Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Chicago Bulls

[HoopsterJones]

Bulls were not a full strength for a single game this season.

Coby White missed the first 13 games coming off shoulder injury.

Patrick Williams was injured in the 5th game of the RS and missed 65 games.

Lonzo Ball tore a meniscus / bone bruise and missed a total of 47 RS and all playoff games.

Caruso broke his wrist and missed 41 RS games.

Zach LaVine was dealing with a troublesome knee since mid January that hampered his ability to burst and lift kn his jump shot.

Overall disappointing end to the season. They’ll likely run it back and add some pieces.

To me this sounds like excuses .
The bulls have been without their 4th or 5th best guy. Or bench pieces.
The bucks lost their 2nd best player and still completely outplayed them .

Their are huge competitive issues on this team .their big 3 has been largely available all season I can’t give them the injury excuse

Understating the value of Lonzo Ball to this team. He was the ultimate glue guy. He pushed the pace with his court vision and outlet passing, something the Bulls stopped doing since he was out. He is a pass first point guard who sets up teammates. He’s also the Bulls best catch and shoot 3 point shooter spacing the floor for Zach, Demar, and Vuc. He also was guarding 1-4 (and sometimes smaller 5s) on the floor and was a ball hawk.

LaVine wasn’t the same guy after the knee injury. The stats and the eye test proves that.

The Bucks have very good players and had guys step up with Middleton out. Was too much for the Bulls to handle. The Bucks were better and the Bulls lost the series as expected (I said Bucks in 5).

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

If we had healthy Zach, and Lonzo, I think this bucks series is much different, with a real chance to win.

Need some size and better shooting this off-season

[NZB2323]

Team was built like their GM was named Isiah Thomas. Enough said.

When did Isiah Thomas build a playoff team? Our GM built the Nuggets, who may win it all next year.

He got a me-first "star" with a habit of choking when the lights were brightest and brought the team to the playoffs, where they got rocked in the first round by a much better team. He also liked trading for centers that didn't like defense and focused on offense only, since you know, protecting the basket is optional. He also had a habit of signing guys who only liked to score the basketball and play iso-ball, and pair guys like that together. His teams were also hard-capped, and he also liked trading picks for these "stars."

If you read the paragraph above, you actually have no idea if I'm talking about your GM or Isiah Thomas.

When did Isiah Thomas get guards like Ball and Caruso, who specialized in defense, passing, and outside shooting? IT paired Stephon Marbury with Steve Francis.

[BarryLird]

Team was built like their GM was named Isiah Thomas. Enough said.

When did Isiah Thomas build a playoff team? Our GM built the Nuggets, who may win it all next year.

2004

[jc23]

Chicago has a pulse now. hopefully next season it all doesnt come crumbling down like we saw with the knicks this year.

[yo_penny1]

If we had healthy Zach, and Lonzo, I think this bucks series is much different, with a real chance to win.

Need some size and better shooting this off-season

I don't go for either team, I feel like these two playing wouldn't have changed the outcome of this series in the slightest, you guys maybe pinch an extra game.

To me you guys start one of the worst defensive big men in the league and you have no rim protection, you would think if you're playing Vuc large minutes you would have someone that can hide his short comings.

[old skool]

The Bulls went from the lottery to the 6th seed. A great year.

It doesn't take much insight to proclaim that the Bulls were not able to go from the lottery to a title contender. The Bulls are a long way from contending for a title. They would be at an extreme disadvantage in any playoff series because they do not have one solid two way player. Everyone on their roster is either an offensive or defensive specialist. When they match up against a team like the Bucks who have multiple starters who can lock down on defense and go get a bucket in crunch time, the Bulls can't compete. Moreover, their roster is replete with first year additions just really learning to play together as a unit.

The Bulls don't have title aspirations. Not this season or next. They are still assembling pieces. Eventually they will look to reshape the roster, adding size, grit and two way capability. In that process, their stars will likely be replaced or a rebuild will be in order. Better than being in the lottery.

[old skool]

A major issue for the Bulls is a lack of continuity. They only have three players on their roster who was there all of this year and last: Zach Lavine, Coby White and Patrick Williams. It takes time to build cohesion.

As for those who would fire the coach, who would you replace him with? Donovan has one of the better coaching records in the NBA. He has coached 7 full seasons and has only failed to finish 5 or more games over .500 once.

[makubesu]

The Bulls have to be careful here, just look at the Knicks. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you are closer than you really are. They should instead be looking at the Raptors and ask themselves “are we one DeRozen trade away?” There may very well be a top player available this summer.

[ElectricMayhem]

I think they have enough to be a solid playoff team, but if that's not the goal then they have some retooling to do. Lavine, DeRozan, and Vucevic are all bench/almost all-stars. Very few teams succeed when that's your premier talent. The Pistons did, but they had elite team defense. I don't see Chicago with anything that can separate them like that. If Patrick Williams develops well and Lonzo gives more of what he did, they can be a tough out in the playoffs.

I'm not a huge fan of Donovan, but he certainly did nothing to deserve being fired this year. The team was humming before injuries hit.

[timO]

They will treadmill 2 more years, ECSF at best.

Just dont max Lavine, 120/4 enough.

[KnicksGadfly]

When did Isiah Thomas build a playoff team? Our GM built the Nuggets, who may win it all next year.

He got a me-first "star" with a habit of choking when the lights were brightest and brought the team to the playoffs, where they got rocked in the first round by a much better team. He also liked trading for centers that didn't like defense and focused on offense only, since you know, protecting the basket is optional. He also had a habit of signing guys who only liked to score the basketball and play iso-ball, and pair guys like that together. His teams were also hard-capped, and he also liked trading picks for these "stars."

If you read the paragraph above, you actually have no idea if I'm talking about your GM or Isiah Thomas.

When did Isiah Thomas get guards like Ball and Caruso, who specialized in defense, passing, and outside shooting? IT paired Stephon Marbury with Steve Francis.

Whoa…so you’re saying your GM is like Isiah Thomas, except he only signs 1 or 2 role players to plug in the gaps (not even considering that Isiah tried to do the same with guys like Jared Jeffries)?

Let’s say that you’re right. Do you really think all Isiah had to do was add a few defensive guards to a roster full of me first players and then that would have fixed everything? Same shat here. Your top 3 guys…we all knew what DeRozan was going to do in the playoffs since he’s done the same thing for a decade now. We’ve all seen Vuc get owned in the playoffs. We’ve seen Zach…uhh we’ve seen Zach in the regular season. If your defense is that Lonzo and Caruso was going to fix everything and justify your GM’s mistakes…let’s just say the Bulls showed better defense this series against the Bucks.

One funny thing about the Isiah Thomas experience. Fans were sooooo pumped about his vision. Hell, I was pumped. So, I feel for you bro. And I understand. He hoodwinked us too. My question to you: should the Bulls run it back next year?

[CoachD]

Bulls were not a full strength for a single game this season.

Coby White missed the first 13 games coming off shoulder injury.

Patrick Williams was injured in the 5th game of the RS and missed 65 games.

Lonzo Ball tore a meniscus / bone bruise and missed a total of 47 RS and all playoff games.

Caruso broke his wrist and missed 41 RS games.

Zach LaVine was dealing with a troublesome knee since mid January that hampered his ability to burst and lift kn his jump shot.

Overall disappointing end to the season. They’ll likely run it back and add some pieces.

Almost every playoff team has had to endure this level of roster volatility

[NZB2323]

He got a me-first "star" with a habit of choking when the lights were brightest and brought the team to the playoffs, where they got rocked in the first round by a much better team. He also liked trading for centers that didn't like defense and focused on offense only, since you know, protecting the basket is optional. He also had a habit of signing guys who only liked to score the basketball and play iso-ball, and pair guys like that together. His teams were also hard-capped, and he also liked trading picks for these "stars."

If you read the paragraph above, you actually have no idea if I'm talking about your GM or Isiah Thomas.

When did Isiah Thomas get guards like Ball and Caruso, who specialized in defense, passing, and outside shooting? IT paired Stephon Marbury with Steve Francis.

Whoa…so you’re saying your GM is like Isiah Thomas, except he only signs 1 or 2 role players to plug in the gaps (not even considering that Isiah tried to do the same with guys like Jared Jeffries)?

Let’s say that you’re right. Do you really think all Isiah had to do was add a few defensive guards to a roster full of me first players and then that would have fixed everything? Same shat here. Your top 3 guys…we all knew what DeRozan was going to do in the playoffs since he’s done the same thing for a decade now. We’ve all seen Vuc get owned in the playoffs. We’ve seen Zach…uhh we’ve seen Zach in the regular season. If your defense is that Lonzo and Caruso was going to fix everything and justify your GM’s mistakes…let’s just say the Bulls showed better defense this series against the Bucks.

One funny thing about the Isiah Thomas experience. Fans were sooooo pumped about his vision. Hell, I was pumped. So, I feel for you bro. And I understand. He hoodwinked us too. My question to you: should the Bulls run it back next year?

I think the Bulls should make the best moves available. It depends on what trade options are out there. If the Jazz flame out and want to trade Gobert to us I’d be down. If the Lakers don’t like day-to-Davis and want to trade him to us I’d be down.

The Bulls defense was much better when we had Ball and Caruso, but Ball typically plays 55 games a year. When we traded WC Jr. and draft picks for Vuc it reminded me of when the Bulls traded away Tyson Chandler and signed Ben Wallace so our ceiling would be losing in the 2nd round.

However, the Bulls aren’t that different from the 2019 Brooklyn Nets, who scrapped into the playoffs and then got KD and Irving to join the team.

The trade that I would be against would be another Jimmy Butler trade. If we trade Derozan, Vuc, and Lavine for draft picks and role players then we’re right back to where we were in 2018.

[NZB2323]

Bulls were not a full strength for a single game this season.

Coby White missed the first 13 games coming off shoulder injury.

Patrick Williams was injured in the 5th game of the RS and missed 65 games.

Lonzo Ball tore a meniscus / bone bruise and missed a total of 47 RS and all playoff games.

Caruso broke his wrist and missed 41 RS games.

Zach LaVine was dealing with a troublesome knee since mid January that hampered his ability to burst and lift kn his jump shot.

Overall disappointing end to the season. They’ll likely run it back and add some pieces.

Almost every playoff team has had to endure this level of roster volatility

Okay, but the Bulls made the playoffs for the first time since 2018, and for a time had the best record in the East. This year was like our version of 2014 for the Toronto Raptors.

[CoachD]

Bulls were not a full strength for a single game this season.

Coby White missed the first 13 games coming off shoulder injury.

Patrick Williams was injured in the 5th game of the RS and missed 65 games.

Lonzo Ball tore a meniscus / bone bruise and missed a total of 47 RS and all playoff games.

Caruso broke his wrist and missed 41 RS games.

Zach LaVine was dealing with a troublesome knee since mid January that hampered his ability to burst and lift kn his jump shot.

Overall disappointing end to the season. They’ll likely run it back and add some pieces.

Almost every playoff team has had to endure this level of roster volatility

Okay, but the Bulls made the playoffs for the first time since 2018, and for a time had the best record in the East. This year was like our version of 2014 for the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors THIS year had

VanVleet missed 17 games
Siakam missed 14 games
Anunoby missed 34 games
Barnes missed 8 games
Trent missed 12 games
Achiuwa missed 9 games
Birch missed 27 games

Many of those were clustered / overlapping - and they still finished 5th.

[meekrab]

Almost every playoff team has had to endure this level of roster volatility

Okay, but the Bulls made the playoffs for the first time since 2018, and for a time had the best record in the East. This year was like our version of 2014 for the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors THIS year had

VanVleet missed 17 games
Siakam missed 14 games
Anunoby missed 34 games
Barnes missed 8 games
Trent missed 12 games
Achiuwa missed 9 games
Birch missed 27 games

Many of those were clustered / overlapping - and they still finished 5th.

All of those guys bar Precious and Scottie Barnes were on the team last year. The number of Bulls players who have been on the team for more than 13 months is 3, and one of them missed 90% of the season and another missed training camp and the first month of games. The level of continuity can't be compared.

[Statlanta]

They need another retool even without the cap space

[NZB2323]

Almost every playoff team has had to endure this level of roster volatility

Okay, but the Bulls made the playoffs for the first time since 2018, and for a time had the best record in the East. This year was like our version of 2014 for the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors THIS year had

VanVleet missed 17 games
Siakam missed 14 games
Anunoby missed 34 games
Barnes missed 8 games
Trent missed 12 games
Achiuwa missed 9 games
Birch missed 27 games

Many of those were clustered / overlapping - and they still finished 5th.

Where did I say the Bulls were better than the Raptors? I said the Bulls made the playoffs for the first time in years, which was a good step forward, similar to the Raptors making the playoffs in 2014.

[tripa]

The Bulls would be super stacked if they traded for FVV