Bulls @ Nuggets 8pm CT Mar. 24 2025

[Dan Z]

OMG “we didn’t get ANY picks from OKC, such a terrible deal”. That was like 75% of this board complaining about this trade lol.

I don't think it was just people on this board saying that. If I'm correct sports reporters said it too.

There's a thread on this board titled "Josh Giddey Conundrum" because he came to this team with questions about his game (plus he was coming off a down year). If he was playing like this last year then maybe OKC doesn't trade him.

I'm glad he's doing well and hope he continues to do so. His next contract is a concern, but if he keeps improving then it should be fine.

Not a concern for me.

Big contracts are always a concern, unless you're a superstar player.

The Bulls recently had a difficult time trading away a highly paid, two time all-star. Sometimes contracts become an issue.

[FriedRise]

It's not like I dislike Zach and DeMar as people or anything, or that I even passionately disliked them as players whilst on the Bulls, but man, is the team a lot more fun to watch without them on the roster. It's truly night and day.

They’re playing to an identity with a significantly higher IQ / smarter ball. They run, they pass, they shoot, and now they’re going to the line. Defense sometimes optional and a work in progress. At least in this last stretch, you can have a pretty good idea to what they’re gonna do and how they’re gonna play no matter who’s on the court. It’s predictable but in a good way. We’ve had guys come in/out of lineups and newcomers from the trade and they’re all playing the same way. I can’t wait until Lonzo comes back because this roster and style of play feel tailor-made for his skill set (no doubt why they extended him).

With the Zach/DeMar Bulls, everyone seemed content with giving them the ball and get out of their way - to a point where they were sometimes hesitant to pull the trigger when open. It was predictable but in a bad way because everyone knew who’s gonna take that shot.

[pipfan]

Most fun I've had watching the Bulls since that run a few years ago with Ball. I actually look forward to games now.

I think we go after Zion in the summer-see if he's available and go for it

[RSP83]

This team currently is closer to the Pistons, the Magic, and the Hawks, then the bottom feeders.

[RSP83]

https://www.denverpost.com/2025/03/24/nuggets-bulls-coby-white-stats-nikola-jokic-out/

• Bulls season sweep Nuggets.

• The Bulls arrived in Denver with seven wins in their last nine games, averaging 24 fast-break points in the last five.

• Interesting quote from Mike Malone: “They did it when we lost to them in Chicago, and they’re doing it at even a better level now: They’re running,” Malone said. “… When you think about teams that run, a lot of times, that’ll be, they’re getting offense off their defense. Well, that’s not the case. This team is by far the best running team in the league, especially after made baskets. The answer-back. They get the ball out of the net, inbounds and up the court faster than anybody.”.

[RSP83]

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/03/24/chicago-bulls-coby-white-josh-giddey-free-throw-line/

• Since the All-Star break, Giddey and White have ranked in the top 30 of free throw attempts in the NBA. In that stretch, White averaged 5.4 trips to the line per game. Giddey averaged 5.3.

• And over the past 16 games, White is outperforming players like DeMar DeRozan in his volume of personal fouls drawn per game (4.6). “I started realizing how much I could get to the line in terms of drawing fouls,” White told the Tribune. “I never saw that before. I wasn’t cerebral with it.”

• Giddey’s and White’s increase in repetition at the free-throw line is paired with a sudden uptick in the volume of rim drives. Since the All-Star break, Giddey is 12th in the NBA with 14.9 drives per game. White is right behind, ranking 13th with 14.7 drives per game.

• The Bulls led the NBA in paint points over the past 10 games, a stretch that also saw their 3-point shooting drop to thirteenth in the league (13.7 per game) in makes from behind the arc.

[Indomitable]

The Bulls beat a Nuggets team on a back to back without Jokic, now they're gonna beat the Cavs. This board gets delusional every March

It’s either the Cavs or the Celtics. I’ll take the Cavs as well. They aren’t the defending NBA champions. Nothing wrong with what he said.

Both teams are demolishing the Bulls and it ends with the Bulls grabbing a middle of the 1st round pick. And then we get to November and teams in the NBA aren't tanking and resting starters for the playoffs and things normalize for the Bulls. It's happened 3 years in a row.

Pretty much

[WesPeace]

Bulls just aint stopping.. I like another good game from Terry, efficient, 4-4 from three.. his shot really improved this season. DT is now playing the SF spot like PWill should have.. but now he is stiff and slow and overweight. Happy for Terry..

[eierluke]

Going deep into the playoffs at some point in time would be phantastic, but this team has already won me over anyway. I can identify myself a with running, hustling and teamwork.
AK remains a questionmark, but if Reinsdorf allows him to pay the guys we already have aboard, I'd be fine with it and patient enough to wait for the outcome.

It seems that Vucevic and Carter should play any role long term and Horton Tucker (though I personally think he has played well this season) does not seem to play a role in Billys plan either

Now that core out of Giddey, White and to a minor degree Buzelis is going to show up:
1 which kind of players do we need to add?
2 who of the pieces we already have in place are a good fit?

[Dan Z]

Going deep into the playoffs at some point in time would be phantastic, but this team has already won me over anyway. I can identify myself a with running, hustling and teamwork.
AK remains a questionmark, but if Reinsdorf allows him to pay the guys we already have aboard, I'd be fine with it and patient enough to wait for the outcome.

It seems that Vucevic and Carter should play any role long term and Horton Tucker (though I personally think he has played well this season) does not seem to play a role in Billys plan either

Now that core out of Giddey, White and to a minor degree Buzelis is going to show up:
1 which kind of players do we need to add?
2 who of the pieces we already have in place are a good fit?

The Bulls could use a center. Preferably someone who can run, rebounds well and block shots.

Beyond that the team needs to find more talent anywhere they can find it. That's why I think they should draft BPA.

As for pieces who already fit....hmmm. Jalen Smith is a good rotation player. Huerter has improved since coming to Chicago, but I don't know what I think of him long term. Jones has done well, but probably doesn't have a spot on next years roster.

Collins can be an okay placeholder if they trade Vucevic.

[Ccwatercraft]

Read on Twitter

He’s going to be an allstar next season at this rate.

Alex Caruso who?

OMG “we didn’t get ANY picks from OKC, such a terrible deal”. That was like 75% of this board complaining about this trade lol.

I still hear that regularly on podcasts... soon they will slip up and say that okc should have received one.

[LikeMike23]

The Bulls beat a Nuggets team on a back to back without Jokic, now they're gonna beat the Cavs. This board gets delusional every March

It’s either the Cavs or the Celtics. I’ll take the Cavs as well. They aren’t the defending NBA champions. Nothing wrong with what he said.

Both teams are demolishing the Bulls and it ends with the Bulls grabbing a middle of the 1st round pick. And then we get to November and teams in the NBA aren't tanking and resting starters for the playoffs and things normalize for the Bulls. It's happened 3 years in a row.

The Cavs have NEVER demolished anyone in the playoffs, so what the hell are you talking about? Not only have the Bulls beaten the Cavs this year, but the Cavs just came off a four-game losing streak. They are NOT world-beaters, so go ahead and bet money that the Cavs will demolish the Bulls, and I guarantee you'll lose it because a Donovan Mitchell-led team has never swept an opponent in the playoffs. A series between the Cavs and the Bulls would be very competitive.

[dougthonus]

Both teams are demolishing the Bulls and it ends with the Bulls grabbing a middle of the 1st round pick. And then we get to November and teams in the NBA aren't tanking and resting starters for the playoffs and things normalize for the Bulls. It's happened 3 years in a row.

Last 3 years, pre all-star vs post all-star
2023-24: 26-29 vs 13-14 (basically the same)
2022-23: 26-33 vs 14-9 (dramatically better)
2021-22: 38-21 vs 8-15 (dramatically worse)

52.1% winning percentage pre
47.9% winning percentage post

Looks like random variation and not a three year trend.

[DASMACKDOWN]

If there is a parallel, what we are doing is similar to the 2022 Pelicans after the allstar break.

That team was dead in the water. Most of the fans were prepared to tank out the rest of the year. All of a sudden, they just started to get an identity thru their young guys (Jones and Alvarado) and they played fantastic down the stretch.

They finished 36-46, made it out of the play-in and took the #1 seeded Suns to a tough 6 games.

[NecessaryEvil]

Read on Twitter

[DuckIII]

I honestly don't mind snagging the 8th seed after play-in. F the Cavs ... I don't trust them anyways as a playoff winning team.

The Bulls beat a Nuggets team on a back to back without Jokic, now they're gonna beat the Cavs. This board gets delusional every March

We have 10 wins after trading Lavine and unlocking this Coby/Giddey + Matas combo. And I’m not going to discount the Nuggets win because outside of their 3pt shooting I felt they played well. It was still a good win Jokic or not.

But 6 of those wins were against teams that are tanking. It is important to keep all this in perspective.

Regardless, this should not be interpreted as frustration with wins. This is not Kilpatrick or Beverly or something phony and worthless like that. This is being done on the backs of young talented players who the Bulls plan to keep. The new “Big 3” *shudders* is playing some really exciting and effective basketball.

[DuckIII]

Coby and Giddey for Co-Players of the Month? No, because Giddey missed time. But it would have been earned. Giddey is averaging 22.1/9.4/9.3 this month on very high efficiency (.650 ts).

I wonder if teammates have ever shared that award before?

[ShouldaPaidBG]

https://www.denverpost.com/2025/03/24/nuggets-bulls-coby-white-stats-nikola-jokic-out/

• Bulls season sweep Nuggets.

• The Bulls arrived in Denver with seven wins in their last nine games, averaging 24 fast-break points in the last five.

• Interesting quote from Mike Malone: “They did it when we lost to them in Chicago, and they’re doing it at even a better level now: They’re running,” Malone said. “… When you think about teams that run, a lot of times, that’ll be, they’re getting offense off their defense. Well, that’s not the case. This team is by far the best running team in the league, especially after made baskets. The answer-back. They get the ball out of the net, inbounds and up the court faster than anybody.”.

Billy The Kid lives

[WindyCityBorn]

Bulls just aint stopping.. I like another good game from Terry, efficient, 4-4 from three.. his shot really improved this season. DT is now playing the SF spot like PWill should have.. but now he is stiff and slow and overweight. Happy for Terry..

Yeah Terry is becoming what Pat should be. We’ll be keeping him.

[WindyCityBorn]

Coby and Giddey for Co-Players of the Month? No, because Giddey missed time. But it would have been earned. Giddey is averaging 22.1/9.4/9.3 this month on very high efficiency (.650 ts).

I wonder if teammates have ever shared that award before?

26 points on 11 shots is insane. And he seems to have that clutch gene that Zach doesn’t have. Same for Coby.