. The forum might be a bit frustrating in November, but I am still very optimistic that these guys will gel. And remember this team will look very different in 2 years anyway when we are, I hope, a real threat for a ring.

Wish I got to see the game - was working and it wasn't televised. Loving all the Noah love all over sports media though.

Yeah, we look like a really good team that could trend way up or swing down depending on health and development. It is irrational expecting guys like Troy, Alize, Ayo and Pat to upset seasoned playoff guys, and it’s only gonna get harder against some squads.

One more shooter could’ve made the small ball thing work. Maybe if Coby got hot in Ayo’s minutes. But you can’t beat a much bigger team shooting a worse 3P%.

[fleet]

Billy didn’t go to Bradley soon enough. That allowed the Bulls to get some traction in the game.

Alize was minus 12 in less than 4 minutes. That stretch lost the game.

Hopefully the positive takeaway from this game is that we do indeed have a competent backup C of a traditional variety. And even if Alize playing with a bunch of athletes overwhelmed second units in preseason with their athleticism and effort, that's probably not going to work much in real action.

Pretty interesting to see the impact Bradley had just by being big and competent. Nothing special.

Could try Pat off the bench and start Bradley. The way things are going.

[aramada]

Rewatch Ball on Randle in the 4th. He made Randle look like playoff Randle.

Williams was doing a decent job on him until he got injured

[Michael Jackson]

We lost a one-possession game to a legit playoff team, after fighting back from a deficit.

If you're gonna have a meltdown about this, you're wrong. It's a long season.

That said - our halfcourt offense needs to be better, our rebounding needs to be better, and if we aren't going to get any other interior defender in the near future, Tony Bradley needs more minutes.

Hope PWill is ok.

All of this. Tony Bradley looks fine to me, let him stand in the dunkers spot, defend and rebound for us.

I think he has not been healthy,or in shape or hasn't learned the defense or offense. He will see more time no doubt, but Billy is establishing a culture that is high energy and IQ like he did in Florida. Guys like DJJ, Bradley etc... HAve to conform to see the floor. I can only explain Pat as they have faith in PAt to get better and letting him grow.

[WindyCityBorn]

You cant win every game but I was satisfied what I saw. We are certainly going to be a tough playoff team for sure. And I know at some point AKME will get us basement bin bigs around mid season.

Knicks played a great game and we had a meh game and only lost by the last second. I will take it.

We need to make some adjustments but this was a great practice test to what we might see in the playoffs.

AKME will get us basement bin bigs around mid season. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Let this be true!

Yes its the obvious move. Like I have said previously, it doesnt have to be some star player. Just someone to do the dirty work for the playoffs.

A better question is why did we sign all these 6’6” instead of a couple of bigs in the first place? It was blatantly obvious this would be a problem while everyone was counting on Patrick Williams to play like Draymond Green.

[ch434355]

It's a joke that Zach didn't get that last shot. This is not your team, Demar.

[Shill]

That 8-0 run by Kemba in the 3rd really put us in a hole.

We didn't dig out of it until the very end.

[MrSparkle]

Rewatch Ball on Randle in the 4th. He made Randle look like playoff Randle.

Pretty impressive honestly. I think refs gave Lonzo some leniency with calls, but for that size difference, it was very formidable D.

Wasn’t paying attention early as much. Who was guarding Lonzo in the first Q?

[WestsideResider]

One positive to come out of that game is that it doesn’t seem like that wrist is affecting Zach too much