Post Game: Bulls Survive Nikola

[Jcool0]

Ayo is an incredible basketball player. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

Dont say that to Sco

I take Ayo over Huerter for the resign all day.

Ayo is def not a PG though. Lots of dumb turnovers.

There is no reason to resign Ayo over Huerter. Ayo is less then 2 years younger so that's not really an advantage and will want to much money if this season continues and overall Huerter is the better player. Don't let the Chicago connection blind you.

[The Explorer]

Don't forget Tony Snell.

And Chris Duhon

Pat Williams is feeling left out.

Adrian Griffin, a Skiles favorite, should be the lead of Chicago's all nothing team.

[Muzbar]

Bulls are back!

This is classic Bulls.

Lose to Detroit's bench and lose in double overtime to the Jazz only to come out and beat the Nuggets on the home court...

Also, was RealGM down for anyone else? I couldn't access the sites for hours.

I couldn’t get on from like 2pm until 6:30pm! Was like did the Bulls forum crash the site!

Yeah that's about when I couldn't get on too.

Glad I wasn't the only locked out.

[Jvaughn]

I'm a bit more optimistic. This team IMO is legit above .500 team. This is only the 13th game of the season, there are archs of improvements where I feel they can address them as the season progresses:
1. Coby's integration and settlement
2. Zach Collins
3. Matas is still developing
4. Essengue

Interior Defense remains the biggest hole though.

I tend to agree. We're 0.500 with injuries to Coby & Collins and the most brutal record in the league. It's been a frustrating couple of weeks but we easily could have another 2-3 against these upper tier teams.

We have the weakest SOS left for the season and Coby has returned. I'd argue this team is closer to 0.600 and could push 50 wins if they stay healthy.

The interior defense is the crux that will continue to drag on for this team until its fixed.

And as long as Vuc is the defensive anchor, that issue will not be fixed. Jalen Smith at least tries on defense, and gets some food blocks help side. His lack of strength is an issue against the larger players though. Collins is a good defender, but I'm not sure he has a future here.

[Red Larrivee]

Best win of the season, obviously-after a tough loss

Question is-do we deal for an upgrade? I think a cheap move could be Porter Jr-putting up big numbers in BRK, we could get him cheaply I'd think and his shooting would really help

Porter seems redundant. Yes, he can shoot and score, but that doesn't address what's happening right now.

Outside of a legitimate superstar, I think there are two needle-moving upgrades the Bulls can make: A two-way center and a two-way SG/SF. The Bulls are trying to compensate for not having both right now:

1. Vuc doesn't have any defensive mobility or value. 13.4 points on 42% FG/34% 3P in his last 8 while playing 30+ MPG. He is a liability if his shot is not falling, and his effort is a wildcard every night.

2. Okoro on many nights is not a threat to shoot the ball. He has 24 points in his last 113 minutes. His defense is fine, but nowhere near good enough to make up for not being a baseline offensive threat.

I'd argue you're playing 3 on 5 offensively. Teams are more than willing to let Okoro and Vuc shoot. Those are probably the biggest reasons why the Bulls are getting off to slow starts. The bench comes in and they don't have these same issues. Everyone can score and the defense is reasonable at worst despite some limitations with size.

1Q Bulls: 24th in ORTG, 21st in DRTG, 22nd in NRTG (-8.1)
2Q Bulls: 4th in ORTG, 10th in DRTG, 3rd in NRTG (+12.3)

[sco]

I had this as a sure loss, like many. I decided to go to bed and watch it this morning. I figured I would be fed up and just fast forward after we'd be down 20 after the 1st quarter. Kudos to this team's heart and effort. The bench was great!

Giddey had a very efficient game and kept the starting unit afloat.

Matas had me excited that he might have a huge game early, but like too many times, disappeared in the 2nd half...but he didn't rack up fouls at least.

Ayo deserves props for a great game. I see the potential and I root for him, but I get frustrated because he should play like this all the time.

Sticks was really good. I would really love him to start for us. It would really help our starting unit.

Carter deserves more minutes. He is not an end-of-the-bench guy.

Huerter has probably should be our fifth starter. He seemingly brings something different to every game.

[Jcool0]

Bull starters: +/- -78

Bulls reserves: +/- +90

Denver starters: +/- +45

Denver reserves: +/- -60

Haven't seen a game like this in awhile.

[Buzesbulls]

Great unexpected win! That 4th quarter was rough though. Some ugly possessions on offense. Giddey needs some help in close-out time. I know Vuc made that big 3, but otherwise he was atrocious. Mata seems to disappear as well. I'll 100% take the W though.

[DuckIII]

Trenton Hassell, Keith Bogans, Isaac Okoro. It's crazy how we somehow keep getting this type of player that regularly does nothing, has a reputation of being a good defender, and becomes a coach favorite for no reason.

Don't forget Tony Snell.

Not quite. He was supposed to be able to score and the coaches hated him. He never reached the hallowed status of “beloved by the coaches and guaranteed significant minutes for reasons.”

[DuckIII]

Ayo is an incredible basketball player. He doesn’t get the credit he deserves.

I think there’s only like two posters left who still hate on him. I think this year finally everyone else gets it.

P.S. He’ll keep getting better.

[Ice Man]

Not quite. He was supposed to be able to score and the coaches hated him. He never reached the hallowed status of “beloved by the coaches and guaranteed significant minutes for reasons.”

It's hard to be beloved when your annual PERs are 8, 10, and 6, as they were for Tony's 3 years in Chicago. Given that lack of performance, I would say that he was treated rather generously, in getting about 20 minutes per game.

[DuckIII]

Very impressive road win but it’s concerning that we won despite the starters. Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the so called “core.”

This team doesn’t have or rely on a core. We have a 23 year old Giddey and a 45% developed 20 year old Matas.

[Jcool0]

Very impressive road win but it’s concerning that we won despite the starters. Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the so called “core.”

This team doesn’t have or rely on a core. We have a 23 year old Giddey and a 45% developed 20 year old Matas.

Is that not a core in the current NBA?

[DuckIII]

Very impressive road win but it’s concerning that we won despite the starters. Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the so called “core.”

This team doesn’t have or rely on a core. We have a 23 year old Giddey and a 45% developed 20 year old Matas.

Is that not a core in the current NBA?

Sure.

[Ice Man]

Very impressive road win but it’s concerning that we won despite the starters. Doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the so called “core.”

Not sure I understand this. As Duck writes, we have two players in our core. One is Giddey, who was 21/14/6 with efficient scoring and only 2 TOs. That's excellent. The other is Matas, who currently consists more of potential than of production.

I guess you could say that the spottiness of Matas -- he's productive in about half his games -- doesn't inspire confidence. But I thought that we kinda already knew that's who he is, at this stage in his career.

[dougthonus]

Dont say that to Sco

I take Ayo over Huerter for the resign all day.

Ayo is def not a PG though. Lots of dumb turnovers.

There is no reason to resign Ayo over Huerter. Ayo is less then 2 years younger so that's not really an advantage and will want to much money if this season continues and overall Huerter is the better player. Don't let the Chicago connection blind you.

The idea that two UFAs are going to go to the market and the better player is going to get less money doesn't make much sense. The Bulls will have to decide which (or both) of the guys they want to keep, but most likely, whomever the league views as better is going to cost much more.

[drosestruts]

Classic. Was there every any doubt that a team on a road back-to-back, on a losing streak, having gone to 2OT the night before, missing 3 rotation players, would naturally be the team to hand Denver their first home loss.

Giddey is awesome.

I just want the team to be healthy. I Hope Smith's shoulder is ok.

After three years Jevon Carter finally looks like the release valve, quick shooting, marksmen I envisioned when we signed him.

I think if we wanted to improve this year our best bet would be seeking an overpaid vet, but there'd likely be a lot of argument (rightfully so) that such a move would be short-sighted and cause cap issues down the road (say something like Grant and Reath for P Will and Okoro)

[CmonScal]

I take Ayo over Huerter for the resign all day.

Ayo is def not a PG though. Lots of dumb turnovers.

There is no reason to resign Ayo over Huerter. Ayo is less then 2 years younger so that's not really an advantage and will want to much money if this season continues and overall Huerter is the better player. Don't let the Chicago connection blind you.

The idea that two UFAs are going to go to the market and the better player is going to get less money doesn't make much sense. The Bulls will have to decide which (or both) of the guys they want to keep, but most likely, whomever the league views as better is going to cost much more.

I’m a little out of the loop - is it a forgone conclusion that we won’t be able to extend Ayo (~4 for 90M IIRC) and he is going to be a UDFA? Completely agree that in that case, the market will dictate who we can bring back on board.

[HomoSapien]

Speaking of Ayo, if he keeps this up he'll be in the running for 6MOY. Jaime Jaquez is probably ahead of him. Quentin Grimes is also up there.

[Ctownbulls]

Interesting choice by Billy to bench Matas at the end for Okoro for what I assume defensive reasons.

Matas decision making has been pretty terrible. I am not sure he deserves to be out there in crunch time.