Bulls @ Thunder 7pm CT Mar. 31 2025

[GoBlue72391]

Okc is going to be hanging a banner in June so this is how far away we are lol . We have some good players but so far away still .

This is why I came off as so doom and gloom the other day when people were overselling this nice little run we've been on and that miracle Lakers game.

Our best player would be the Thunder's 4th best player, and that's true of most, if not all, the contending teams.

We're a 1st round exit team at best. We're still a long way away from being relevant, and no late season hot stretch is going to change that.

Chet ain’t all that great.

It’s more like Jalen is a legit #1 on probably 20 teams. OKC has two #1s. That guy is a dude on both ends.

Bulls have healthy Zo Huerter Tre and don’t start out 1-14 from 3 and OKC doesn’t start 10-19 from 3 we probably lose by 15 and not 30. Much more competitive game.

Giddey isn’t healthy but it sure looks like he really struggles with physical size. Players he can’t bully he can’t really score on.

Chet ain't that great, but in the same breath we're (rightfully) glazing Matas. That's contradictory because at best they're equal prospects and at worst Chet is clearly the better prospect with the higher ceiling. He'd be scoring more if he wasn't 3rd in the pecking order behind the best volume scoring ball dominant player in the league and Williams.

Once the playoffs start, the opposing team will have a relatively easy time shutting us down and we're likely looking at a gentleman's sweep.

Coby and Giddey are good players, but they're most likely #3/#4 guys on a championship team. Matas has a ton of potential but it's too early to say what he'll become. We need difference makers, not just good players, and I see no avenue to aquire any given the path we've chosen.

[NZB2323]

Okc is going to be hanging a banner in June so this is how far away we are lol . We have some good players but so far away still .

This is why I came off as so doom and gloom the other day when people were overselling this nice little run we've been on and that miracle Lakers game.

Our best player would be the Thunder's 4th best player, and that's true of most, if not all, the contending teams.

We're a 1st round exit team at best. We're still a long way away from being relevant, and no late season hot stretch is going to change that.

Sure, but at the same time the Thunder were a 1st round exit in 2020 and didn’t make the playoffs from 2021-2023, and SGA wouldn’t have been a top player on any contender in 2020.

Since the all-star game Giddey is averaging 22, 10, and 9, 63.7 TS%.

When was the last time we had exciting young players that led a run like that?

[ScrantonBulls]

Okc is going to be hanging a banner in June so this is how far away we are lol . We have some good players but so far away still .

This is why I came off as so doom and gloom the other day when people were overselling this nice little run we've been on and that miracle Lakers game.

Our best player would be the Thunder's 4th best player, and that's true of most, if not all, the contending teams.

We're a 1st round exit team at best. We're still a long way away from being relevant, and no late season hot stretch is going to change that.

I completely agree Blue. I feel the same way. Bulls were on a nice run, but they're still SO far below a contending team. A real contender spanked the hell out of us tonight. That's why Ive been hoping the Bulls will keep losing to get a better draft spot. I made a post a few days ago about how I hope the Bulls would sell high on Coby if possible this off-season. That was right after a win and a big Coby game. Guru got upset with me for suggesting that we trade Coby after a great game by him and a victory.

If this team signs both Giddey and Coby to big contracts, they'll be in trouble. Having big money locked up with that core isn't a winning strategy. I really hope the Bulls roll the dice and try to cash in on Coby for young potential and/or picks. It's certainly a risk, but you need to take risks if you want a title. Build around Giddey and Matas and hope you can land another high end player from picks and what you get from a Coby trade.

[Ccwatercraft]

3 more quarters and we would have had em.

[Bulliever2020]

hello darkness my old friend

[Chi town]

This is why I came off as so doom and gloom the other day when people were overselling this nice little run we've been on and that miracle Lakers game.

Our best player would be the Thunder's 4th best player, and that's true of most, if not all, the contending teams.

We're a 1st round exit team at best. We're still a long way away from being relevant, and no late season hot stretch is going to change that.

Chet ain’t all that great.

It’s more like Jalen is a legit #1 on probably 20 teams. OKC has two #1s. That guy is a dude on both ends.

Bulls have healthy Zo Huerter Tre and don’t start out 1-14 from 3 and OKC doesn’t start 10-19 from 3 we probably lose by 15 and not 30. Much more competitive game.

Giddey isn’t healthy but it sure looks like he really struggles with physical size. Players he can’t bully he can’t really score on.

Chet ain't that great, but in the same breath we're (rightfully) glazing Matas. That's contradictory because at best they're equal prospects and at worst Chet is clearly the better prospect with the higher ceiling. He'd be scoring more if he wasn't 3rd in the pecking order behind the best volume scoring ball dominant player in the league and Williams.

Once the playoffs start, the opposing team will have a relatively easy time shutting us down and we're likely looking at a gentleman's sweep.

Coby and Giddey are good players, but they're most likely #3/#4 guys on a championship team. Matas has a ton of potential but it's too early to say what he'll become. We need difference makers, not just good players, and I see no avenue to aquire any given the path we've chosen.

Shai and Jalen were both selected outside the top 10. Draft by far the easiest route.

I don’t trust Chet to stay healthy.

I think Buz has the higher ceiling due to his on ball potential. Chet is too slow to be a 1 on ball. I agree he’d put up more stats if he wasn’t behind two 1s.

[Chi town]

Okc is going to be hanging a banner in June so this is how far away we are lol . We have some good players but so far away still .

This is why I came off as so doom and gloom the other day when people were overselling this nice little run we've been on and that miracle Lakers game.

Our best player would be the Thunder's 4th best player, and that's true of most, if not all, the contending teams.

We're a 1st round exit team at best. We're still a long way away from being relevant, and no late season hot stretch is going to change that.

I completely agree Blue. I feel the same way. Bulls were on a nice run, but they're still SO far below a contending team. A real contender spanked the hell out of us tonight. That's why Ive been hoping the Bulls will keep losing to get a better draft spot. I made a post a few days ago about how I hope the Bulls would sell high on Coby if possible this off-season. That was right after a win and a big Coby game. Guru got upset with me for suggesting that we trade Coby after a great game by him and a victory.

If this team signs both Giddey and Coby to big contracts, they'll be in trouble. Having big money locked up with that core isn't a winning strategy. I really hope the Bulls roll the dice and try to cash in on Coby for young potential and/or picks. It's certainly a risk, but you need to take risks if you want a title. Build around Giddey and Matas and hope you can land another high end player from picks and what you get from a Coby trade.

I don’t know that Giddey or Coby will be paid big contracts. Let’s say they slow down a bit. 50M for them plus Pat and Buz and we have plenty of room for a max player.

[DrModesty]

Chet ain’t all that great.

It’s more like Jalen is a legit #1 on probably 20 teams. OKC has two #1s. That guy is a dude on both ends.

Bulls have healthy Zo Huerter Tre and don’t start out 1-14 from 3 and OKC doesn’t start 10-19 from 3 we probably lose by 15 and not 30. Much more competitive game.

Giddey isn’t healthy but it sure looks like he really struggles with physical size. Players he can’t bully he can’t really score on.

Chet ain't that great, but in the same breath we're (rightfully) glazing Matas. That's contradictory because at best they're equal prospects and at worst Chet is clearly the better prospect with the higher ceiling. He'd be scoring more if he wasn't 3rd in the pecking order behind the best volume scoring ball dominant player in the league and Williams.

Once the playoffs start, the opposing team will have a relatively easy time shutting us down and we're likely looking at a gentleman's sweep.

Coby and Giddey are good players, but they're most likely #3/#4 guys on a championship team. Matas has a ton of potential but it's too early to say what he'll become. We need difference makers, not just good players, and I see no avenue to aquire any given the path we've chosen.

Shai and Jalen were both selected outside the top 10. Draft by far the easiest route.

I don’t trust Chet to stay healthy.

I think Buz has the higher ceiling due to his on ball potential. Chet is too slow to be a 1 on ball. I agree he’d put up more stats if he wasn’t behind two 1s.

Chet is a legitimate generational defender who would be in line to get a slew of DPOY's if not for the existence of Wemby, and he comes with strong offensive upside. He has been playing off of a broken pelvis, as a third option, in experimental lineups. Matas has been very encouraging and shows some high level flashes, but he has a hell of a lot to prove to be put in the same realm as Chet.

[The Force.]

Okc is going to be hanging a banner in June so this is how far away we are lol . We have some good players but so far away still .

This is why I came off as so doom and gloom the other day when people were overselling this nice little run we've been on and that miracle Lakers game.

Our best player would be the Thunder's 4th best player, and that's true of most, if not all, the contending teams.

We're a 1st round exit team at best. We're still a long way away from being relevant, and no late season hot stretch is going to change that.

Sure, but at the same time the Thunder were a 1st round exit in 2020 and didn’t make the playoffs from 2021-2023, and SGA wouldn’t have been a top player on any contender in 2020.

Since the all-star game Giddey is averaging 22, 10, and 9, 63.7 TS%.

When was the last time we had exciting young players that led a run like that?

IMO Giddey is straddling the line of being fool’s gold. His run was against mostly bums. When he faces real defenses he tends to disappear. Coby as well although to a lesser degree.

Don’t get me wrong I think Giddey can and will put up numbers and even carry this team to a winning record. However, guys like that are exploited on the postseason, often becoming a liability on the court.

I think a savvy GM would recognize this and a sell high with a S&T this offseason. AKME will likely give him 3/$120 with a player option.

[Dan Z]

This is why I came off as so doom and gloom the other day when people were overselling this nice little run we've been on and that miracle Lakers game.

Our best player would be the Thunder's 4th best player, and that's true of most, if not all, the contending teams.

We're a 1st round exit team at best. We're still a long way away from being relevant, and no late season hot stretch is going to change that.

Sure, but at the same time the Thunder were a 1st round exit in 2020 and didn’t make the playoffs from 2021-2023, and SGA wouldn’t have been a top player on any contender in 2020.

Since the all-star game Giddey is averaging 22, 10, and 9, 63.7 TS%.

When was the last time we had exciting young players that led a run like that?

IMO Giddey is straddling the line of being fool’s gold. His run was against mostly bums. When he faces real defenses he tends to disappear. Coby as well although to a lesser degree.

Don’t get me wrong I think Giddey can and will put up numbers and even carry this team to a winning record. However, guys like that are exploited on the postseason, often becoming a liability on the court.

I think a savvy GM would recognize this and a sell high with a S&T this offseason. AKME will likely give him 3/$120 with a player option.

If AK did try to sign and trade Giddey I'm not sure if there would be much of a market because most teams have limited budgets, assets and he's a specific kind of player. However, that doesn't matter because I agree with you...AK will just pay him. What's the alternative? Building through the draft, which is something AK isn't willing to do.

That means the best the Bulls can do is hope for lottery luck and add to the core of Giddey, Coby and Matas any way they can.

I could see a scenario where the Bulls aren't very competitive next year, but I hope it works and they do better than expected.

[NZB2323]

This is why I came off as so doom and gloom the other day when people were overselling this nice little run we've been on and that miracle Lakers game.

Our best player would be the Thunder's 4th best player, and that's true of most, if not all, the contending teams.

We're a 1st round exit team at best. We're still a long way away from being relevant, and no late season hot stretch is going to change that.

Sure, but at the same time the Thunder were a 1st round exit in 2020 and didn’t make the playoffs from 2021-2023, and SGA wouldn’t have been a top player on any contender in 2020.

Since the all-star game Giddey is averaging 22, 10, and 9, 63.7 TS%.

When was the last time we had exciting young players that led a run like that?

IMO Giddey is straddling the line of being fool’s gold. His run was against mostly bums. When he faces real defenses he tends to disappear. Coby as well although to a lesser degree.

Don’t get me wrong I think Giddey can and will put up numbers and even carry this team to a winning record. However, guys like that are exploited on the postseason, often becoming a liability on the court.

I think a savvy GM would recognize this and a sell high with a S&T this offseason. AKME will likely give him 3/$120 with a player option.

How well did SGA do against elite defenses when he was 22? Were Butler, Kawhi, Cade, Booker, Jokic, Pippen, Kidd, and Rondo destroying elite defenses in the playoffs when they were 22?

[Dominator83]

Patrick Williams: 24 minutes 0 rebounds.

Is he allergic to rebounds? He's 6'7" 215lbs (I'm looking at Basketball Reference). You'd think that the ball would at least bounce in his direction once during that time.

Box score says he had 29 minutes and 2 rebounds

Oops. Sorry about that. I don't think I refreshed the page.

That means the ball did fall in his direction at least twice in the game.

The original point still stands. Thru 24 minutes with still zero rebounds is beyond pathetic.

[Dan Z]

Box score says he had 29 minutes and 2 rebounds

Oops. Sorry about that. I don't think I refreshed the page.

That means the ball did fall in his direction at least twice in the game.

The original point still stands. Thru 24 minutes with still zero rebounds is beyond pathetic.

I'm not sure how tall you are, but I bet if the Bulls put you on the court for 24 minutes you might even get a rebound or two by simply showing up.

[Hangtime84]

CHET tried to bully Matas and failed everytime. Good to see.

[Indomitable]

I highly doubt they could get worse than SA with the Bulls being up 2 wins. But the 8th spot is possible. Miami is playing better, and Portland has winnable games, both teams play the Bulls....

A smart team goes for the draft odds knowing they are stuck in the play-in, and have zero chance in the playoffs.

We basically are stuck together by bobby pins and masking tape. People seem to forget that. If anything that will do us in before anything else.

Coby and Giddey were playing amazing in the month of March. They have looked gassed and out of sync the last two games. We will most likley crawl to the finish line.

My guess is we finish 10th and play Miami on the road for the play-in. Then be in position to grab a lottery pick.

I bet you're right.

The hot streak was great, but it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Will that be the team next year? Or was it just that...a hot streak? I bet the truth is somewhere in the middle.

This team still needs to add talent to it. Pushing the last 7 games to win as much as you can is foolish. Let them finish 10th and if they win two play-in games, so be it. Either way they won't do much in the playoffs.

This is to logical.

[eierluke]

OKC might be a role model for us to some degree.
They had 2 elite scorers in Alexander and Williams in place and added very good specialized role players around like Caruso and Hartenstein ... - and so far have success (at least in the regular season)

[eierluke]

Against a deep (and of course very good) team like OKC it hurts a lot when most pieces (Jones, Ayo, Ball, Huerter) of our PG,SG,SF rotation are injured.

[eierluke]

Horton-Tucker really knows how to score when set free.
His range still is not reliable but in a 1 on 1 match he'd probably win against every player on our roster outside of our potential future core (Giddey, White, Buzelis).
I therefore would like him to remain a Bull, we'd however have to cut a warranded contract (Carter, Terry, Phillips) to do so.

[Muzbar]

We basically are stuck together by bobby pins and masking tape. People seem to forget that. If anything that will do us in before anything else.

Coby and Giddey were playing amazing in the month of March. They have looked gassed and out of sync the last two games. We will most likley crawl to the finish line.

My guess is we finish 10th and play Miami on the road for the play-in. Then be in position to grab a lottery pick.

I bet you're right.

The hot streak was great, but it needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Will that be the team next year? Or was it just that...a hot streak? I bet the truth is somewhere in the middle.

This team still needs to add talent to it. Pushing the last 7 games to win as much as you can is foolish. Let them finish 10th and if they win two play-in games, so be it. Either way they won't do much in the playoffs.

This is to logical.

It makes perfect sense (hence it won't happen). I said at the start of the thread they just need to start sitting guys and let them rest, they're aren't going to fall out of the play-in, so let Giddey and Coby get some rest, you may even improve your lottery odds in the process with only helps the team more going forward (if they miss the playoffs).

Then come play-in time you've got healthier Coby and Giddey to go gang busters in the play-in, if you win both games, great, your young squad got you there, if they lose one then at least you potentially improved your lottery odds and may add another high end talent and still made the play-in.

[WesPeace]

Read on Twitter

This is why I say, Matas is PF now and going forward! His rim protection and blocks are already great and will only get better. PWill could never do this.. he lacks multiple things.

Tonight I kinda expected a blowout loss.. Giddey playing injured, no Huerter, Jones, Ayo, Ball..OKC just too good atm.