I have been a supporter of the kid, but things are not looking good. Had to battle for even a starting spot with an average player. First game is a no show. We can blame Donovan for how he uses him, but the kid has to show some aggression. Looking more and more like a bust.

I have been a supporter of the kid, but things are not looking good. Had to battle for even a starting spot with an average player. First game is a no show. We can blame Donovan for how he uses him, but the kid has to show some aggression. Looking more and more like a bust.

Not over yet.

OK, Link. Sell me on the 2022-23 Chicago Bulls. Do they make the playoffs? Do I want to invest any of my time watching these guys? I tried last year, but once Grayson Allen mangled Caruso....they were hard to watch.

Yes they do provided their main guys are healthy. Their starting 5 (with Lonzo) is solid and probably top 5 in the conference. They have upgraded their bench significantly with the additions of Drummond and Dragic too. That was their biggest weakness last season. I'm not much of a Lonzo fan but he is the best point on the roster. Ordinarily it would be Goran but at 36 he won't be able to go more than 20 minutes on most nights.

I'm not buying the stuff with Lavine and "load management". Watching him in the preseason it was obvious that he wasn't moving the same. They downplayed it by claiming that it "only the preseason" and thus he really didn't want to go all that hard. The key to all of this is Williams. If or 10 player". he becomes a "stud" (like I believe he will be) lthen this team becomes special. If he doesn't then they will only be merely above average at best.

I will give him til the end of the season before I reevaluate him as a player. He has to come on with it but the way he has been used sucks. They put the ball in his hands (in the middle of the floor whenever both Derozan and Lavine sit and then have him stand in the corner waiting for corner 3 kickoff passes whenever they play.

Since he has been in the NBA they have never used him as if he were a #4 pick in the draft. They use him as if he is a role player which is stupid imo

At some point, folks will stop believing DeRozan is going to fall on his face at 33. No one has a similar expectation for the older Durant.

Yes they do provided their main guys are healthy. Their starting 5 (with Lonzo) is solid and probably top 5 in the conference. They have upgraded their bench significantly with the additions of Drummond and Dragic too. That was their biggest weakness last season. I'm not much of a Lonzo fan but he is the best point on the roster. Ordinarily it would be Goran but at 36 he won't be able to go more than 20 minutes on most nights.

I'm not buying the stuff with Lavine and "load management". Watching him in the preseason it was obvious that he wasn't moving the same. They downplayed it by claiming that it "only the preseason" and thus he really didn't want to go all that hard. The key to all of this is Williams. If he becomes a "stud" (like I believe he will be) lthen this team becomes special. If he doesn't then they will only be merely above average at best.

I had high hopes for PW, but it's on him to prove he belongs. In his 1st 2 seasons, excuses such as "he was young and needed time to adjust to the NBA game" were plausible, but he hasn't shown anything to date that makes me think he'll suddenly figure it out. If he were dominating practice, summer league, preseason then I'd be open to the idea that it's on BillyD, but frankly that seems like a copout. I'm not going to write him off based on 1 disappointing game, but there's no way he gets the whole season either.

No high end LaVine and he'll get worn down again

He's as hot as fish grease. I think he came into last season expecting to share the load or be a #2. This year, I think he planned to be our #1.

He's a "first there, last to leave" guy. I don't think it matters if his mindset is different. He's still going to get worn down if the Bulls plan on winning every possible game they can. So LaVine either has to be healthy or LTG's prediction needs to come true. Otherwise, you're looking at 6th through 8th.

That game last night was disjointed. Both sides kinda sucked. Except Rozie. He was money.

Vuc and Ayo played well. Vuc didn't shoot it well but he glassed and rim protected well. Donovan has to get off this infatuation that he has with "small ball" and playing Javonte Green too. There isn't anything there. As soon as he entered the game Miami immediately started running post ups at him which led to a number of wide open 3's. They need a legit 4 to back up the PAW and Green isn't it.