Bulls vs Wizards 7pm CT Jan. 10 2025

[ChettheJet]

39 assists
13 turnovers
11 steals
look alive on defense
55-45 on the glass

win

With the players the Bulls have now that's the formula to win
yes Zach had 33, and yes you'd like him to score 8 less and have Patrick score those 8 just to spread the attack and beat the defense but that's not how the game has ever worked

the consistent Bulls problem is they looked like cold fish the previous game against IND and the next game could be like either of the last two. A lot of people want to trade Zach and Vuc because of their age and/or contacts but they're the veterans who should be leading the team and stopping the wide up and down swings and they obviously can't do it. Maybe Coby, Ayo, Lonzo could be that kind of leader but not with the two oldest longest tenured guys around

[cocktailswith_2short]

It's definitely frustrating. This team can't piss or get off the pot . I still hold out hope they will make a run . Schedule lightens up team is slowly gelling and most Important healthy .

[drosestruts]

39 assists
13 turnovers
11 steals
look alive on defense
55-45 on the glass

win

With the players the Bulls have now that's the formula to win
yes Zach had 33, and yes you'd like him to score 8 less and have Patrick score those 8 just to spread the attack and beat the defense but that's not how the game has ever worked

the consistent Bulls problem is they looked like cold fish the previous game against IND and the next game could be like either of the last two. A lot of people want to trade Zach and Vuc because of their age and/or contacts but they're the veterans who should be leading the team and stopping the wide up and down swings and they obviously can't do it. Maybe Coby, Ayo, Lonzo could be that kind of leader but not with the two oldest longest tenured guys around

I feel like Zach stepped up tonight to ensure there wasn't another slow start.

I posted his 1Q scoring earlier in the thread, and how it seems like they try to defer to others to get them involved early. That wasn't working. Took comeback wins against New York and San Antonio, and it buried us against Indiana.

Zach was the one who stepped up to ensure that didn't happen in this game.

[Dominator83]

Cleveland and OKC have young players who have either been all-stars or have all-star potential. Plus, both teams have a star player to lead them (SGA and Mitchell). The Bulls have none of that.

How far do you think Zach and Vucevic will take the Bulls? I think this team is further away than a PF to be competitive (I mean really competitive...not a first round exit).

On top of that Vucevic is having a career year at the age of 34. Will he be able to continue to produce at this level? Will he do that next year too?

Zach and Vuc are all star level players. They looked more pedestrian while playing with DeRozan because he had such a high usage rate. DeRozan was fun to watch but this was addition by subtraction. Vuc and Zach could have been playing this level of basketball the past two seasons if they were not playing with an elite midrange shooter who always wanted the ball in his hands. It was always a matter of fit. And the three of them only fit briefly together when they had a healthy Lonzo.

Yes, they are one piece away from more than a first round exit. The bench is good. They have players at every position but the 4 which is an unbelievably big hole for them. But the chances of them upgrading that position is low.

Zach and Vucevic are good but theyve been in the league for years (Zach 11 and Vucevic 14...I think). You think adding a decent PF will change things? Right now the team is on a 39 win pace. Last year they ended the season at 39 wins.

I agree that they could improve, but i disagree with how much. I also wouldnt compare them to OKC/Cleveland.

Yea i agree that were only 1 piece away...... If that 1 piece is Wemby, Jokic or Giannis. Then sure. Let's go get them with our warchest of picks to trade. Oh wait

[Indomitable]

It's definitely frustrating. This team can't piss or get off the pot . I still hold out hope they will make a run . Schedule lightens up team is slowly gelling and most Important healthy .

You make moves to help yourself or gain assets. Not just to look busy.

[MalagaBulls]

Zach has been very consistent this year relative to his season averages in most of the traditional offensive categories. But the surprising upswing in his game has come through maturity and picking his spots, literally picking his spots to shoot or attack. That coupled with an increased volume of deferrals is welcome news. I would not be mad if he is not traded and we focus on Vuc and Coby in the trade market.

[burlydee]

Comparing a player that had a poor game after he's already been traded for seems weird, Bridges is a 2-way player being paid half as much as LaVine, it's not the same thing.

That being said, the Knicks overpaid for Mikal.

I understand why Bridges value has been higher. But it's clear Zach is better. He's just a much more consistent offensive player at this point and Bridges defense is way overrated.

Trust me, I've been trashing Zach last couple years. But he's finally settled into an off ball scorer role I hoped he'd be perfect in. He's in his prime. He's changed my thinking on what a team needs to offer.

He now looks like a guy we can build around. Maybe we should be trading for Giannis.

Look, I'm not denying Zach hasn't been ballin', nor that he should fetch a decent return. But his contract makes deals hard to make, but he's definitely not fetching a Bridges type return. The Knicks overpaid.

Bridges type return no. But Bulls have every right to expect to 2 good 1st round picks in a Lavine trade or a high pick or a really good player on a cheap contract. I wonder if something like Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, a pick and salary is now on the table.