The Bulls collected a big road win at Boston on Monday but have generally struggled since trading for Nikola Vucevic. Billy Donovan believes the team’s rotation players were slow to adjust to new roles with the addition of the All-Star center, according to Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.
“The trade really messed up our team a little,” the Bulls’ head coach said. “I don’t say that in a negative way. What I mean by that is everybody kind of got out of their normal rotation, how they were playing, how they were being used. We lost a little bit of our competitiveness not because we didn’t want to compete and play hard. It was really more of guys had to figure out their roles and what to do in their role.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Bulls will likely open their doors to fans before the regular season ends, according to Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. Mayor Lori Lightfoot expressed optimism that “there will be fans in the United Center” in the very near future. Chicago has seven home games remaining.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo missed several games with a knee injury but that’s not why he sat out most of overtime during a loss to Phoenix on Monday, according to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I just cramped. Got to get more fluids in me. That’s pretty much it,” the Bucks’ franchise player said.
- Bucks GM Jon Horst feels he accomplished his mission by trading for forward P.J. Tucker and adding point guard Jeff Teague via the buyout market, he told Eric Nehm of The Athletic in a Q&A session. Horst feels they could be the final pieces to a championship puzzle. “I could not be happier the way that we came out of the trade deadline and the buyout market in terms of how we’ve hopefully finished off this roster,” he said.
Dude…your team was already messed up.
Does anyone really think the Bucks are coming out of the East to make the Finals?
Does anyone look like a lock to win the east right now?
Looks like a three-team race rn.
Maybe it’s because he’s not shooting as much…he’s posting up about the same as always, but spotting up even less than he did in Orlando.
Weird, huh?
Yeah, we all know he is a back to the basket player, and those aren’t in demand anymore.
Ahhh. that was funny.
As R. Wallace would say, “STATS DON’T LIE”
I would love to see some signs that indicate that they are a threat but I am not optimistic. The games against Philly are crucial to see what their chances are.
Can’t wait to see
On personality
I compare Horst to Morey
Won nothing in playoffs but talked
Terry Stotts is clearly a better coach than Doc Rivers and Bud based on past 10 years playoffs performance
Never been a Donovan fan. He had more talent in OKC than any team in the NBA at the time. Did nothing with it. KD and Westbrook took them to Finals. Then he lost or got rid of every good player he had. He should’ve of stayed in college. He can’t handle the Pros lol. Look at Wendell Carter now. At this rate I see LaVine leaving. Sorry Chitown but he is welcomed in NYC …. Orange n Blue NYK. let’s do this
Hey Al, what do you think of Billy Donovan? Just wondering since you rarely tell us.
Wendell is an undersized center, who has already reached his ceiling. He does fine against small lineups but looks like a little boy held at arm’s length against any size.
Lavine is not going anywhere, he likes Donovan,Vucevich, and his long-time mentor Thad Young.
Please stop dreaming that Lavine is coming to the Nix. Ain’t gonna happen, Bulls have decided to build a team around him, which is why Wendell was traded, Lavine needed a real big who works the paint, and now they have one.
Hey Al. I don’t get your beef with Billy. Last three threads about bulls, probably more I have lost count, you give it “I’m not a fan of Donovan”. Is it coz hes from NY and you cant stand that he is here? I hear he speaks very highly of you by the way!
Horst could not be happier from his efforts? Teague & Tucker, declinings.
I think Vucevic might have preferred to keep baskin’ in the Florida sun than go to the windy city… CHI seems even worst than ORL these days!
Might be ’cause they don’t seem to use him as the #1 guy in the team, which is odd, as he is the best player CHI has had in a few years!
Not to nitpick but you can’t be “even worst”. If you’re the worst that’s the most you can be. I think you meant to say “even worse”, but feel free to jump in and clarify.
He was a Bulls fan as a kid during the MJ years, he is happy to be in Chicago, and if you saw any recent games you would notice they are adjusting to having a true big man in the paint. Having Lavine on protocol for a few games has been a blessing in disguise as they have really seen was Vucevic can do, and now team mates have realized they have 2 go-to guys on the roster, as well as many pick and roll options. They are finally playing ‘inside out’ basketball, which they did not have the right personnel for previously. (Theis has helped in this regard as well). Give this a little more time, they are going to surprise some people here. They have rid themselves of all the misfit pieces but one (Lauri).
Bulls added talent,no excuses. Lavine should definitely test free agency…
They’re 5-5 over their last 10. What were people expecting them to do? It was a bad team before Vucavic, and it’s an average team now.
The hornets play hard every night and are exciting to watch. The bulls have two allstars but do not play hard every night!