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The Cavaliers are in Chicago to take on the Bulls, who played in Washington last night and are 1-1 after beating the Heat in Miami in their opener. This will be the Bulls’ home opener.
Here are some portions of John Hollinger’s pre-season preview:
Last season: 46-36, 13th in offense, 22nd in defense
Key additions: C Andre Drummond, PG Goran Dragić
Key subtractions: C Tristan Thompson, SG Matt Thomas
Draft picks: SF Dalen Terry (18th)
Are the Bulls just stuck in the middle with a team that’s too good to tank but not nearly good enough to contend?
Once injuries hit (most notably and worryingly to Lonzo Ball)…Chicago faded: first slowly (12-11 to the All-Star break, enough to stay tied atop the East) and then quickly (a 7-15 limp to the finish line that dropped them all the way to the sixth position).
Depth was a major problem all season, especially once the injuries hit….Patrick Williams missed most of the season with a wrist injury.
The Bulls were last in the NBA in 3-point attempt rate and had only three players attempt more than 5.0 per 100 possessions. Ball was one of them; without him, the spacing cratered…As much as DeRozan and LaVine carried the offense, the Ball injury gutted much of what made the team special for half a season….
Around him, guys such as Javonte Green and Ayo Dosunmu (a nice find with the 38th pick in 2021) could thrive as long as they were defending and running, but they broke down under greater half-court roles with Ball (and often Caruso) out of the lineup.
Ball, sadly, doesn’t seem to be improving much, undergoing a second knee surgery eight months after the first one and telling reporters last week he still couldn’t run or jump. …It’s fair to say his future is in doubt, a sobering thought with three years and $60 million remaining on his deal.
Unfortunately, then, the outlook for the 2022-23 Bulls is basically last year’s team with more normal late-game fortune and even less Ball. The Bulls were 22-13 when Ball played and allowed 8.6 points per 100 possessions fewer in his minutes, according to Cleaning the Glass; in the other games, they were 24-23.
Prediction: 40-42, ninth in Eastern Conference - John Hollinger
In their opener they beat Miami on the road 116-108 without Zach LaVine. DeRozan had a huge night (37 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists). The Bulls had 12 steals, 12 offensive rebounds, and out-shot the Heat 93-80.
I don’t know if the Bulls were pretty good or the Heat were bad. DeRo was 14-for-22 from the field; the rest of the Bulls were 27-for-71 (38.0%). DeRo had 9 assists; nobody else had more than 4.
The Bulls are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, having played at Washington last night. They lost 102-100 as DeRozan and Vucevic combined for 56 of the Bulls’ 100 points. DeRo played 37 minutes. The Bulls were 7-for-27 on 3’s so if the Cavs’ big men can prevent points in the paint while the Bulls are under 30% again from deep the Cavs have a good chance even without Darius Garland.
The Bulls did not have Zach LaVine for their first two games but he is reported to be available tonight.
Last year the Cavs were 1-3 against the Bulls with the only win coming when DeRozan was out with an injury.
When the Bulls were healthy last year they may have been the best team in the East; they were tied for first after 60 games, or three-quarters of the schedule. Tonight they are healthy except for Ball, and they were 24-23 without him last year. The Cavs are without Garland so both teams are missing their primary point guards. The Bulls are at home and will be in front of a rowdy home opener crowd, but they had to play last night in Washington.
Should be a close one.
Here are some portions of John Hollinger’s pre-season preview:
Last season: 46-36, 13th in offense, 22nd in defense
Key additions: C Andre Drummond, PG Goran Dragić
Key subtractions: C Tristan Thompson, SG Matt Thomas
Draft picks: SF Dalen Terry (18th)
Are the Bulls just stuck in the middle with a team that’s too good to tank but not nearly good enough to contend?
Once injuries hit (most notably and worryingly to Lonzo Ball)…Chicago faded: first slowly (12-11 to the All-Star break, enough to stay tied atop the East) and then quickly (a 7-15 limp to the finish line that dropped them all the way to the sixth position).
Depth was a major problem all season, especially once the injuries hit….Patrick Williams missed most of the season with a wrist injury.
The Bulls were last in the NBA in 3-point attempt rate and had only three players attempt more than 5.0 per 100 possessions. Ball was one of them; without him, the spacing cratered…As much as DeRozan and LaVine carried the offense, the Ball injury gutted much of what made the team special for half a season….
Around him, guys such as Javonte Green and Ayo Dosunmu (a nice find with the 38th pick in 2021) could thrive as long as they were defending and running, but they broke down under greater half-court roles with Ball (and often Caruso) out of the lineup.
Ball, sadly, doesn’t seem to be improving much, undergoing a second knee surgery eight months after the first one and telling reporters last week he still couldn’t run or jump. …It’s fair to say his future is in doubt, a sobering thought with three years and $60 million remaining on his deal.
Unfortunately, then, the outlook for the 2022-23 Bulls is basically last year’s team with more normal late-game fortune and even less Ball. The Bulls were 22-13 when Ball played and allowed 8.6 points per 100 possessions fewer in his minutes, according to Cleaning the Glass; in the other games, they were 24-23.
Prediction: 40-42, ninth in Eastern Conference - John Hollinger
In their opener they beat Miami on the road 116-108 without Zach LaVine. DeRozan had a huge night (37 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists). The Bulls had 12 steals, 12 offensive rebounds, and out-shot the Heat 93-80.
I don’t know if the Bulls were pretty good or the Heat were bad. DeRo was 14-for-22 from the field; the rest of the Bulls were 27-for-71 (38.0%). DeRo had 9 assists; nobody else had more than 4.
The Bulls are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, having played at Washington last night. They lost 102-100 as DeRozan and Vucevic combined for 56 of the Bulls’ 100 points. DeRo played 37 minutes. The Bulls were 7-for-27 on 3’s so if the Cavs’ big men can prevent points in the paint while the Bulls are under 30% again from deep the Cavs have a good chance even without Darius Garland.
The Bulls did not have Zach LaVine for their first two games but he is reported to be available tonight.
Last year the Cavs were 1-3 against the Bulls with the only win coming when DeRozan was out with an injury.
When the Bulls were healthy last year they may have been the best team in the East; they were tied for first after 60 games, or three-quarters of the schedule. Tonight they are healthy except for Ball, and they were 24-23 without him last year. The Cavs are without Garland so both teams are missing their primary point guards. The Bulls are at home and will be in front of a rowdy home opener crowd, but they had to play last night in Washington.
Should be a close one.
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