Bulls Media Day 9/29 2 PM ET

[Chi town]

KC saying Bulls playing with a quiet confidence and he believes Coby will have a breakout season and Bulls will surprise people as their depth will play. He’s buying the defense and physicality too

I love KC, historically my favorite Bulls beat guy, but he's now a Bulls employee, and when you look at his commentary on his podcast now it clearly looks like he has shackles on what he's allowed to say. This ignores the fact that he was generally a balanced but leaning positive guy before. Now I think he's still a smart guy and will report some stuff, but his ability to be balanced in the face of genuinely negative events is gone. He's a rah rah guy now.

Honestly, I think he's generally been an even to negative guy when predicting actual Bulls outcomes, prior to his new role. He was often predicting fewer wins than were actually achieved. But he goes along with descriptions like the Bulls being "competitive" and generally puts a gloss on it that makes his thoughts seem more optimistic than they are. Basically, he never would actually voice an objection to the overall approach, but he isn't a guy like Stacey who would often overpromise actual performance.

I haven't followed him as closely since his move to CHSN, but I'll take your word for the fact that he's become more of a pollyanna.

Yep. I agree with your take here.

I am buying the quiet confidence. We are adding healthy Tre, Ayo and leaner Pat to the team that played with visible confidence. We aren’t relying on any rookies or aged out vets except Vuc… mostly all players that should get marginally better.

[CROBulls]

Quiet confidence last till Miami Heat play in game, then they disapear and forget how to play basketball.

[Indomitable]

Quiet confidence last till Miami Heat play in game, then they disapear and forget how to play basketball.

It is in their head

[Dominator83]

KC saying Bulls playing with a quiet confidence and he believes Coby will have a breakout season and Bulls will surprise people as their depth will play. He’s buying the defense and physicality too

I love KC, historically my favorite Bulls beat guy, but he's now a Bulls employee, and when you look at his commentary on his podcast now it clearly looks like he has shackles on what he's allowed to say. This ignores the fact that he was generally a balanced but leaning positive guy before. Now I think he's still a smart guy and will report some stuff, but his ability to be balanced in the face of genuinely negative events is gone. He's a rah rah guy now.

Even way back then he operated with shackles. He knew about Tie-gate and didn't report until WOJ found out and exposed it.

[Chi town]

Interesting lineups in practice today with Coby out…



Giddey Okoro Huerter Phillips Vuc
Tre Ayo Buz Pat Collins… like they are playing Pat Buz together
Noa DT Jalen on 3rd string in red

[Repeat 3-peat]

Read on Twitter

[Indomitable]

Read on Twitter

So the part where he says if you are sore you are suppose.

Was it my imagination or he was looking at Patrick

[Muzbar]

Read on Twitter

Billy actually swore at them (It was censored out). I like that. Giving them a bit of tough love.

I know this is all fluff stuff, but I'm so ready for this season.

[Stratmaster]

It was a start.
*The Bulls went from a team that did what they wanted and was mediocre.
* Too a team that did listen and was mediocre.

Admittedly on the surface this seems to be pointless. From my point of view it means they are coachable and can be modelled. MJ is not walking through that door. Therefore, internal development is required.

This season is about Matias, Noa, Giddey, Coby, and Ayo possibly. The rest of these pieces are just interchangeable role players. They are not firing anyone and therefore it is important to get a team on the same page.

This is about a culture shift and not just about a record. They actually did follow the coaching. Most successful teams start out with an improved culture or are gifted a star that change their destiny.

No one is telling you that this will be fun, but this is the season of trying to instill culture. They will spend their money this off season if they believe they have found their path.

Who on the Bulls was doing "what they want"? Now if you said the Bulls went from "doing what Vuc wants" I could probably agree. What coach did that? Oh yeah... Billy.

So two years ago when he was preaching this.

Demar who the main culprit did it.

He was perceived as their leader therefore they ignored Billy.

Billy would tell them to push it and it was being walked up.

Billy being trying to get them to play this way since he got here.

That was one of the reasons for Lonzo. They played that way. I have rewatched that season a few times.

Once he went down the paced slowed.

You can dislike Billy all you want but dislike him for a reason.

I hate how he struggles to react to half time adjustments. I question his play calling all the time but he always wanted them to play with pace.

Not buying it. Demar and Billy were always said to be on the same page. No one was ignoring Billy. Not even Vuc. Vuc just complained and Billy conceded.

[Jvaughn]

Who on the Bulls was doing "what they want"? Now if you said the Bulls went from "doing what Vuc wants" I could probably agree. What coach did that? Oh yeah... Billy.

So two years ago when he was preaching this.

Demar who the main culprit did it.

He was perceived as their leader therefore they ignored Billy.

Billy would tell them to push it and it was being walked up.

Billy being trying to get them to play this way since he got here.

That was one of the reasons for Lonzo. They played that way. I have rewatched that season a few times.

Once he went down the paced slowed.

You can dislike Billy all you want but dislike him for a reason.

I hate how he struggles to react to half time adjustments. I question his play calling all the time but he always wanted them to play with pace.

Not buying it. Demar and Billy were always said to be on the same page. No one was ignoring Billy. Not even Vuc. Vuc just complained and Billy conceded.

Yeah the run and gun with a ton of 3s doesn't suit Demar's strengths at all. I can believe he wanted to play faster, but you're wasting Demar if you're not going to play half court iso ball. I just think this is the first time Billy has had a roster he can actually play fast with. Now Zach didn't have an excuse. That kind of system should've fit him like a glove.

[Indomitable]

So two years ago when he was preaching this.

Demar who the main culprit did it.

He was perceived as their leader therefore they ignored Billy.

Billy would tell them to push it and it was being walked up.

Billy being trying to get them to play this way since he got here.

That was one of the reasons for Lonzo. They played that way. I have rewatched that season a few times.

Once he went down the paced slowed.

You can dislike Billy all you want but dislike him for a reason.

I hate how he struggles to react to half time adjustments. I question his play calling all the time but he always wanted them to play with pace.

Not buying it. Demar and Billy were always said to be on the same page. No one was ignoring Billy. Not even Vuc. Vuc just complained and Billy conceded.

Yeah the run and gun with a ton of 3s doesn't suit Demar's strengths at all. I can believe he wanted to play faster, but you're wasting Demar if you're not going to play half court iso ball. I just think this is the first time Billy has had a roster he can actually play fast with. Now Zach didn't have an excuse. That kind of system should've fit him like a glove.

Zach played very well in it..

Stratmaster believe what you want. Billy was always talking about push the pace. Demar would not.

Demar did the same thing in Sacramento too with Mike Brown.

Oh and I am not trying to sell you anything believe what you want. This is what happened.

Once Ball got hurt they were a wreck. They lost his ability to get the ball and get into transition.

Billy has desired to push it for years. He tried to manage it waiting for Ball return and he did not. Therefore we got overly reliant on Demar style. Then it got Zach playing like that.

Once Demar left we started pushing it.
Billy has wanted to play like this for years.

[jnrjr79]

Not buying it. Demar and Billy were always said to be on the same page. No one was ignoring Billy. Not even Vuc. Vuc just complained and Billy conceded.

Yeah the run and gun with a ton of 3s doesn't suit Demar's strengths at all. I can believe he wanted to play faster, but you're wasting Demar if you're not going to play half court iso ball. I just think this is the first time Billy has had a roster he can actually play fast with. Now Zach didn't have an excuse. That kind of system should've fit him like a glove.

Zach played very well in it..

Stratmaster believe what you want. Billy was always talking about push the pace. Demar would not.

Demar did the same thing in Sacramento too with Mike Brown.

Is this true? I don’t remember there being a big push to play fast until last season.

[SalmonsSuperfan]

"Quiet confidence" is a funny way of saying "lacking talent"

[Indomitable]

Yeah the run and gun with a ton of 3s doesn't suit Demar's strengths at all. I can believe he wanted to play faster, but you're wasting Demar if you're not going to play half court iso ball. I just think this is the first time Billy has had a roster he can actually play fast with. Now Zach didn't have an excuse. That kind of system should've fit him like a glove.

Zach played very well in it..

Stratmaster believe what you want. Billy was always talking about push the pace. Demar would not.

Demar did the same thing in Sacramento too with Mike Brown.

Is this true? I don’t remember there being a big push to play fast until last season.

He has been trying for years.


Before Lonzo got hurt the first time we played with pace.

Then it became the Demar show.

Billy every year would say it and for a game or two it might occur. Then the Demar slow down poor man's Kobe offense.


It happened last year because no one counter acted Billy approach and this year we will attempt to be more physical.

Young teams are inclined to listen to the coach.

[Stratmaster]

Not buying it. Demar and Billy were always said to be on the same page. No one was ignoring Billy. Not even Vuc. Vuc just complained and Billy conceded.

Yeah the run and gun with a ton of 3s doesn't suit Demar's strengths at all. I can believe he wanted to play faster, but you're wasting Demar if you're not going to play half court iso ball. I just think this is the first time Billy has had a roster he can actually play fast with. Now Zach didn't have an excuse. That kind of system should've fit him like a glove.

Zach played very well in it..

Stratmaster believe what you want. Billy was always talking about push the pace. Demar would not.

Demar did the same thing in Sacramento too with Mike Brown.

You have a source for this? If not then believe what you want back at you...

[Indomitable]

Yeah the run and gun with a ton of 3s doesn't suit Demar's strengths at all. I can believe he wanted to play faster, but you're wasting Demar if you're not going to play half court iso ball. I just think this is the first time Billy has had a roster he can actually play fast with. Now Zach didn't have an excuse. That kind of system should've fit him like a glove.

Zach played very well in it..

Stratmaster believe what you want. Billy was always talking about push the pace. Demar would not.

Demar did the same thing in Sacramento too with Mike Brown.

You have a source for this? If not then believe what you want back at you...

Every place Demar goes there pace decreases.
From 14 to 19 for the Kings.

Demar is most effective in half court.

[Stratmaster]

Zach played very well in it..

Stratmaster believe what you want. Billy was always talking about push the pace. Demar would not.

Demar did the same thing in Sacramento too with Mike Brown.

You have a source for this? If not then believe what you want back at you...

Every place Demar goes there pace decreases.
From 14 to 19 for the Kings.

Demar is most effective in half court.

And? He and Billy were on the same page. You think he was just ignoring Billy? All the reports were that they were each others biggest supporters. You didn't hear Billy's post game presser speeches?

[Indomitable]

You have a source for this? If not then believe what you want back at you...

Every place Demar goes there pace decreases.
From 14 to 19 for the Kings.

Demar is most effective in half court.

And? He and Billy were on the same page. You think he was just ignoring Billy? All the reports were that they were each others biggest supporters. You didn't hear Billy's post game presser speeches?

I never said they were arguing. You have me confused with a person who hates someone.

Billy accepted because there was no point guard and Demar was his most trustworthy half court player..

Still Billy always tried to play with pace. Demar always slowed it down.

Coaches accept a lot of things when it works. Demar kept it competitive and for a while they literally were waiting for Ball.

Billy will work better with young players because they are not stuck in their ways.

I never said they were fighting. I said Billy was stressing pace for about 3 to 4 seasons.

This is not football where coaches have great power. Billy made the best of the situation,but he always wanted to push the pace.

That is why they got In Ball a guy known for pushing the ball up the court.

[Stratmaster]

Every place Demar goes there pace decreases.
From 14 to 19 for the Kings.

Demar is most effective in half court.

And? He and Billy were on the same page. You think he was just ignoring Billy? All the reports were that they were each others biggest supporters. You didn't hear Billy's post game presser speeches?

I never said they were arguing. You have me confused with a person who hates someone.

Billy accepted because there was no point guard and Demar was his most trustworthy half court player..

Still Billy always tried to play with pace. Demar always slowed it down.

Coaches accept a lot of things when it works. Demar kept it competitive and for a while they literally were waiting for Ball.

Billy will work better with young players because they are not stuck in their ways.

I never said they were fighting. I said Billy was stressing pace for about 3 to 4 seasons.

This is not football where coaches have great power. Billy made the best of the situation,but he always wanted to push the pace.

That is why they got In Ball a guy known for pushing the ball up the court.

I thought this whole conversation started with how the players were ignoring Billy and you mentioned Demar specifically. Maybe I lost the thread.

[dougthonus]

Not buying it. Demar and Billy were always said to be on the same page. No one was ignoring Billy. Not even Vuc. Vuc just complained and Billy conceded.

I think this is true. No one was ignoring Billy.

I have no idea if Billy would prefer to play with pace holistically, but he definitely prefers to make his schemes fit the roster instead of only doing one thing regardless of the players he has. Which, to state the obvious, is what a good coach does, because players will be best optimizing their strengths not running whatever the coach things is best regardless of their strengths.