Cordaro Johnson (Haize) here, the host of the daily Locked On Bulls podcast, with your daily Locked On Bulls newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Bulls and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Chicago Bulls: Analyzing Lineup Dynamics and Game Strategies
Sep 30, 2024; Chicago, Il, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0), center Nikola Vucevic (9), forward Patrick Williams (44), guard Zach LaVine (8) and guard Josh Giddey (3) pose during Chicago Bulls Media Day. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images|Kamil Krzaczynski/Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Have you ever wondered how the Chicago Bulls are managing their lineup dynamics this season? In a recent episode of “Locked On Bullsl,” hosted by Haize, we explored the intricacies of the Bulls’ starting lineup and their performance metrics. Let’s dive into the key insights from the episode and see how these strategies might shape the Bulls’ season.
The Starting Lineup Conundrum
In our latest podcast, we discussed the Chicago Bulls’ starting lineup, which includes Coby White, Josh Giddey, Patrick Williams, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic. Despite having some of the team’s top players, this lineup has shown a negative point differential of -15 over 146 possessions. This isn’t alarming yet, but it highlights areas for improvement, particularly in balancing offense and defense.
Advanced Analytics: A Deeper Look
The advanced analytics reveal that the starting lineup averages only 91.8 points per 100 possessions, one of the lowest on the team. This suggests a need for better defensive strategies, as Patrick Williams is currently the sole defensive anchor. His performance has been commendable, but there’s room for improvement, especially in shooting efficiency.
Exploring Effective Lineups
Interestingly, some alternative lineups have shown promising results. For instance, a combination of Josh Giddey, Coby White, Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic boasts a staggering point differential of +91.2, albeit over a small sample size of 18 possessions. Another effective lineup includes Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips, and Jalen Smith, with a point differential of +66.7. These configurations suggest staggering minutes and mixing bench players with starters could enhance performance.
Oct 28, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Julian Phillips (15), guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) and forward Jalen Smith (7) walk toward the bench during a time out during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Role of Ayo Dosunmu
Ayo Dosunmu emerges as a crucial player, often featuring in the Bulls’ most successful lineups. His versatility allows him to adapt to various roles, whether it’s providing offensive support or anchoring the defense. This flexibility makes him an invaluable asset, especially when paired with players like CobyWhite and Josh Giddey.
Preparing for the Brooklyn Nets
As the Bulls gear up to face the Brooklyn Nets, they must focus on maintaining their defensive rebounding prowess. Currently, the Bulls lead the league in defensive rebounds, a strength they should leverage against the Nets, who struggle with offensive rebounds. Limiting turnovers and capitalizing on fast breaks will be key to securing a win.
As someone who just celebrated a birthday — a milestone birthday — I’ll admit that aging has been on my mind. Its privileges, its gifts, its expectations and assumptions (especially for women), aging can feel overwhelming, particularly wrought, even if you’ve made relative peace through the years with it.
Much of my writing is concerned with the nuances around basketball and its athletes, particularly the elements that underscore them as people. Strange to call “humanity” a nuance, but that can be the flattening of pro sports. Athletes aging is something larger fandom is pretty bad at processing, to the point where, in the NBA, anyone over 28 is considered long in the tooth and anyone over 35, ancient. The churn of the Draft, with its college phenoms and untapped prospects, makes it so we have a continually replenishing assembly line of young athletes ready to oust the old, often in a way that we don’t actually witness. Very few NBA athletes announce their retirements or make their exits from the league public, they just sort of… vanish, and with them goes our public consciousness of them.
In his postgame presser on Wednesday night, after the Warriors had beat the Pelicans for the second time on a two day back-to-back, Draymond Green touched on aging. Well, not explicitly, but his lengthy answer when asked about his impactful defensive efforts throughout Golden State’s first five contests was telling. Namely, because he brought up two of the youngest centers in the league, Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Preview The Nets host the Bulls tonight at 7:30 p.m. Check out the keys to the game, betting odds, and how to watch. (Brooklyn Nets on SI)
Ranked The Ringer ranked how “all-in” each NBA team is based on their draft score and money score. The Bulls, unfortunately, had a low ranking at No. 22. (The Ringer)
Must Watch Every NBA player knows about The Skirvin Hotel in Oklahoma City. Pablo Torre needed to know more, so he sent two reporters out to stay at what’s dubbed OKC’s “most haunted hotel.”
Feel Good They’re all kids at heart. Check out how players from around the league celebrated Halloween. (ESPN)
Must Read Pure talent, or being good in the room? Inc. looks at how certain personality types are affecting roster decisions in the league.
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Paolo Banchero Injured - The Fantasy Basketball Fallout
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) defends Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the second half at United Center.|Photo by David Banks-Imagn Images
As we dive into the latest NBA action, the fantasy landscape is ever-changing, with injuries and unexpected performances shaping our strategies. The recent news of Paolo Banchero’s injury is a significant blow for both the Orlando Magic and fantasy managers. Banchero is set to miss four to six weeks due to a torn abdominal muscle, which means a reevaluation around mid-December. This absence leaves a gaping hole in the Magic’s lineup, and the question remains: who will step up?
Orlando Magic’s Lineup Dilemma
The obvious choice might be Jonathan Isaac, but his limited minutes due to health concerns make this uncertain. Isaac’s potential is undeniable, yet his ability to sustain a starting role is questionable. Mo Wagner has been suggested as a possible fill-in, but his experience at power forward is limited. The Magic might opt for a more unconventional approach, possibly pushing Franz Wagner to the four and utilizing a three-guard lineup with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jalen Suggs, and Anthony Black. Black, although not a high scorer, could contribute across various categories, making him a viable fantasy consideration.
The situation is fluid, and while Wendell Carter Jr. should be a priority add if available, the rest of the lineup remains a puzzle. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on the Magic’s rotations in the coming games to identify any emerging trends.
Click the button below to see who should be on your waiver radar, plus the fantasy impact of Desmond Bane’s injury for Memphis.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Bulls podcasts.
Chicago Bulls Cut Onuralp Bitim & Kenny Lofton Jr | Is THT A Lock To Make Roster? Haize welcomes Bobby & C-Dub to the show to discuss the Bulls moving closer to finalizing their roster by cutting Onuralp Bitim & Kenny Lofton Jr. The guys also break down what they want to see in the Bulls’ final preseason game & more.
Lonzo Ball Looks Great In Return To To The Court | Bulls Offense Has Best Game Yet Haize reacts to Lonzo Ball’s performance in his first game back. He also talks about Coby White’s big night and the team’s offense.
Chicago Bulls Reportedly Eyeing Contract Extension WIth Josh Giddey Haize reacts to reports the Bulls could be looking to extend Josh Giddey’s contract before the start of the season. He also asks of the Chicago Bulls should be playing their starters in tonight’s preseason game and gets excited over Lonzo Ball’s return to the court.
