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’ Struggles: A Deep Dive into Recent Performances
Have you ever watched a game and felt like your team was just one step behind, no matter how hard they tried? That’s exactly how many Chicago Bulls fans felt after their recent matchup against the Utah Jazz. In our latest episode of Locked on Bulls, I sat down with Quiton from Let’s Talk Bulls to dissect the game and explore the ongoing challenges facing the team.
The Bulls’ Performance Against the Jazz
In this episode, we discussed the Bulls’ disappointing performance against the Utah Jazz, where they seemed to be outpaced and outplayed. Despite a strong second-half effort, the Bulls fell short, losing by nine points. Quiton and I delved into the reasons behind this loss, highlighting the team’s tendency to start games sluggishly and the impact of missing key players like Zach LaVine.
Key Takeaways from the Game
1. Inconsistent Starts: One of the most glaring issues is the Bulls’ inability to start games with intensity. As Quentin pointed out, the team often finds itself in a deficit early on, only to rally in the second half. This pattern is not sustainable and raises questions about the team’s preparation and mindset.
2. Defensive Communication: The lack of a defensive leader is evident. The Bulls need someone who can organize and motivate the team on the court. While players like Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball have filled this role in the past, their absence is felt. A strong defensive communicator could help the team cover for each other more effectively.
3. Offensive Contributions: Despite the loss, there were some bright spots. Ayo Dosunmu had his best offensive game of the season, stepping up in LaVine’s absence. However, the team needs more consistent contributions from all players, especially in the absence of their star.
4. Coaching and Strategy: Coaching remains a contentious topic. Many fans, includingQuiton, believe that the Bulls’ coaching staff needs to make better in-game adjustments. The team’s inability to adapt to opponents’ strategies is a recurring issue that needs addressing.
5. Personnel Needs: The Bulls are missing a reliable shooter who can stretch the floor and create space for others. A player with a skill set similar to Klay Thompson could significantly enhance the team’s offensive dynamics.
What Lies Ahead for the Bulls?
Looking forward, the Bulls face a challenging schedule with games against strong teams like Dallas and Minnesota. The inconsistency in their performances makes it difficult to predict whether they’ll be competing for a playoff spot or focusing on lottery positions by the season’s end.
Conclusion
To dive deeper into these insights and hear more about our analysis, tune into the full episode of Locked on Bulls. We explore these topics in greater detail and offer more perspectives on what the Bulls need to turn their season around. Listen now and join the conversation!
Here’s something I love: The Detroit Pistons with a win record of 3-5, better than the combined record of the Bucks and the Sixers. Given Detroit’s slow start to the season, and that lopsided match against the Knicks last Friday, I thought we were in for another season where the best the Pistons could hope for was besting their last season record of 14-68.
Yes, there could still be a slump; yes, the play-in still feels like an aspirational goal for this team, but neither of those outcomes takes away from the truth of the matter which is, the league is better when the Pistons are competitive.
This is a franchise with a proud, hard-fought history, a winning history, and one that’s been hard to see these last few seasons under the tarnish of poor decision making and ill-timed coaching fits. Going back to Cade Cunningham’s rookie season, coached by Dwane Casey, that team and the iterations that followed were too good to be as bad as they appeared. Casey — who transitioned into a front office role with the team last season —is a great coach, if a touch old fashioned. Admittedly, I miss being more proximal to him for the Casey-isms alone he’d offer, e.g. More than one way to skin a cat. A front office, mentorship-driven fit was always the goal of Casey even as head coach, given the rebuilding stage the team was in and how in two years its median age of players dipped to one of the youngest in the league.
Skip to last season, Monty Williams’ brief tenure and that dismal aforementioned season record, and rather than treat it as an unfortunate blip, the Pistons young talent took it as a lesson. Cade is in his fourth season and has lost more than any of his five draft contemporaries he was in the running for Rookie of the Year with. Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Franz Wagner — these guys have certainly seen slumps, the nature of the Draft dictates likely being drafted to a struggling or rebuilding team, but they’ve also had their share of successes. Enough to keep them growing and developing. Cade has, in almost every way, had to take it upon himself to sift the lessons from the seasonal wreckage and keep his hope alive. That takes an incredible amount of discipline and fortitude.
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
Injury The Chicago Bulls faced a setback as multiple All-Stars, including Zach LaVine, were listed on the injury report against Utah. (Sports Illustrated)
Fans NBA fans react to LaVine’s injury update, raising discussions about the Bulls’ playoff chances without their star player. (Sports Illustrated)
Feel Good The Pistons had to take the subway to their game in Brooklyn because of the NYC marathon (ESPN)
Analysis Will the NBA pinpoint its 3 point problem? (TSA, Substack)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Is It Truly A Zach Edey Fantasy Basketball Breakout?
Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton (33) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey (14) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) and guard Scotty Pippen Jr. (1) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center.|Photo by Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Monday’s NBA action was packed with thrilling games and standout performances, offering plenty of insights for fantasy basketball enthusiasts. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key matchups and player performances that could impact your fantasy strategy.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
The Bucks faced off against the Cavaliers in a closely contested game, with Cleveland edging out Milwaukee 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo was sidelined with an adductor issue, which opened the door for Bobby Portis to shine. Portis delivered an impressive 21 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks, showcasing his potential when given extended minutes. Damian Lillard also had a strong outing with 36 points and seven assists, while Brook Lopez contributed defensively with four steals and two blocks.
Golden State Warriors vs. Washington Wizards
The Warriors secured a road victory against the Wizards, 125-112. Stephen Curry returned to action, scoring 24 points in limited minutes. Buddy Hield continued his hot streak with 20 points, but his current shooting efficiency may not be sustainable. For the Wizards, Jordan Poole put up 24 points, but his high block and steal numbers suggest a potential sell-high opportunity.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons pulled off a win against the Lakers, 115-103. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both had strong performances, with Davis scoring 37 points despite an ankle injury scare. Jaden Ivey impressed for Detroit, solidifying his status as a must-roster player with his improved play this season.
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.
