The Bulls‘ season ended in familiar fashion on Wednesday night with another loss to Miami in the play-in tournament, writes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. This is the third straight year that it’s happened, and Wednesday’s game wasn’t close, with the Heat pulling away early while sinking a barrage of outside shots.
Poe notes that Miami scored 39 points in the first quarter and 32 more in the second quarter, neutralizing the Bulls’ game plan of pushing the pace in transition because they constantly had to inbound the ball after made shots. The Heat connected on 10 three-pointers in the first half and held a 24-point lead at intermission.
The home crowd found a little bit to cheer about as the Bulls briefly cut the lead to 13 points in the fourth quarter, but Miami quickly responded to put the game away. With a 39-43 record and an early postseason exit, Poe points out that it’s Chicago’s worst season in four years. The loss ensures the Bulls’ first-round pick will be in the lottery, but they’ll have minuscule odds of moving up to one of the top four selections.
There’s more from Chicago:
- Coby White believes the Heat’s experience in big games made the difference, per Andrew Seligman of The Associated Press. White, who had been on a scoring tear to close out the regular season, finished with 17 points but shot just 5-of-20 from the field. “We didn’t really have game-plan discipline,” he said. “We beat them in the regular season. We thought if we just do what we normally do, then we’ll be good. But obviously, they’ve got guys that have been to the finals. They’ve got guys that know what it takes. They got a head coach who’s one of the best head coaches in the league. They came in and they were the better team tonight.”
- Executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas should be embarrassed that he wasted another season on player development instead of finding a way to get elite talent on the roster, contends Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Cowley states that every mistake the front office has made over the past five years was on display Wednesday night, but the ultimate difference was dominant shooting by Miami’s Tyler Herro, who finished with 38 points. “You look at any great team, they have ‘a guy’ that’s really, really elite,” coach Billy Donovan said. “And a lot of times it’s in the backcourt. I think Coby made a really good jump, and wherever he gets to, I don’t know. Josh (Giddey) made a nice jump. I’m sure those will be all things the front office will take a look at as they go into the draft and free agency. I don’t disagree with you because that’s kind of been the case. I think what’s changed is the number of guys you needed.”
- Kevin Huerter, who was acquired from Sacramento in February, is hoping for a long-term future in Chicago, Cowley adds in a separate story. Huerter still has one season left on his contract, and he wants to find some stability after being dealt twice in the past three years.
Wow talk about love. The Bulls guard everybody wants to extend throws the coach under the bus. Then the coach comes back and throws the player under the bus. Lotta love in that building. For what it’s worth they’re both right.White proved he’s not worth top money. Donavan proved he’s a lousy coach. They’re both spot on. By the way management sucks too. C’mon ping pong balls and a house cleaning.
Completely agree Mike.
As a side note, fitting that Sac also got bounced tn.
Us Bulls fans got to enjoy a blowout loss followed by Zach&Demar giving us another one for dessert. Always fun for old times sake lmfao
Glad the Bulls traded LaVine and DeRozan. LaVine is a spectacular scorer, but it doesn’t seem to work well when LaVine and DeRozan take turns putting up shots.
Donovan is terrible. He is washed ….
Bulls don’t develop talent. They have no plan. They pray for the next MJ ….. This pick is goong to Spurs for DeRozan trade. Another wasted move.
The Bulls got it back in the LaVine trade. Their 2025 1st pick is all theirs with no conditions and it’s a lottery pick albeit with lousy odds but hey it’s something. Bulls have control of all their 1st round picks in the future now and even got a 2nd back this year from Sacramento I think. I’ll have to look. Anyway they have the picks, A lousy staff to make them and a crap coach to teach them so we agree on that Al. Plus they have a Portland first if they ever make the Playoffs before 2028.
I hope we get the mirracle just like when we got derrick rose…
That’s some serious hope bruh. If that happens I might even start to believe the conspiracies they toss out every year when somebody makes a big jump. LOL It will be a miracle if they hit the top 4.
I called it crazy hope. I had have other crazy hope, jerry sell the bulls.. I think im drunk. So sad…
Bulls have no lottery pick and no plan. Just a ton of scoring and not much else to be expected.
The Bulls do have a lottery pick. Pay attention.
You need to stick to the script. Bulls won too many games. They would be lucky to keep that 11th pick that they are projected to get
Farcry: we got that pick back when bulls traded away zach. So bulls do have a lottery pick.
Either way they likely will be outside of the lottery. They won too many games.
uh, no
they did not make the playoffs, so they have a lottery pick
The Bulls front office is happy to make the play in every season. They have no desire be a good team and make deep playoff runs.
Coby = Not worth $35M AAV. He got clamped by Davion Mitchell and didn’t want any part of him.
Giddey = Only guy who showed up with effort and wanted to win.
Vu = Why was he given only 13 FGA? Last week against Miami, he had 20 points.
Patrick Williams = Worst basketball player I have ever seen in my 35 years of watching this sport.
Dalon Terry = He just runs around setting screens for guys and is offensively challenged. I lost my cool when he threw away an inbound pass late in the 3rd and Bam took the pass and went coast to coast for a dunk.
Buzelis = Silver lining in all of this, had handles and ability to finish with physicality around the rim. Now he needs a consistent jumper and more consistency. I know Donovan won’t be the coach that elevates him to all star level.
Outside of Giddey and Buzelis, most of these guys have trade value. Firing Donovan would do wonders for my mental health. They won’t win anything meaningful with him. No draft pick has gotten better under Donovan, yet the guys they all go some how blossomed elsewhere. Markkanen, WCJ just to name a few.
In the end Jerry doesn’t give a *bleep* about the loyalty you have to this team, nor your feelings/emotions. He will continue to do what he thinks works best long term.
Congrats Jerry, you made a historically global brand somehow be obsolete in the last 25 years, with one Eastern Conference appearance to show for it.
This is worse hell than post 1998-2004. At least that team had a vision, this team has a commitment to the play in game.
Patrick Williams has zero business being on an NBA court and they gave him $90 million dollars?! Just wild.
White and Giddey can’t score like Tyler Herro and never will. White gives maximum effort but White doesn’t have Herro’s skill level and size. Plus White’s release point on his jump shot is too low. So White will never be able to hit the shots that Herro can hit so effortlessly. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate what White accomplished this season.
What the Bulls really need are tall athletic interior players. Herro was taking it right into the lane and the Bulls have hardly anyone to block shots. Vucevic has a high skill level but isn’t a rim protector.
Bulls should hite Malone …..
Probably better than Donovan but who isn’t.
He would turn them around
Or bud