Bulls @ Pacers, RS GT # 49, 06 Apr 2021, 6 PM CT, NBCSCH

[MalagaBulls]

We got the monkey off our back and beat the Nets in a decent victory on Sunday. They were missing Durant & Harden so many have said it was not as complete a win as could have been. You know what, I will take it, just to jumpstart the process of chemistry and confidence again. It has been a rough roller coaster season with many more lows than highs. This is the roster we are going to run with until the offseason so let´s see if BD can make the most of it. I think at this point we are practically assured of a spot in the playin and some have said nothing less than a number 4-6 seed is not acceptable, but I always say wait & see.
I think we go with the same 5 to start as in the Nets game and we are going to probably face a shorthanded Pacers team and both Sabonis & Brodgon are likely out. For us, Theis & Temple will be out and that will hurt. I think Lauri will get 25 minutes so hopefully he has a great game. The argument (valid or not) has been proposed that since he has been relegated to standing in the corner waiting for someone to dish him a catch & shoot 3 opportunity he has nothing to prove. I will leave that to the forum to debate as the Lauri thread has been pretty volatile lately.
I think we can win 3 or 4 of the next 5, maybe all with some luck.

Keys:

1. The pace has slowed down and it seems we are playing a more traditional half court game and feeding Vooch or Thad a bit in the post. If we can get better scoring opportunities and it cuts down on the TO´s I can get behind it.
2. The motion offense with multiple passes has quietly subsided and a lot of posters want to see it implemented more. I don´t know if that is possible with Vooch in the middle.
3. The P&R based offense between Vooch & Zach hasn´t materialized yet and we hope this can become a primary staple in the offensive arsenal. That is my hope anyway.
4. We need more of the same from PWill & Sato to start, and TJ off the bench.
5. It would be great for lauri to have a Februlauri game.

Probable lineups & injury reports:

Read on Twitter

Stats through 48 games:

Read on Twitter

Discuss

[bulls_troy]

On paper we are a better team than the last time we played and beat them. This "should" be a win

[HOTCARL_o]

I wonder if Thad is going to still start since Theis is out this game or if they will role with a different starting lineup

[ZOMG]

I wonder if Thad is going to still start since Theis is out this game or if they will role with a different starting lineup

”Hi, I’m your unemployed uncle. And yes, I go to every job interview wearing my Bulls jersey.”

[Hugi Mancura]

Should be easy win. Their best scorer playing today is McDermott. Current Indiana team probably would lose to Detroit by 20. They will still play tough defense, but they have no offense in their team. Maybe former Bulls duo (McDermott + Holiday) will get hot against their former team and make every shot they take. And we are talking Bulls in here... they have the ability to make almost every game hard.

[MalagaBulls]

I wonder if Thad is going to still start since Theis is out this game or if they will role with a different starting lineup

”Hi, I’m your unemployed unkle. And yes, I go to every job interview wearing my Bulls jersey.”

ZOMG, I don't think we'll ever see a starting 5 or rotation that will meet your criteria. I say that in jest.

[Ice Man]

I wondered why the Pacers fired Nate McMillan last year; that team clearly seemed to overachieve under him. I wonder even more now. The Pacers have been hugely disappointing. They don't have enough top level talent to compete at the highest level, but with Sabonis, Turner, and Brodgon they certainly should be above .500.

[Andi Obst]

Theis being out sucks. We have to take this one and the game against the Raps. Big games in the playoff/play-in race.

[MalagaBulls]

Theis being out sucks. We have to take this one and the game against the Raps. Big games in the playoff/play-in race.

We have enough talent on paper to beat the Pacers tonight. And the rest of the next 4 teams if we play well.

[BullChit]

I wonder if Thad is going to still start since Theis is out this game or if they will role with a different starting lineup

”Hi, I’m your unemployed unkle. And yes, I go to every job interview wearing my Bulls jersey.”

Hoooly s*** hahahaha

[VolumePoster]

Really be watching Coby tonight. He's a bit of an x-factor for the season. If he can bring more scoring punch off the bench, look out.

Mostly I want Thad and Vuc to compete with their frontcourt. Seeing WCJ and Lauri dominated again and again was depressing. Enough already.

[DuckIII]

The Bulls better not lose another game this season. No excuses.

[RoseTheFuture22]

Will be interesting to see how Donovan staggers the rotations tonight. Vuc did not too play well in his only game against IND this year. I am guessing that we will see some Aminu as well

[ZOMG]

Theis being out sucks. We have to take this one and the game against the Raps. Big games in the playoff/play-in race.

I'll only start worrying when Donovan tells the media that "Daniel has to sleep on some things we talked about".

[TeamMan]

...
Keys:

1. The pace has slowed down and it seems we are playing a more traditional half court game and feeding Vooch or Thad a bit in the post. If we can get better scoring opportunities and it cuts down on the TO´s I can get behind it.
2. The motion offense with multiple passes has quietly subsided and a lot of posters want to see it implemented more. I don´t know if that is possible with Vooch in the middle.
3. The P&R based offense between Vooch & Zach hasn´t materialized yet and we hope this can become a primary staple in the offensive arsenal. That is my hope anyway.
4. We need more of the same from PWill & Sato to start, and TJ off the bench.
5. It would be great for lauri to have a Februlauri game.

Probable lineups & injury reports:

Read on Twitter

Stats through 48 games:

Read on Twitter

Discuss

Keep repeating it, but now that BD has "his" team, IMO the rest of this season is all about the new roster making BD's system work.

In the Net's game we saw a glimpse of where the team is going, and I expect the Zach/Vooch connection to keep getting better.

Stacy King commented that Vooch was starting to score in rythm and, "Making it look easy." Specifically, Stacy was referring to how quickly Vooch was scoring.

Also, in the interview after the game, Vuuch commented that he's adapting to a new (BD's) system and he's starting to get it.

Will be looking forward to the game when both Zach and Vooch score 30!

[meekrab]

Easy dub

[Ice Man]

The Bulls better not lose another game this season. No excuses.

No worries. They won't.

Being serious, this is the first Bulls starting lineup that has appealed to me since the Butler trade. We cleared out the kiddies, except for Pat, who is acceptable as the 4th/5th option, and who (unlike many young players) knows his role. Now we look like an actual pretty good NBA team.

[kodo]

Keep those TOs down and Bulls should win.

We went from averaging 15.9 TOs per game, league worst, to only 9, 6, and 9 TOs. And so we've been competitive against Phoenix, Utah, and Brooklyn. Our overall differential is only -1.3, so even 1 TO is a difference.

Concerned about White being healthy again, he's had 3 & 4 TOs against Indiana. That alone would get us back into a bad TO range. Troy Brown has committed only 1 TO in 75 minutes as a Bull.

[Bulliever2020]

Took the Bulls +1.5 last night, line has already moved to Bulls -1 as of now. I think this is a W. First post trade win streak imminent! WINNING.

[Ccwatercraft]

Theis being out sucks. We have to take this one and the game against the Raps. Big games in the playoff/play-in race.

I'll only start worrying when Donovan tells the media that "Daniel has to sleep on some things we talked about".

Oh please no!