Maybe I reacted a little too harshly after the season opening Bulls embarrassment to the Thunder on our home court… Since then, the Bulls have actually gotten into the win column twice. Coupled with another bad loss at Detroit, the Bulls now sit at 2-2, which actually, sounds about right. We’re watching a 500 team guys, if that honestly. Have you not been paying attention?
The Bulls actually finished exactly 500 during the 2016-2017 season. This was the 2nd year under the reign of Hoiberg, where the Bulls “Big 3” almost made some noise against Boston in the playoffs. Yes, we were the 8th seed that year. 7 years later, we have made zero progress. Between Hoiberg’s last year plus, and Boylen’s term with us (both flat out jokes), the Bulls win % was 32.9, 26.8, & 33.8; 500 in any of those seasons would have been a welcome sight. Then the Billy Donovan era began; we were on our way, right? Wrong. Including the first 4 games of this year, the Bulls have won 119 games and lost 121 games… 49.6%… With minimal changes to the roster, and the same coaching, did we expect much different this year? If we did, that would be stupid…
Sure, we made the playoffs 2 seasons ago… and promptly got beat by the Bucks. And yeah, we did win a play-in game last year… before getting beat by the Heat before the official playoffs began. This is what the Chicago Bulls are right now; are you not entertained? I’m not…
But still, I watch, and cheer them on. I was cheering when Caruso made the game winning trey to cap off a miraculous comeback against the Raptors to avoid a 0-2 start; I was shocked when DD couldn’t make one of the three potential game winning FTs in regulation… After getting pounded by Detroit, I was happily surprised to see us beat the Pacers on Monday night in Indiana. The Pacers must not have got the memo… to beat the Bulls, you need to go to the rim, pound the paint… easy, all day. Instead they continued to shoot from behind the arc; that’s coaching right there… Did Donovan actually outcoach someone???
OK, let me just be happy that we’re not 0-4 after four games, because I wouldn’t have been surprised if that had happened. Instead, we will head to Dallas on Wednesday night hoping to get over 500 for the first time on the young season. Either way that game goes, just know this: That 500 mark will be like a super strong magnet, and the Bulls will be attracted to that mark the whole year. Like many times before, I hope I’m wrong… I’ll be glad to admit that I was wrong! If the Bulls somehow end up being substantially better this year with the same roster and coach from last year, I will be happy. If they don’t… well, what we should have done this past offseason will have to be done eventually. It doesn’t have to be a complete tear down, 5-year rebuild project, but… substantial change IS required. Until then… maybe Luka will rest on Wednesday night against us… Go Bulls!
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