*Update* Josh Giddey post All-Star break: 23.1 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 8.4 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.9 bpg on 65.5% TS

[Saints14]

Bulls not extending him for like 4/$100 before the season was a mistake

People thought the Bulls got hosed in the trade, nobody was even talking about an extension.

Idk, I thought the general assumption at the time was that they’d trade for Giddey to extend him long-term

[Clocian]

Tonight vs the Heat:

28 pts, 16 reb, 11 ast, 3 blk, 2 stl

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

28 p 16r 11a

Buddy is putting up ridiculous lines lol

[ThomYorke]

Imagine if Simmons has his work ethic. He'd be the goat

[OrlandoDream]

I truly wonder what the bulls plan is with all these guards. They just resigned Lonzo, Giddey and Tre Jones due to contract this offseason and Coby free agent after next season. If Coby continues this play next year, he's likely to command a max. I wonder if they stick with this Coby and Giddey backcourt (will be expensive) or go another direction

[Ice Man]

However good you think Josh has been playing, he's been better that what you think. He's dominating game after game.

[ScrantonBulls]

I was hoping we'd get this MFer on a good deal. Brooklyn is going to try and max his ass I bet and force the Bulls hand.

[NZB2323]

I truly wonder what the bulls plan is with all these guards. They just resigned Lonzo, Giddey and Tre Jones due to contract this offseason and Coby free agent after next season. If Coby continues this play next year, he's likely to command a max. I wonder if they stick with this Coby and Giddey backcourt (will be expensive) or go another direction

A max for Coby? With the new CBA? I don’t think so.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

I truly wonder what the bulls plan is with all these guards. They just resigned Lonzo, Giddey and Tre Jones due to contract this offseason and Coby free agent after next season. If Coby continues this play next year, he's likely to command a max. I wonder if they stick with this Coby and Giddey backcourt (will be expensive) or go another direction

Coby plays the 2 when playing with Giddey.

It’s basically can be a 3 guard rotation between Coby, Giddey and Lonzo. Tre Jones (and Jevon Carter) are not a part of the long term outlook of this team. They may need to decide on what to do with Ayo.

I don’t think Coby is a max player, but yeah they’re going to get paid

[DrModesty]

I truly wonder what the bulls plan is with all these guards. They just resigned Lonzo, Giddey and Tre Jones due to contract this offseason and Coby free agent after next season. If Coby continues this play next year, he's likely to command a max. I wonder if they stick with this Coby and Giddey backcourt (will be expensive) or go another direction

A max for Coby? With the new CBA? I don’t think so.

I think a very good season for him next year could see him get maybe Tyler Herro money. It is hard to fathom how he could be a max guy though.

[ScrantonBulls]

I truly wonder what the bulls plan is with all these guards. They just resigned Lonzo, Giddey and Tre Jones due to contract this offseason and Coby free agent after next season. If Coby continues this play next year, he's likely to command a max. I wonder if they stick with this Coby and Giddey backcourt (will be expensive) or go another direction

A max for Coby? With the new CBA? I don’t think so.

I think a very good season for him next year could see him get maybe Tyler Herro money. It is hard to fathom how he could be a max guy though.

As a Bulls fan I'm worried about giving big contracts to guys like Coby. A team with Giddey and Coby taking up big cap space is not a contending team.

[DrModesty]

A max for Coby? With the new CBA? I don’t think so.

I think a very good season for him next year could see him get maybe Tyler Herro money. It is hard to fathom how he could be a max guy though.

As a Bulls fan I'm worried about giving big contracts to guys like Coby. A team with Giddey and Coby taking up big cap space is not a contending team.

While Coby is a good player, I do feel like players like him are fairly easy to find (in comparison to a guy like Giddey at least). It is very clear to me that the two primary investments for the Bulls are Giddey and Matas right now.

[turnaroundJ]

I think a very good season for him next year could see him get maybe Tyler Herro money. It is hard to fathom how he could be a max guy though.

As a Bulls fan I'm worried about giving big contracts to guys like Coby. A team with Giddey and Coby taking up big cap space is not a contending team.

While Coby is a good player, I do feel like players like him are fairly easy to find (in comparison to a guy like Giddey at least). It is very clear to me that the two primary investments for the Bulls are Giddey and Matas right now.

Definitely easier to get a short scoring guard. It’s always a wrong move to invest in them unless they’re superstar level.

[Ice Man]

While Coby is a good player, I do feel like players like him are fairly easy to find (in comparison to a guy like Giddey at least). It is very clear to me that the two primary investments for the Bulls are Giddey and Matas right now.

Correct. We let Zach go, Coby slid right into his slot. If we let Coby go, we'll find another #2 guard scorer. Maybe not as good as Coby, but a player who fits a similar description. Whereas there aren't any spare Giddeys floating around the NBA, and as a 6' 10" shot blocker who can run the floor, drive for dunks, and (increasingly) make his 3s, Matas is in a pretty special group too.

[Saints14]

Happy for Bulls fans. After years in purgatory since the Lonzo injury they finally have some exciting young players to feel good about

[FrodoBaggins]

Chicago Bulls post All-Star break (26 games):

- 116.7 ORtg (+2.1 rORtg) [14th/30]
- 112.4 DRtg (-2.2 rDRtg) [14th/30]
- +4.3 NRtg [11th/30]
- 103.38 pace (+4.48 rPace) [1st/30]

Other notable stats: 7th in AST%, 5th in AST/TOV ratio, 6th in AST ratio, 7th in FGM% assisted, 3rd in 3FGM% assisted, 5th in DRB%, 9th in TOV%, 6th in D-EFG%, 1st in fast break points per 100, 5th in points in the paint per 100, 6th in opponent second-chance points per 100, and 2nd in opponent fast break points per 100.

So, they're running a track meet out there. Pushing the pace and sharing the ball while doing well to limit turnovers. Lots of assisted threes, which is good. Limiting easy baskets by getting back in transition and securing the defensive boards.

A high pace suits Josh; he may not be the fastest, but his endurance is very good, and his motor is incredibly high. Kind of like Jokic in that sense. He's in the perfect place if this is the type of team CHI intends to be in the future. And I think it is per the players they've acquired via trade and what I've heard about Billy Donovan and Artūras Karnišovas. Something about a deeper, more spread roster construction as opposed to top heaviness. Sounds like a lot of high-quality role players that can play off-ball and bring effort and hopefully defense.

[zimpy27]

Good play-in game

He closed out the year strong and I think he does get a look at a max offer. Maybe 4 years with a team option

[OrlandoDream]

A max for Coby? With the new CBA? I don’t think so.

I think a very good season for him next year could see him get maybe Tyler Herro money. It is hard to fathom how he could be a max guy though.

As a Bulls fan I'm worried about giving big contracts to guys like Coby. A team with Giddey and Coby taking up big cap space is not a contending team.

You can tell that the future of the Bulls is the duo of Gidey and Matas. Im very impressed with Matas for his skillset for a player his size. Hes gonna be a special player. I see Bulls cashing in on Cobys hot streak to end the year for a nice pick and young piece to add to Matas/Gidey duo.

[FrodoBaggins]

Two major skill developments this season: three-point shooting and foul-drawing. It's made him more efficient as a scorer on and off the ball. Made some encouraging strides on the defensive end, too.

Want to see him continue to progress as a shooter. More catch-and-shoot off movement, above-the-break usage, and off-the-dribble. A reliable 33-40% pull-up three would take his ceiling to a very high level.

[DrModesty]

I give Giddey a B- for the play-in game.

His defensive issues cropped up, but there are some caveats to this. First, almost no one on the team is a strong defender meaning he can't be protected. Second, specifically his center is a bad defender which amplifies everything on that end of the court. Third, many offensive star players are bad defensively. He is no worse than Luka for example and he is clearly better as a defender than players such as Trae, Lillard or Haliburton.

His 3 point shooting in this specific game was poor, but not troublesome. 2/7 is 29%, 3/7 is 43%. 1 more goes in and this game gets pointed to as proof of his improvement as a shooter.

I like that he was able to get to the line in a game that mattered. It makes me feel confident that this skill is going to be reliable. I expect him to be shooting 5 free throws per game next year.

Obviously the rebounding was good.

The 4 assists to 3 turnovers wasn't very nice to see, but again has some caveats. First, 3 turnovers is fine if you are getting 8, 9, 10 assists as has been regular for him in the past. Second, Coby's horror night with ball security made every turnover for the team feel like a hammer blow, while his horror night shooting let Miami play defense clear mindedly. Coby is a guy who is supposed to generate panic for defenses with scoring deluges. Third, and most importantly, the Bulls got shellshocked by Miami early and it killed their off ball movement. All of the off ball players seemed to be thinking and watching instead of doing. I think this didn't just hurt Giddey, but also Coby and even Vuc when he was looking for DHO's. I think you can put this down to the nerves and inexperience of a young team.

Ultimately I feel mildly encouraged by the performance. 25/10/4 on 53% true shooting at a minimum showed a level of effectiveness. He wasn't shut down which would have given reason to actually be concerned.