Play In, Playoffs, Success

[_txchilibowl_]

Continuity ftw

[SfBull]

For me the most important as a fan is having a fun,fast and very watchable team for rooting again,I disliked the slower isolation game based on DeMar ,Vuc and Zach so I couldn't be more happy watching the youngers developing with at least one of them with star ceiling (Buzelis).
Let these guys play without pressure looking for the best possible record.
Let the tankers tank.

[Michael Jackson]

Celtics were defending champs that year right?

Yes they were. They were missing KG, but it was a classic.

Shame game 7 was a bit of a dud.

Remember when Butler, Wade, and Rondo were about to sweep the #1 seed Celtics until Rondo broke his thumb?

We don't talk about that team here. They were the worst basketball team the Bulls ever put out. We do not mention them.

That was sarcastic but I boycotted that team simply because I was so pissed at Paxson for not tanking. I am also one who doesn't think Wade used us, I genuinely think he wanted to come home did charitable stuff in Chicago etc... It was just not a great fit. Paxson was handcuffed because I think he was planning on tanking but this whole optics of never signing a big name was looming and he decieded on optics over his normal rather smart conservative (overly) moves. That being said that team actually was pretty good even considering all the lockeroom drama (man Fred was a bad choice)

[TheSuzerain]

This team, on paper, SHOULD be tanking. The fact that both Giddey and Coby—two mediocre starters—have seemingly made a jump to all-star level play in the span of four weeks is almost unheard of. Like I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen anything quite like this. If that weren’t enough, the team appears to be gelling and miraculously buying into Billy’s defensive strategy. The stars have somehow aligned to cause all of these things to occur at once.

If this level of play does in fact carry over into next season, I honestly can’t be mad at not tanking because this team is playing much more like a 4 seed than a 9 seed.

I don’t have any delusions that the Bulls could win a playoff series against Boston or Cleveland but I guarantee you neither one of those teams wants to play the Bulls in the first round.

The other big factor is that half the teams in the NBA have basically quit. The dog days of the season are kind of pathetic competition wise but we're actually playing hard which is leading to these wins.

[dougthonus]

We don't talk about that team here. They were the worst basketball team the Bulls ever put out. We do not mention them.

That was sarcastic but I boycotted that team simply because I was so pissed at Paxson for not tanking. I am also one who doesn't think Wade used us, I genuinely think he wanted to come home did charitable stuff in Chicago etc... It was just not a great fit. Paxson was handcuffed because I think he was planning on tanking but this whole optics of never signing a big name was looming and he decieded on optics over his normal rather smart conservative (overly) moves. That being said that team actually was pretty good even considering all the lockeroom drama (man Fred was a bad choice)

I think with the massive cap spike, the Bulls were also in this weird spot where they simply had to spend a ton of money and there were no players to spend it on. They were smart to not lock into 4 year deals like most teams, but would have been even smarter to lock into one year deals, like hey Dwyane Wade here is 40M for one year. We effectively paid 50M for 1 year but had the cap hit on two years, we'd have been better off just being way under the cap the next year again.

[drosestruts]

Continuity ftw

nearly 50% of our roster is new from last year.

The lineup we've been starting - 3 of the 5 players weren't on the team last year.

but yeah, continuity I guess.

[Betta Bulleavit]

I am still in disbelief that this team is actually trying to win games versus positioning themselves for a higher draft pick. Its some really good talent available in the top 5-7 picks this year. If the Bulls are unlucky enough to win out the play-in and play the Celtics or Cavs in the first round they will be swept.

I don't really understand this criticism. The Bulls traded away DeRozan, Caruso, and LaVine. If they're winning because of the efforts of their young players, there's nothing to really do about it.

Agree 100%. In fact, that’s an ideal scenario because it indicates that we may already have the pieces to start a successful rebuild with. And it also underscores why being able to get our pick back from the Spurs was a critical move. Granted, it’d have been better if we didn’t have to do that to begin with but it is what it is.

[sco]

Speaking of post-season. Has there been any update on Ball's recovery? Would love to give him as many games as possible to reaclimate before the post-season.

[KissedByaRose1]

The addition of the play in tournament was truly one of the worst things that could have happened to the Bulls. Kinda suprised i didn't realize this more in the moment and i'm kicking myself.

We're talking about a team that's going to win 35 games like they're actually trending in any kind of meaningful direction. AKME very likely would have been canned if we hadn't been an 8 seed at least 3 years in a row. But with this play in garbage ownership can actually point to something and say we're heading in the right direction even though we've been a bottom 10 team 3 years in a row now and have won 1 playoff game in 8 seasons.

Of the 10 teams that have better lottery odds than us currently i think 7-8 of them have better rosters and would beat this current bulls team in a 7 game series. Raptors have Barnes, Hornets have Miller, Pelicans have a few guys i really like that are better assets than anyone we have. Spurs/76ers will both likely be top 6 playoff teams next year.

Really cannot overstate how awful these last 30 days have been for Bulls basketball. Even with the malpractice of Arturas last summer and this trade deadline which we have discussed in great length, we still had a punchers chance for a top 4 pick before this streak that will ultimately mean nothing. So you can spin this anyway you want and i think tanking is horrible for sports but being roadkill to the Cleveland cavaliers and upping Coby and Giddeys price tag by several millions wasn't worth losing 30% odds into getting into the top 4 which we at least had about 5 weeks ago. this is all in a draft that projects to have a couple real difference makers.

Just put Paxson back in charge and then at least we can pray for blind luck. Our current front office doesn't even offer us that hope.

[Chi town]

Any pick we got outside of 1 and Flagg would have taken a min of 3 yrs to produce what Giddey and Coby are doing every night.

[sco]

The addition of the play in tournament was truly one of the worst things that could have happened to the Bulls. Kinda suprised i didn't realize this more in the moment and i'm kicking myself.

We're talking about a team that's going to win 35 games like they're actually trending in any kind of meaningful direction. AKME very likely would have been canned if we hadn't been an 8 seed at least 3 years in a row. But with this play in garbage ownership can actually point to something and say we're heading in the right direction even though we've been a bottom 10 team 3 years in a row now and have won 1 playoff game in 8 seasons.

Of the 10 teams that have better lottery odds than us currently i think 7-8 of them have better rosters and would beat this current bulls team in a 7 game series. Raptors have Barnes, Hornets have Miller, Pelicans have a few guys i really like that are better assets than anyone we have. Spurs/76ers will both likely be top 6 playoff teams next year.

Really cannot overstate how awful these last 30 days have been for Bulls basketball. Even with the malpractice of Arturas last summer and this trade deadline which we have discussed in great length, we still had a punchers chance for a top 4 pick before this streak that will ultimately mean nothing. So you can spin this anyway you want and i think tanking is horrible for sports but being roadkill to the Cleveland cavaliers and upping Coby and Giddeys price tag by several millions wasn't worth losing 30% odds into getting into the top 4 which we at least had about 5 weeks ago. this is all in a draft that projects to have a couple real difference makers.

Just put Paxson back in charge and then at least we can pray for blind luck. Our current front office doesn't even offer us that hope.

Yeah the play-in is silly and achieves nothing. I feel like before teams could do soft tanks to avoid the playoffs, but now, tanking has been taken to such an extreme. Guys are "sick" or resting as much as legally allowed and teams are trotting out 3rd stringers and cheerleaders.

That said, this season, IMO moreso than the past few seasons, seems to have the least upside drop-off from picks 2-15 (because they are all flawed) than any year I can remember for quite some time. So our pick may end up being the 2nd best in the draft.

[Chi town]

After Billy went on air this week about how at some point young players have to impact winning and play in meaningful games.

AK finally does an in game interview and says they believe in their core and want more players that fit this style.

Bulls don’t crack against a contending team that had multiple schemes defensively for them.

Buzzer beater dub and losses from Hawks and Magic. Bulls just games from 7th seed and one home win from the Celtics.

I’m hoping for a 6 game playoff series where we compete every night. Our guys end the season thirsty for more and put in the work to compete for top 4 seed next season.

[bledredwine]

This happens every single year we can tank and it annoys the hell out of me every time. That said, I’m happy for you all.

[meekrab]

So Orlando and Atlanta are right ahead of us in the standings for 8th place, which is significant because 7 and 8 get two "win and in" games, and they play each other twice before the end of the year... who are we rooting for to win those games (and push the other down 2 games)? Personally I would like to kick Trae Young's ass in the play in so I'm pulling for ATL.

[superchops70]

Everyone's talking about moving up to the 7 spot, but what's crazy is that even after all this recent winning, if the Bulls lose Saturday and Miami wins (they will, they have Philly), we're right back down to tied for 10th spot.

[kodo]

Yeah the play-in is silly and achieves nothing. I feel like before teams could do soft tanks to avoid the playoffs, but now, tanking has been taken to such an extreme. Guys are "sick" or resting as much as legally allowed and teams are trotting out 3rd stringers and cheerleaders.

That said, this season, IMO moreso than the past few seasons, seems to have the least upside drop-off from picks 2-15 (because they are all flawed) than any year I can remember for quite some time. So our pick may end up being the 2nd best in the draft.

If Silver were serious about stopping tanking, it would be very simple just eliminate pick protections.
Bad teams are just naturally bad, Charlotte, Washington, etc.. Nothing underhanded there.

But pick protections have caused good teams to intentionally lose to get their pick.
Schenk who was assistant GM at the time, said GS intentionally tanked in 2012 with Steph & Klay on the team to retain their pick.
A couple of years ago the Mavs with Luka & Kyrie tanked to keep their pick.
Philly is tanking now, to protect their pick.

Shifting lotto odds 1% here and there is trivial compared to the motivator of keeping a high 1st round pick or losing it.

[Chi town]

Will be interesting to see where this all lands and the bigger long term ramifications…

- Bulls get the 7-8 seed and a competitive 5-6 game series where Coby Giddey Buz play really well

Giddey probably cashes in big time.

- Bulls struggle down the stretch get a play in game and lose…

Giddey takes a haircut on that big pay day and we get a lottery ticket for the draft.

I’d prefer a strong finish with a healthy Zo and Tre in a chippy playoff series that really gives development to Buz Coby Giddey and makes them hungry for a summer of work. Draft your stud C mid teens. Bring the band back and hopefully dump Vuc.

Or let’s get some lottery luck.

Either way I’m here for it.

[NZB2323]

We don't talk about that team here. They were the worst basketball team the Bulls ever put out. We do not mention them.

That was sarcastic but I boycotted that team simply because I was so pissed at Paxson for not tanking. I am also one who doesn't think Wade used us, I genuinely think he wanted to come home did charitable stuff in Chicago etc... It was just not a great fit. Paxson was handcuffed because I think he was planning on tanking but this whole optics of never signing a big name was looming and he decieded on optics over his normal rather smart conservative (overly) moves. That being said that team actually was pretty good even considering all the lockeroom drama (man Fred was a bad choice)

I think with the massive cap spike, the Bulls were also in this weird spot where they simply had to spend a ton of money and there were no players to spend it on. They were smart to not lock into 4 year deals like most teams, but would have been even smarter to lock into one year deals, like hey Dwyane Wade here is 40M for one year. We effectively paid 50M for 1 year but had the cap hit on two years, we'd have been better off just being way under the cap the next year again.

The Bulls also had no way of knowing that Wade would treat his time in Chicago as a vacation. Bulls fans always criticize JR for being cheap, but he had no issues spending that summer.

[dougthonus]

The Bulls also had no way of knowing that Wade would treat his time in Chicago as a vacation. Bulls fans always criticize JR for being cheap, but he had no issues spending that summer.

Wade was clearly in decline, he may have also taken it easy too, but I think he was just done. That's why Miami wouldn't go over 20M per year for him, and they won multiple titles with him.

Bulls were way under the cap and used their cap room, that isn't being a big spender. Every team spends up to the cap at least.

[Donkedave]

Well with the hawks win and us going onto win this one. We are locked into 9th seed.

Will host Miami which is next Wednesday it seems.