Bulls Media Day 9/29 2 PM ET

[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.

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.

I agree with your premise. I don't agree that this is what Billy has done, but we both already know where each of us stands on that.

[sco]

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.

Zach was decent playing with pace. His two issues were his defensive awareness and the fact that he had the bad habit taking a couple of dribbles instead of just taking catch-and-shoot 3's. Either he wasn't ready to shoot or his mindset was just to always play off the dribble. It was maddening to watch.

[Indomitable]

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.

I stated he wanted them to run. They Demar and Zach did not consistently do it.

They played their preferred way. Was Billy suppose to throw a tantrum. Who is no longer here.

[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.

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.

Zach was decent playing with pace. His two issues were his defensive awareness and the fact that he had the bad habit taking a couple of dribbles instead of just taking catch-and-shoot 3's. Either he wasn't ready to shoot or his mindset was just to always play off the dribble. It was maddening to watch.

He would do it sometimes. Zach should have tried to be Ray Allen. In my opinion it would have been more natural. Honestly it took Ray into 30s to get it.

Hopefully Zach gets to be a situation that allows him to be that guy.

[Stratmaster]

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.

I stated he wanted them to run. They Demar and Zach did not consistently do it.

They played their preferred way. Was Billy suppose to throw a tantrum. Who is no longer here.

Someone used the word "ignore". That is what I responded to. If we are now saying "didn't consistently do it", that is a different discussion. Players don't consistently do a lot of things because they aren't able to. Who was getting rebounds and pushing that pace? I never, ever saw Lavine not get up the floor when Lonzo or Giddey got the ball in their hands on the opponent side of the court. In fact I can't tell you how many times I saw Lavine first up the court only to have to go stand in the corner. If Lavine got the ball, who was he pushing the ball to? Vuc, Demar and Pat? Lol

Are you really sayng that you believe the reason Demar and Lavine are gone is because they weren't playing with pace like Billy wanted them to?

[drosestruts]

Read on Twitter

A lot of focus on drawing charges in this video.

We were 27th with only 13 charges drawn all season last year (OKC led the league with 63).

Will be interesting to see if this is something that carries over into the season.

[Stratmaster]

Read on Twitter

A lot of focus on drawing charges in this video.

We were 27th with only 13 charges drawn all season last year (OKC led the league with 63).

Will be interesting to see if this is something that carries over into the season.

If we can go from last to first, that 0.6 of a charge per game is going to be a huge difference maker. I am sure the extra wear and tear on the body will be beneficial too

If that is really what the focus is on, Billy is worse than even I thought.

[Chi town]

Read on Twitter

A lot of focus on drawing charges in this video.

We were 27th with only 13 charges drawn all season last year (OKC led the league with 63).

Will be interesting to see if this is something that carries over into the season.

If we can go from last to first, that 0.6 of a charge per game is going to be a huge difference maker. I am sure the extra wear and tear on the body will be beneficial too

If that is really what the focus is on, Billy is worse than even I thought.

Yeah, I agree with you. The actual charges won’t mean that much. Them being bad at it will probably result in dumb blocking fouls for and 1s too. Maybe even injuries.

What can’t be measured is the edge you play with when playing the right way that translates into better play all around.

I’m all for taking charges as it will lead to more activity, deflections, steals, shot clock violations, block shots and forced turnovers. No more ola defense. No more giving up easy buckets and then sulking.

I think it will take time just like the pace did last year but I think we have the guys to play this way and we have the depth when guys get dinged up. I think by mid season we will see it become normal and natural and it will help with wins.