PG: Win ugly

[Rose2Boozer]

Butt ass ugly, but I'll take the win. The Bulls are now playing against teams who they should beat. It's by far scarier than playing against teams when you're pretty much gambling with house money. A loss to a bad team hurts.

[bledredwine]

Vucevic visibly mad, not upset, not annoyed, but straight up mad, during the post game is the right response.

Matas and Stix trying to cheer and he just wasn't having it. He knows what a "bad" win is and was trying to make the point to KC.

Respect to the vet

It reminds me of the lakers celebrating and kobe being embarrassed watching on kimmel

[bledredwine]

This team plays such dog **** defense that it doesn't matter who they play. It'll always be a game. There's no heart or urgency.

Even with all the defensive shortcomings, it's another close game that we don't win without Vuc.

This is why I can’t even watch the game. I can’t watch the modern game until the playoffs and enjoy it, but I especially can’t watch a team that doesn’t take pride in defensive effort. This board and highlights are how I hold onto what was once a die hard passion.

[Ice Man]

This is why I can’t even watch the game. I can’t watch the modern game until the playoffs and enjoy it, but I especially can’t watch a team that doesn’t take pride in defensive effort. This board and highlights are how I hold onto what was once a die hard passion.

There are modern teams that show up and play, every night. OKC of course, but also, among others, Pistons, Spurs, heat, and (believe it or not) even the woeful Mavericks.

Unfortunately, we are not one of those teams.

[MikeDC]

More good defense from Matas and Giddey.

Jalen and Coby both had good defensive games.

Vuc, Ayo, and Tre were bad.

[NecessaryEvil]

“It don’t matter if u win by an inch or a mile, winning is winning” —- Dominic Toretto

"Sometimes when you win, you really lose, and sometimes when you lose, you really win...Winning or losing is all one organic mechanism, from which one extracts what one needs" —- Rosie Perez

lol nice one Fleet

[Ccwatercraft]

I know it's been brought up, but that dam coby 3 at the end bothered me last night, even if it had gone in it's zach level stupid shot with nobody even close to the paint. That should be the last option not the first.

[sco]

First of all, any back-end B2B win counts in my book. We have a decent chance to win against any team that doesn't have both a rim protector and a high scoring PF. Also, kinda impressive that we won shooting 27% from 3 when WAS shot 44%.

Vuc gives me Demar vibes in terms of scoring a lot on offense but needing to control much of the offense while being a huge negative on defense.

Giddey, despite playing way to many minutes the night before against the heat, shows why he is a great leader for this team.

Coby had an inevitable off shooting night after being off. Guys usually start hot in the first game or two, then cool off.

Matas did his usual disappearing act after starting strong, but kudos to him for 3 blocks and 0 fouls.

Ayo shows why I worry about starting him. His defense is just not good, and as the 5th starter he doesn't get enough touches to be aggressive enough for him to add his usual value.

Noa played. Yay?

[RSP83]

I know it's been brought up, but that dam coby 3 at the end bothered me last night, even if it had gone in it's zach level stupid shot with nobody even close to the paint. That should be the last option not the first.

I will live with it. Redo it on his best days, he'll hit it 4/5 times. He could've drive in, but that pull up 3 is also Coby's shot IMO.

[kodo]

I know it's been brought up, but that dam coby 3 at the end bothered me last night, even if it had gone in it's zach level stupid shot with nobody even close to the paint. That should be the last option not the first.

McCollum also got his 5th foul with 6 minutes left. Nobody attacked him, they allowed him to just hide in the corner on D.
Isn't the job of the coach to tell the players to attack a crucial offensive player with 5 fouls?

And Coby should have drove, CJ has never defended anyone 1 on 1 since he was in Portland. Sarr was defending Vuc so he was out by the 3P line. 6' 7" George was the only paint defender, and to defend the paint he left Matas wide open at the corner 3 exactly where Matas just swished one. But Coby has never been a high IQ guy.

Giddey should start plays in this situation, not White.

[Red Larrivee]

I know it's been brought up, but that dam coby 3 at the end bothered me last night, even if it had gone in it's zach level stupid shot with nobody even close to the paint. That should be the last option not the first.

I will live with it. Redo it on his best days, he'll hit it 4/5 times. He could've drive in, but that pull up 3 is also Coby's shot IMO.

It's just really bad decision making. In that situation, you should only take the 3 if it's an open shot. Drive to the hoop. Coby dribbled out the clock for a shot that you can get any time. He had a number of bonehead plays yesterday trying to do a little too much.

[Betta Bulleavit]

The unfortunate reality is that without Vuc this team is probably fighting to stay out of the bottom 4 in the conference. I know he has had a couple of bad games and people love to hate him. But he and Giddey are the only reason the Bulls are staying afloat. Two guys a lot of people didn't want on the team.

Love J Giddey, future Bulls legend.

Vooch can see himself out when Zach Collins gets back.

I appreciate Nikola but we’ll be better off when he goes.

Based on what though? What exactly is.Collins going to bring that Vuc doesn't?

[Indomitable]

I know it's been brought up, but that dam coby 3 at the end bothered me last night, even if it had gone in it's zach level stupid shot with nobody even close to the paint. That should be the last option not the first.

McCollum also got his 5th foul with 6 minutes left. Nobody attacked him, they allowed him to just hide in the corner on D.
Isn't the job of the coach to tell the players to attack a crucial offensive player with 5 fouls?

And Coby should have drove, CJ has never defended anyone 1 on 1 since he was in Portland. Sarr was defending Vuc so he was out by the 3P line. 6' 7" George was the only paint defender, and to defend the paint he left Matas wide open at the corner 3 exactly where Matas just swished one. But Coby has never been a high IQ guy.

Giddey should start plays in this situation, not White.

Coby made a mistake and people love to over do things.

Last year he made better decisions. He was getting at least 8 fts a game. He got lost. He should have took McCollum because McCollum could not guard him.

[kodo]

Random observations:
- The team was -9 in Noa's 4 minutes where he did 0 0 0. For a team playing every game close, a guy like this really can lose it for you.

Was really unimpressed with Noa's short time.
- First play when he subs in there was a simple screen involving him & Jevon. Ended up with a wide open dunk, off an inbounds pass. Not sure if it was Jevon's fault or Noa's, but somewhere these two failed defense 101
- On our offensive possession he parked about 2 feet inside the 3P line...why? He's in the corner 3 if he steps back, he's too far out for a dunk. Coby attacked on Noa's side and drew 3 defenders, Noa didn't do anything. He just stood there letting his man be in position to help. He didn't step back into the corner 3, he didn't spray out, he didn't cut.
- next defensive possession he did position early under the rim and would have been in position to help D, good stuff there
- he touched the ball on a couple of possessions and didn't even try to do anything, he immediately threw the ball to someone else. I wouldn't even bother guarding Noa, as a defender I know the Bulls are playing 4 on 5.
- A 3P shot up from their Vuc went up, no wizards in the paint, Noa was the biggest Bull near the rim, and we didn't get the board the Wizards got an offensive rebound. The ball didn't bounce right to him, but he was just slow walking his the entire possession, if he ran a little bit he could have stopped another Wizards possession
- On the offensive possession his original man is posting up Huerter under the rim, Noa chooses to stick to Cam out by the 3P line and the Wizards score because Huerter obviously isn't a rim protector. Maybe that's a valid choice because Cam is a scorer, but isn't Noa in there to provide more length & help D?

I think my biggest disappointment is I saw nothing more energetic than a light jog from him in his debut. Wizards players were all running, sprinting. Noa was the slowest player out there. Just no hustle.

[Betta Bulleavit]

The unfortunate reality is that without Vuc this team is probably fighting to stay out of the bottom 4 in the conference. I know he has had a couple of bad games and people love to hate him. But he and Giddey are the only reason the Bulls are staying afloat. Two guys a lot of people didn't want on the team.

Vuc has literally been the main factor in multiple blown big leads. He has been not keeping the Bulls afloat.

Anybody pinning this stuff on Vuc is doing so because they either lack a basic understanding of the game of basketball or they are a casual that just thinks it's the easy thing to do. Vuc is often the only one that's contesting for rebounds and he sure as hell isn't the reason why every team is opening an All star weekend level 3 point shootout on us. Let's stop the madness.

[The Force.]

Seems like opposing coaches have figured out how to beat the Bulls: force them into halfcourt offense, and relentlessly attack the paint.

Thus far Billy has had no counter strategy. It also doesn’t help that our best players are mediocre defenders.

[Jcool0]

The unfortunate reality is that without Vuc this team is probably fighting to stay out of the bottom 4 in the conference. I know he has had a couple of bad games and people love to hate him. But he and Giddey are the only reason the Bulls are staying afloat. Two guys a lot of people didn't want on the team.

Vuc has literally been the main factor in multiple blown big leads. He has been not keeping the Bulls afloat.

Anybody pinning this stuff on Vuc is doing so because they either lack a basic understanding of the game of basketball or they are a casual that just thinks it's the easy thing to do. Vuc is often the only one that's contesting for rebounds and he sure as hell isn't the reason why every team is opening an All star weekend level 3 point shootout on us. Let's stop the madness.

Clearly only someone not watching games would make this post. Vuc has a on/off -11.2, the only worse Bulls player is Okoro at -12.4.

[Indomitable]

More good defense from Matas and Giddey.

Jalen and Coby both had good defensive games.

Vuc, Ayo, and Tre were bad.

Coby was beaten all night
Jalen was fine
Vuc is not a shot blocker but he only missed his assessment assignment once.
Ayo defense was solid.

Matais help defense was fine but he got beat a lot.

Tre had the biggest defensive play of the night.

[Betta Bulleavit]

Vuc has literally been the main factor in multiple blown big leads. He has been not keeping the Bulls afloat.

Anybody pinning this stuff on Vuc is doing so because they either lack a basic understanding of the game of basketball or they are a casual that just thinks it's the easy thing to do. Vuc is often the only one that's contesting for rebounds and he sure as hell isn't the reason why every team is opening an All star weekend level 3 point shootout on us. Let's stop the madness.

Clearly only someone not watching games would make this post. Vuc has a on/off -11.2, the only worse Bulls player is Okoro at -12.4.

I watch the games and I know what I see. +/- is a stat that's almost exclusively for people that don't watch games. Vuc has his moments just like anyone else on the team. But he is not the central issue with this team.

[Jcool0]

Anybody pinning this stuff on Vuc is doing so because they either lack a basic understanding of the game of basketball or they are a casual that just thinks it's the easy thing to do. Vuc is often the only one that's contesting for rebounds and he sure as hell isn't the reason why every team is opening an All star weekend level 3 point shootout on us. Let's stop the madness.

Clearly only someone not watching games would make this post. Vuc has a on/off -11.2, the only worse Bulls player is Okoro at -12.4.

I watch the games and I know what I see. +/- is a stat that's almost exclusively for people that don't watch games. Vuc has his moments just like anyone else on the team. But he is not the central issue with this team.

There is no way you can watch Vuc play and come away with anything other then please play him less. I mean did you see Portland? He was almost single handy responsible for the blown lead in the 4th. Donovan Clingan was abusing him he had close to 10 rebounds in the 4th.