Laughed out loud twice at the beginning part haha. Random Bulls question for you: Are you nervous about the media making the Bulls DeRozan’s team and not LaVine’s team? Seems to be going that way after back to back buzzer beaters and MVP chants from the crowd. Would LaVine be ok with being the #2?
To answer your question, I was for sure nervous -- past tense. I think it's clear, though, that LaVine is totally fine with losing some of the spotlight. Like, net wise, LaVine's spotlight nationally has actually grown because of DeRozan. When you're 14 games above .500 and 1b more people know/care about you than when you're 14 games under and 1a. Plus, I think that LaVine may end up having the better season in the long run if he can stay healthy. DeRozan's new so he's gotten a lot of the attention. Water will find its level, though.
Let the haters off the bandwagon Ange! Bulls will be fine and will make a run in the playoffs. Ayo Dosunmu is one of the biggest draft steals in decades. Watching Trae Young completely change his game with Ayo on him was awesome to watch. He was half as aggressive as he had been. He is also getting better offensively every game.
I 100% agree with you on the Head Coach hire. If you don't dominate the job you are in, you shouldn't be considered for a promotion.
As you said, this decision is in the hands of lady luck. I am hanging my hat on "even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometime'.
WITH CONTEXT AND WHERE HE WAS DRAFTED INCLUDED: Ayo is probably the best Bulls draft pick (pending where Pat Williams ends up) since Jimmy Butler in 2011.
Tough for me to to keep up with the Bears coaching/GM hunt, and as you eluded to I'm not going to have a strong opinion on someone I don't know anything about. That's what I subscribe to the Newsletter for!
Bulls-
I was chasing the one seed a few weeks ago, but for me now it will be success to get a top 6 (top 4 preferred for Home court in the first round) playoff spot and enter the post season healthy.
When you lay out what the Bulls look like when they're healthy, its actually pretty scary.
Lonzo-Lavine-Demar-Caruso-Vuc
Coby and Ayo compliment each other so well as a perfect yin and yang of explosive scoring, defensive prowess and reliability.
A healthy DJJ and Javonte green would provide some great defensive versatility. And if PWilly comes back for the post-season, that is 10 deep of guys who I trust on the court in important minutes.
As you talked about in previous newsletters, no individual player in the NBA can guard Durant, Embiid, or Giannis 1v1. That's not the point. The point is that with guys who are as reliable defensively as Caruso, Javonte, Lonzo, Pwilly, Ayo and DJJ- there are opportunities to give players different looks defensively and change their game plan.
I'm genuinely sad to see Devon Dotson gone. I understand the move as Hill will be more serviceable in the interim. I had unrealistic expectations for Dotson as an undrafted free agent because I loved his game out of college. Seeing his size and speed on the floor, its clear that there was an issue. But the guy LOVED being on the Bulls, first guy jumping up off the bench and cheering his teammates. Easy to root for a guy like that, I hope he has success elsewhere.
Devon Dotson no doubt got screwed a bit by circumstances. Didn't get to play much last year, and didn't even get much G-League time because of COVID. Then the Bulls hit gold in the offseason, meaning a fringe-guy that still needs development is immediately expendable. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if the Bulls picked him up again sometime down the line.
Secondly, agreed on all things Bulls. I'm not banking on them getting the 1 seed. Injuries will make that a really hard feat at this point. Having said that, I still think home court advantage is a very realistic and very honorable goal. Top-4 is still my target, though unrealistic expectations have been created early by their awesome play.
Laughed out loud twice at the beginning part haha. Random Bulls question for you: Are you nervous about the media making the Bulls DeRozan’s team and not LaVine’s team? Seems to be going that way after back to back buzzer beaters and MVP chants from the crowd. Would LaVine be ok with being the #2?
To answer your question, I was for sure nervous -- past tense. I think it's clear, though, that LaVine is totally fine with losing some of the spotlight. Like, net wise, LaVine's spotlight nationally has actually grown because of DeRozan. When you're 14 games above .500 and 1b more people know/care about you than when you're 14 games under and 1a. Plus, I think that LaVine may end up having the better season in the long run if he can stay healthy. DeRozan's new so he's gotten a lot of the attention. Water will find its level, though.
Let the haters off the bandwagon Ange! Bulls will be fine and will make a run in the playoffs. Ayo Dosunmu is one of the biggest draft steals in decades. Watching Trae Young completely change his game with Ayo on him was awesome to watch. He was half as aggressive as he had been. He is also getting better offensively every game.
I 100% agree with you on the Head Coach hire. If you don't dominate the job you are in, you shouldn't be considered for a promotion.
As you said, this decision is in the hands of lady luck. I am hanging my hat on "even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometime'.
WITH CONTEXT AND WHERE HE WAS DRAFTED INCLUDED: Ayo is probably the best Bulls draft pick (pending where Pat Williams ends up) since Jimmy Butler in 2011.
Tough for me to to keep up with the Bears coaching/GM hunt, and as you eluded to I'm not going to have a strong opinion on someone I don't know anything about. That's what I subscribe to the Newsletter for!
Bulls-
I was chasing the one seed a few weeks ago, but for me now it will be success to get a top 6 (top 4 preferred for Home court in the first round) playoff spot and enter the post season healthy.
When you lay out what the Bulls look like when they're healthy, its actually pretty scary.
Lonzo-Lavine-Demar-Caruso-Vuc
Coby and Ayo compliment each other so well as a perfect yin and yang of explosive scoring, defensive prowess and reliability.
A healthy DJJ and Javonte green would provide some great defensive versatility. And if PWilly comes back for the post-season, that is 10 deep of guys who I trust on the court in important minutes.
As you talked about in previous newsletters, no individual player in the NBA can guard Durant, Embiid, or Giannis 1v1. That's not the point. The point is that with guys who are as reliable defensively as Caruso, Javonte, Lonzo, Pwilly, Ayo and DJJ- there are opportunities to give players different looks defensively and change their game plan.
I'm genuinely sad to see Devon Dotson gone. I understand the move as Hill will be more serviceable in the interim. I had unrealistic expectations for Dotson as an undrafted free agent because I loved his game out of college. Seeing his size and speed on the floor, its clear that there was an issue. But the guy LOVED being on the Bulls, first guy jumping up off the bench and cheering his teammates. Easy to root for a guy like that, I hope he has success elsewhere.
Very well said, Chuck Mac.
A couple things.
Devon Dotson no doubt got screwed a bit by circumstances. Didn't get to play much last year, and didn't even get much G-League time because of COVID. Then the Bulls hit gold in the offseason, meaning a fringe-guy that still needs development is immediately expendable. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if the Bulls picked him up again sometime down the line.
Secondly, agreed on all things Bulls. I'm not banking on them getting the 1 seed. Injuries will make that a really hard feat at this point. Having said that, I still think home court advantage is a very realistic and very honorable goal. Top-4 is still my target, though unrealistic expectations have been created early by their awesome play.