Following Thursday’s victory over Brooklyn, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan praised Tre Jones, saying the fifth-year point guard has a knack for making winning plays, according to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link), who points out that the impending free agent recorded five points, four rebounds and four assists in the fourth quarter.
“Being a part of a winning culture, a winning team, that’s the whole reason of playing basketball really,” Jones said.
Jones, who was acquired from San Antonio in the Zach LaVine trade, has started each of the past five games, averaging 14.0 points, 6.0 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals on .500/.500/.769 shooting over that span (33.3 MPG). Like his older brother Tyus Jones, Tre is known for his ability to take care of the basketball, having recorded 54 assists against only eight turnovers in 14 games with Chicago (an assist-to-turnover ratio of 6.75-to-1).
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Lottery pick Matas Buzelis hit the rookie wall at some point over the past couple weeks, observes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. As Poe details, Buzelis was visibly exhausted on Monday against Indiana, and while he had more energy on Thursday vs. Brooklyn, he only played 15 minutes after averaging 27.5 over his past 17 games. “That’s part of his development,” Donovan said. “Is he eating well? Is he hydrating well? Is he getting good sleep? You can maybe get away with that playing 10 minutes a game. When you all of a sudden start playing 26, 28, 30, 32 minutes a night on a regular basis, there’s a toll it takes on your body.”
- In the same story, Poe notes that Zach Collins has been ahead of Jalen Smith on the center depth chart the past two games after Nikola Vucevic returned from a calf injury that sidelined him for seven contests. Collins, who was also acquired in the LaVine deal, has averaged 11.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.6 APG, 0.9 SPG and 0.8 BPG on .554/.333/.879 shooting in 12 games for the Bulls (25.0 MPG). He’s owed about $18.1MM next season prior to 2026 free agency, while Smith is under contract through 2027.
- The Bulls have won four straight, bolstering their chances of not only securing a play-in berth, but perhaps passing Miami or Orlando to move up a spot or two in the standings. The recent stretch of play is nothing but a mirage, in the view of Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, who argues that head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas should be blamed for his refusal to embrace a rebuild ahead of a 2025 draft that is highly touted, particularly at the top. Advancing to the playoffs would likely be viewed by Karnisovas as a sign of progress, but it would be catastrophic for the Chicago’s long-term outlook, according to Cowley.
We all know who’s to blame. The point is what are they going to do to fix it? We all know what should have happened. The point is what are they going to do to fix it? Smith has had a bad knee for a while now. He should be getting it fixed so there is no problem next year when he’ll be needed. Why is he still playing at all? We all know they’re stupid. But what are they going to do to fix it? Do I sound like a broken record? Well that’s what it is to be a Bulls fan today. What are they going to do to fix things? Inquiring minds wanna know.
This feeling is pretty pervasive for me these days. But the Bulls are a miserable franchise to follow. I understand we deserve it karmically due to the six championships in the 90’s, and I accept my punishment.
However, not everyone got to enjoy those teams! For the younger Bulls fans, they’ve only seen a mess. Really just embarrassing for a city like Chicago to have such a collection of pathetic pro sports teams.
I’ll be at the Sky games, say hello!
Under Billy Donovan, nobody got has gotten better. Markkanen got better elsewhere, so did WCJ, so will Coby. Buzelis should be getting closer to 30 MPG but this guy thinks it’s college and wants to have guys “earn” minutes. When you have Julian Phillips and Jalen Smith as your main competition at the 4 for Buzelis, there’s no valid excuse or justification for his incompetence at playing Buzelis more minutes. You see other coaches who have made their young guys and stars grow, and we have a wanna be Larry Brown without the results or pedigree.
Larry Brown? Nobody here has the pedigree to be Larry Brown’s Chauffeur.
What are you talking about? The latest Bulls roster is fun to watch and the team is winning. Enjoy it!
How would I know? The crap TV station they bought barely puts out a signal that goes 5 feet so I haven’t seen a game all year. They’re pathetic in every way. And I’m not signing up with Direct TV because I refuse to have anything to do with AT&T. They only sold a tiny part of it and they are still involved. I’m done and I’m done with it until they start respecting the fans again. I didn’t really miss it. I haven’t seen a game all year because they’re too pathetic to make NTL. TV. LMAO
Mike, I think they played on NTL TV once? Back in December??? LMFAO
I must have had something better to do that day. I think I was shaving my armpits. At 68 it gets a little long sometimes.
You guys are pathetic. You didn’t miss it, unclemike, and you had something better to do, you say, so why do you sound so angry? And if you don’t miss it and have something better to do, then why do you care whether the games are broadcast, even on “crap” stations? Really, Mike, tell us the truth. Get it off your chest.
Get it off my chest? WTF do you think I’ve been doing? Reading comprehension not a strong suit huh? I’ve been getting it off my chest since Lonzo’s knee injury and subsequent roster stupidity. Making some bad decisions can happen to anybody but three years in a row of it? Pay attention. Raz is wishing for Gar-Pax back for Gods sake.
Attaboy!