Chisoxfn

They are in a bad place right now - especially with Ayo being off the past couple games. They basically have 2 people scoring (White and Derozan). Vuc is clearly not a LT part and they need to package him for others but the depth is just so thin. They need Lavine back but also have to be careful. Right when it was getting back with Caruso coming back and than more to come we went right back to non-existent depth. Hopefully this was the last of the major injuries and we get back to getting guys healthy and start chunking together a stretch with more wins than losses. I still say I would give Derozan some extra rest - basically throw one more game - than be ready when Zach comes back.

I am not going to lie - I was googling Niko a week ago. He would be such a good fit for this team - especially with how his D came around. That said I don’t think he ever liked being in the US.

Shit - I thought he was out 6-8 weeks…dude doesn’t get evaluated for 6-8 weeks. 11 weeks from now is when playoffs start. This has a shot at being a season ended. 2 flagrant fouls - 2 broken wrists - bulls need an enforcer on their bench. I was upset that no one got in Allen’s face right after the foul.

Was it Seattle where Robbie hit a game winner in the playoffs. Maybe the game before we crushed Saints en route to the super bowl?

Good as Gould. I remember how pissed I was when they cut him. I think a few people on this board said I was wrong too - nope - I wasn’t. He should have only worn a Bear uniform! Here it is: Goulds kick forces Rodgers to reevaluate his career and retire. Bears blind into a great head coach and GM and Justin Fields becomes the next true franchise qb! Meanwhile Green Bay begins to experience true crap going from Love to turd after turd for next 3 decades!!! You heard it here first

Let’s not go that far (in terms of play-in game).

Absolutely awful. My heart skipped a beat when I saw that. All my anger I had right as it happened wasn’t enough.

Yeah - the final 30 seconds were not well executed. That said with as depleted as they are and as bad as they shot to be in that game was shocking.

If you told me the game would be tied w/3 minutes left in 3rd quarter and Bulls had missed 18 straight 3's at one point, I would have said you were crazy.

That was what got me more angry. He didn't go over and see if Caruso was okay (or if he did he did it way after the fact) and than he was laughing. Dude could have ruined Caruso's season with that play. If that happened on the playground, Grayson isn't walking off the court without a black eye.

What a punk - even his reaction afterwards was punk.

Please let Caruso be okay - that was a hard foul. That is a Flagrant 2 - that was totally excessive and Grayson has a history of this.

Grayson Allen needs to be suspended. That was horrendous and dirty foul. I am going off first reaction (vs. replay). But total trash foul. The other hand winding up and taking him down was extremely DIRTY.

Ravens fired their DC - who has been very good. I am curious to see if Fangio ends up there....might be a sign on whether Jim is making his way back to NFL (or not). I still go back to - at some point Jim signs an extension/gets raise with Michigan...so fact that he hasn't yet tells me he truly is interested in going back to the NFL. If he was 100% set on staying in college - he would have already agreed to a pay increase (cause I guarantee Michigan has offered him something at this point).

One name to watch - the Ravens Asst GM (Horitz or something like that). Bears are set to interview him soon (I think) and he is very tight w/John Harbaugh. My presumption is the Jim Harbaugh possibility increases greatly if they go with Horitz.

I will also caveat that I really couldn’t complain with Leftwich. He had called plays for a while - my hesitation is always related to how much I judge anyone for their work with a GOAT like Brady but he has been there and done it and had to tailor offenses to fit his QB. I still prefer Dabol who literally built the scheme. I also would say Dorsey in Buffalo played a huge part too (not Dabol like) but if somehow Bears went with Frazier (doesn’t excite me) I would hope we saw him able to grab a real good OC.

Both good candidates. McKenzie knows how to draft and find talent - I do think he has his limitations but he was a huge part in Raiders turning things around and with the Packers he was part of a great front office. He is on the older side though - not that that is a bad thing.

I agree with most everything you say - quite frankly I have zero expectation that they will win a championship this year. I think the stars need to align - but I have that same view with or without Harrison Barnes. It is why I just don't see the need to use chips for something like that. I would rather keep ammo for the ability to create that sort of juice in future vs. use it now on something that I don't believe materially moves the needle. I should caveat - could the Bulls win a title this year - sure - but they will need luck to go there way. They need health on the right side, some good bounces, and honestly, need some other teams to have health not be in there favor. I think Bulls best ability to get to elite level is the young players taking more step forward (even Lavine who continues to get better) while also finding new ways to find star power. Young players includes Pat, Coby, Ayo and Ball at this point. Do I think any of those people become a superstar - no, probably not - but they could all become pretty dynamic players/fits in there own right.

I just think volume will be impacted and we already have Ball who just sits around the arch in a half court set as well. I just don't think they are that much better with that move so would rather save the chips for something meaningful. It's like desert - if I'm going to have something not good for me - I want it to taste good; I don't want to give up a day of my life eating something crappy for me that is just meh - if I do that its got to be worth it. I feel that way when it comes to using young, cost controlled assets. I might be grossly wrong too and if they got Barnes alright - lets see how that extra part makes it all work together better. Either way - right now - in AKME/BD I trust (hopefully I'm saying the same thing 5 years from now too).

I am so confused why you do some and not others unless there is some misdirection or a reason they announce certain ones. I don't know - maybe best thing to do is just wait and see what happens. Than react from there. I mean 2 weeks ago everyone thought Pace was a high probability of returning and we know that was so far wrong with Polian having been doing a deep operative mission quietly evaluating the Bears for a good chunk of the season.

I just don't see why getting Barnes magically makes you that much better compared to what you give up. I don't see you going from a 5th best odds to 2nd best odds team. Quite frankly - I don't think the odds move much at all with the types of trades being discussed - but the LT flexibility certainly gets impacted. I just don't see them making that big move now and when they do - I think the reality is it is likely a combination of people, Vuc or Ball plus some of the other parts and they are being used to get you a star that does make that sort of move. Especially with how this front office has been able to find guys like Javonte Green and others. Find a good 4 - maybe not in buyout market but in a less high profile trade (similar to when they got Theiss - albeit that cost us Gafford and clearly Washington is pretty happy they made that move). But same concept applies.

I don't see the Bulls trading any of the people being outlined. Maybe some picks - but that would be about it. I do expect them to be players in the buyout marketplace though. Ayo / White / Pat Williams - I don't think they are moving them for any of the names being discussed. Hopefully Lonzo is back on March 1st - so there is enough time for him to build back up. I am hoping Pat Williams is playing at that point too. Additionally - if I were the Bulls, I might just sit Derozan a game upcoming (given how many minutes he has logged) to try and get him a bit more of an extended rest.

Hopefully with the extra clarity they can figure out a good way to get Lonzo back. As long as he comes back by mid Feb that should give time to gel.

The defense in the final 4 minutes tonight was stellar. God we missed Caruso as that defensive anchor. Everybodies defense instantly elevated having our stopper back on the court. PS: I love me some Stacey King! I loved Hawk and it is great having a fun biased announcer for the Bulls who understands the game too. Makes it all around fun. I know some don’t like him but so glad Bulls have him calling games.

Evidently Lavine treatment going well - he will miss at least next three games but good progress as a whole. Lonzo still a total unknown as he didn’t respond well to initial treatment. They changed things up and now wait and see if he responds better to the new treatment. In long run maybe this rough patch/injuries will turn into a blessing in disguise because it further accelerated Ayo and White’s growth. Ball movement today when Ayo, Caruso, and Demar were out there together was just beautiful.