2021-2022 IGT Masterthread

[Scoot26]

Call me naive or gullible or whatever, but I do think if the bulls got the right back up big guy…they could be legit contenders this year in the East. I don’t see anyone playing basketball at a level clearly higher than the bulls yet(granted still early).

the nets? They seem kinda just another good team with no Kyrie and a subdued James harden

knicks? They are good and they beat us once but I don’t think they are some unbeatable team for the bulls

bucks? Maybe just a title hangover but so far they haven’t looked great. A back up big that can play would go a long ways to helping the bulls corral giannis a bit

heat? They so far look like they could be the best team in the East. That said, outside of Bam…they don’t play a big lineup either…so matchup wise I think the bulls can hang with them

I just don’t see anyone in the East as a team the bulls should fear or be outmatched by right now.

It is possible for the Bulls to pull of a 2021 Suns or 2020 Heat run, though highly unlikely in my opinion.

There are two things pretty much required for a champion with limited exception, and still required to a lesser extent for a runner up... that's to be Top 10 in O and D (which Bulls currently are) and have a superstar (which Bulls currently don't).

There's two champions since the ABA merger that didn't have a superstar, and third who didn't really have one that particular season, but he played like one in the Finals and certainly was one afterwards. Those two teams are the 1979 Sonics and the 2004 Pistons. The 2014 Spurs had Leonard, who's regular season certainly wasn't superstar worthy.

The teams that lacked a superstar (at least in my book) of Finalists has a larger number as you have the 2021 Suns, 2020 Heat, 2013 Spurs, 2010 Celtics (KG was aged), 2005 Pistons, 2000 Pacers, 1999 Knicks, 1978 Sonics.

Now the Top 10 O & D happens more often than not, but the exceptions are a little different. A lot of Finalists don't meet the requires of Top 10 O & D. In fact in the last decade only 3 Finalists have been Top 10 in O & D.. but they usually have one or the other. There are 3 championships since the merger in which a team with a rank outside the Top 10 beat a team that was Top 10 in both (2004, 1990, 1979). There are 7 more Finals in which both teams had ranks outside the Top 10, many in which they beat teams in the earlier rounds that were Top 10 in both.

Still the odds aren't in the Bulls favor there.

Looking at the East...

Nets are certainly lesser without Kyrie, but still a good team with having KD there. Perhaps Harden starts playing better at some point. I still think they're the team to beat in the East, as much as I don't want them to be.

Bucks certainly look like they have a hangover. One could also argue they're quite beatable based on what we did see last season. However, we know what they have and can do. They could lose in the 2nd round or easily get back to the Finals.

The Heat have the same problem as the Bulls in which they don't have a superstar unless Jimmy Butler really surprises us this season. They have a solid team, plus somehow, made the Finals two years ago. They're experienced.

I don't even consider the Knicks a title contender.

Philly still has Embiid, and even though we pretty much know they won't win a championship as currently constructed, they could beat a team like the Bulls. The Bulls could also beat them though like Atlanta did last year. It's a Doc Rivers team, so I don't expect much.. but they could win. They have the superstar.

Playoffs are always a different animal as well.

 

[knoxville7]

It is possible for the Bulls to pull of a 2021 Suns or 2020 Heat run, though highly unlikely in my opinion.

There are two things pretty much required for a champion with limited exception, and still required to a lesser extent for a runner up... that's to be Top 10 in O and D (which Bulls currently are) and have a superstar (which Bulls currently don't).

There's two champions since the ABA merger that didn't have a superstar, and third who didn't really have one that particular season, but he played like one in the Finals and certainly was one afterwards. Those two teams are the 1979 Sonics and the 2004 Pistons. The 2014 Spurs had Leonard, who's regular season certainly wasn't superstar worthy.

The teams that lacked a superstar (at least in my book) of Finalists has a larger number as you have the 2021 Suns, 2020 Heat, 2013 Spurs, 2010 Celtics (KG was aged), 2005 Pistons, 2000 Pacers, 1999 Knicks, 1978 Sonics.

Now the Top 10 O & D happens more often than not, but the exceptions are a little different. A lot of Finalists don't meet the requires of Top 10 O & D. In fact in the last decade only 3 Finalists have been Top 10 in O & D.. but they usually have one or the other. There are 3 championships since the merger in which a team with a rank outside the Top 10 beat a team that was Top 10 in both (2004, 1990, 1979). There are 7 more Finals in which both teams had ranks outside the Top 10, many in which they beat teams in the earlier rounds that were Top 10 in both.

Still the odds aren't in the Bulls favor there.

Looking at the East...

Nets are certainly lesser without Kyrie, but still a good team with having KD there. Perhaps Harden starts playing better at some point. I still think they're the team to beat in the East, as much as I don't want them to be.

Bucks certainly look like they have a hangover. One could also argue they're quite beatable based on what we did see last season. However, we know what they have and can do. They could lose in the 2nd round or easily get back to the Finals.

The Heat have the same problem as the Bulls in which they don't have a superstar unless Jimmy Butler really surprises us this season. They have a solid team, plus somehow, made the Finals two years ago. They're experienced.

I don't even consider the Knicks a title contender.

Philly still has Embiid, and even though we pretty much know they won't win a championship as currently constructed, they could beat a team like the Bulls. The Bulls could also beat them though like Atlanta did last year. It's a Doc Rivers team, so I don't expect much.. but they could win. They have the superstar.

Playoffs are always a different animal as well.

Wait?! I was told jimmy butler is a HOF guy, so he has to be a superstar right?

and I’d argue Lavine is hitting superstar level, but we shall see

I think it’s fair to say that it’s easier for many to see the bulls pulling off a run today, than it was before the preseason began.

back then, many thought the bulls would be lucky to be a play in team. Now, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see the bulls in the top 4 in the eastern standings come playoff time. Not that I’m saying they are a lock/guarantee to be there. Just that most would say it seems plausible now, where most would of said it didn’t before the pre season

 

[Scoot26]

Wait?! I was told jimmy butler is a HOF guy, so he has to be a superstar right?

and I’d argue Lavine is hitting superstar level, but we shall see

I think it’s fair to say that it’s easier for many to see the bulls pulling off a run today, than it was before the preseason began.

back then, many thought the bulls would be lucky to be a play in team. Now, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see the bulls in the top 4 in the eastern standings come playoff time. Not that I’m saying they are a lock/guarantee to be there. Just that most would say it seems plausible now, where most would of said it didn’t before the pre season

I have a stricter criteria to qualify someone as a superstar than others. Not all Hall-of-Famers are superstars in my book. The HOF is also fairly easy to make. I pretty much have a rule that there are no more than 10 superstars in the league in any particular season. Not every season has 10 either. Last season I actually hit 10 superstars, which was the first time that happened since 1994-1995. The low point was in 2013-14 when there were only 4 superstars.

A lot of my qualifications come in retrospect and while Lavine has good base numbers right now, including a pretty good PER, he would need things like an MVP and/or All-NBA 1st honors (two honors if no MVP) for me to qualify him. Additionally the Bulls would need to get out of the 1st round (something I think they can do) So some of this I can't qualify him until the season is over, or even several seasons from now. So while Kawhi gets kicked off this years list opening a spot.. additionally if Harden and Lillard continue to play like crap, they could drop off too, leaving room for others to be added (if they step up).

As far as the Bulls, I've always viewed this team as a 4-6 seed. I was never as low on them as a play-in team, unless they suffered major injuries.

The league is only 7-10 games in right now though.. a lot can change. I do like the start so far though.

 

[clonetrooper264]

It's also fair to note that it is early and perhaps some of the Bulls success could be labeled as a "hot start" by the time we're at the All Star break. I do think we match up pretty well with most teams in the East, but rebounding is a known issue already and even if we do get a PF in exchange for Coby or otherwise I find it hard to believe that we'll solve all our problems with one player.

That said this season could very well propel us to have some actual FA momentum and we can potentially attract a value big here next offseason and be in a legit spot next year

 

[Bust]

Holy cow, Zion is a fat ****. Being the face of the Pelicans if he had wanted Lonzo Ball to stay his teammate the front office would have made it happen.

Oink Oink!

 

[Scoot26]

It's also fair to note that it is early and perhaps some of the Bulls success could be labeled as a "hot start" by the time we're at the All Star break. I do think we match up pretty well with most teams in the East, but rebounding is a known issue already and even if we do get a PF in exchange for Coby or otherwise I find it hard to believe that we'll solve all our problems with one player.

That said this season could very well propel us to have some actual FA momentum and we can potentially attract a value big here next offseason and be in a legit spot next year

Well we've beaten all the teams we should have, and we're 2-2 so far on our "tough" stretch.. which is what everyone had hoped for .500 along this stretch.

Bulls also seem to keep getting gifts in terms of their opponent with the Sixers now having a COVID issue.

 

[Enasic]

Def would not give that guy a long term big money contract

 

[zack54attack]

Round 2!

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

I think Ayo gets a spot in this game in 2nd Q. He will once again show himself as a bully and get some points and boards. What a late round pick up by the Bulls.

 

[zack54attack]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1457141811328155650

 

[Zion]

This Fromaz dude can't miss. Someone turn cheat codes off for the 6ers

 

[CHIBEAR]

After watching this first half Donovan has to make some adjustments in his offense . You cant have 5-7 possessions in a row where all Vuc does is float around the perimeter setting screens . At one point we had 4 guards and Vuc and Vuc is out at the three point line setting screens . We should be playing 1 in and 4 out so put Vuc on the block and let him work one on one because once thats established he can step out to set a screen and it opens everything up.

The other thing is that Ball and Caruso have got to get more aggressive in the middle of the floor because teams know they are reluctant to shoot they are playing them for the pass . How many times have they both either to the ft line or right inside the paint and then tried to kick it out or throw a pass in traffic to the cutter and its deflected because no one is even playing them for the shot.

 

[Discus fish salesman]

After watching this first half Donovan has to make some adjustments in his offense . You cant have 5-7 possessions in a row where all Vuc does is float around the perimeter setting screens . At one point we had 4 guards and Vuc and Vuc is out at the three point line setting screens . We should be playing 1 in and 4 out so put Vuc on the block and let him work one on one because once thats established he can step out to set a screen and it opens everything up.

The other thing is that Ball and Caruso have got to get more aggressive in the middle of the floor because teams know they are reluctant to shoot they are playing them for the pass . How many times have they both either to the ft line or right inside the paint and then tried to kick it out or throw a pass in traffic to the cutter and its deflected because no one is even playing them for the shot.

Vuc 1 on 1 in the post with embiid would be a wasted possession

 

[Axl Rose]

-

Great to see that our team can do these things now. "young and athletic" has been a long time coming.

 

[zack54attack]

7-0 run!

 

[zack54attack]

10-0 RUN!!!

 

[zack54attack]

Derrick Jones Jr. has been REALLY good.

 

[zack54attack]

Of course. Raining 3's for Philly.

 

[zack54attack]

Vuc, man. Not good..

 

[Discus fish salesman]

Vuc, man. Not good..

Vuc is brutal, he killed momentum a couple times on each end of the floor. Philly got a he'll of a game from that random dude that couldn't miss.