- Joined:
- Jul 12, 2013
- Posts:
- 20,672
- Liked Posts:
- 14,581
- Location:
- The sewers
My favorite teams
shooting below his career avg from 3
- Joined:
- Apr 11, 2009
- Posts:
- 23,740
- Liked Posts:
- 7,441
My favorite teams
Way better than he was to start this year for sure. Biggest issue has been availability for him
Like some Bulls players, he has been a lot better since the break/deadline
- Joined:
- Apr 11, 2009
- Posts:
- 23,740
- Liked Posts:
- 7,441
My favorite teams
With the Bulls' refusal to tank, they now find themselves 11th currently and the way things are going, they might actually win the play in this time (ironic given AK's statement of playoffs at the trade deadline seemed...laughable at best). They're actually still not that far out from falling back to 8th (and thus tripling their chances of a miracle jump into the top 4 or #1), but clearly they are one of the hottest teams outside the playoff picture currently.
- Joined:
- Jun 15, 2010
- Posts:
- 47,035
- Liked Posts:
- 36,310
My favorite teams
19 MPG prior to the ASB. You have to assume, I'd think, that his numbers might be a little bit better with more minutes and more of the role he had with the Bulls. The Thunder simply don't need him that much. I'll be interested to see if that changes in the playoffs.
- Joined:
- Apr 11, 2009
- Posts:
- 23,740
- Liked Posts:
- 7,441
My favorite teams
Imo a guy like Caruso, I probably should put his per 36 stats and advanced stats because those tell the better story of what he does. He's the kind of player that wouldn't wow you with his raw stats (except steals perhaps) and his shooting can be streaky and he's injured a lot.
On the defensive side of the ball, where I think OKC has him focused on, rather than the increased offensive load he carried last year with us, Caruso is as good as he's ever been I think.
- Joined:
- Jun 15, 2010
- Posts:
- 47,035
- Liked Posts:
- 36,310
My favorite teams
Highest PER, and second highest usg% of his career.
I know it's fun to think in the moment, and we all have our bias, but depending on what the Thunder do this season the trade might be a wash.
That is not to suggest that there will be a loser in this trade, I"m just suggesting that it may very well be an even trade that works out for both.
- Joined:
- Jul 12, 2013
- Posts:
- 20,672
- Liked Posts:
- 14,581
- Location:
- The sewers
My favorite teams
100% a trade that has worked out for both sides already IMO
both sides got what they wanted
OKC got the veteran elite 3&D guy that is a great presence in the clubhouse
Bulls got a lot younger and got an extremely talented player that had become redundant for OKC
I remember Bulls fans complaining we didnt get a 2nd round pick back
- Joined:
- Jun 15, 2010
- Posts:
- 47,035
- Liked Posts:
- 36,310
My favorite teams
It's quibbling, but if the Thunder don't make the finals then maybe you can say they lost? Maybe.100% a trade that has worked out for both sides already IMO
both sides got what they wanted
OKC got the veteran elite 3&D guy that is a great presence in the clubhouse
Bulls got a lot younger and got an extremely talented player that had become redundant for OKC
I remember Bulls fans complaining we didnt get a 2nd round pick back
Again, that's a high bar for Caruso that I don't think many would set.
- Joined:
- Jul 12, 2013
- Posts:
- 20,672
- Liked Posts:
- 14,581
- Location:
- The sewers
My favorite teams
i get that sentiment
i just think Caruso has helped put them in position to get to the finals. any team could manage to lose a series, hard to let that hold too much weight when evaluating the trade "winner/loser."
But, the Thunder certainly made the trade with making a finals run in mind. That is absolutely the bar that has been set
- Joined:
- Apr 11, 2009
- Posts:
- 23,740
- Liked Posts:
- 7,441
My favorite teams
Much of it will also do with how well Giddey plays next season and after too. For all we know, Giddey's just on a heater right now
But yes, as of now it's looking like both teams got what they wanted it looks like
- Joined:
- Apr 16, 2010
- Posts:
- 18,860
- Liked Posts:
- 7,465
- Location:
- Forest Park
My favorite teams
What a game last night. That comeback was incredible. With LeBron involved on the 3 crucial plays. lol
- Joined:
- Apr 11, 2009
- Posts:
- 23,740
- Liked Posts:
- 7,441
My favorite teams
What's interesting to me about this whole stretch of Bulls play since the trade deadline is that, right after the deadline, we were pretty convinced we could free fall into maybe the 6 or 7 spot if we played it right because we lost 5 in a row (probably more including games prior to deadline). This recent stretch where the Bulls have strung together 2 separate 4 game winning streaks has basically negated that prior losing streak and, as it happens Bulls are 1 game over .500 since the trade deadline (11-10).
I had kinda assumed that of those 11 wins, most would be against actively tanking teams...and a decent chunk are (Ws vs Philly, Toronto, Utah, Brooklyn, Miami arguably). But Bulls also have some solid wins against actively winning teams, especially lately (Lakers 2x, Denver *albeit no Jokic, Sacramento, Orlando). Couple bad losses to Indiana and Cleveland, some close losses to LAC, Phoenix, and Houston. That's basically Bulls basketball since February.
Hilariously, what this is setting the stage for is a final record that is not too far off of last year's. Bulls have a fairly cakewalk schedule the rest of the way. In theory, I can see them going 7-2 the rest of the way (losses to OKC and Cleveland). Bulls could actually conceivably win the play in so they can get their butts kicked by the Cavs in round 1.
What does one even take away from this seemingly Jekyll and Hyde stretch of the season?
For one I think it's funny that the Bulls finally run a seemingly normal sized rotation of players now, instead of 9 guards and Vuc/Smith. Injuries of course play a large factor there (Ayo out for the year, Tre Jones injured for a bit, Lonzo injured for a bit), but we do get to see the Bulls utilizing a bit of size at the wing sometimes between Matas, PWill, Phillips, and Terry. Phillips still doesn't get a ton of minutes, but Terry has gotten more burn of late and hasn't been a consistent trainwreck. THT has been out of the rotation after getting so much burn a couple months ago. Kevin Huerter is a bigger guard as well. Basically, it's not the all PGs lineup anymore, and I think that's a good thing.
On the Kevin Huerter note, I think we finally have actions in the offense that are intended to generate 3s on the move (stuff like pin downs, floppy, single double...for the nerds out there, though I don't think they run all that). I think that helps the offense work better rather than high screen and roll while everyone else stands around in the corner. The player movement in general is probably the best it's been in a long time.
Defensively, the effort has been a lot more present than it has been over the recent years as well. I'll give Giddey a lot of credit there, his defense to start the year was absolutely terrible, but now you can see mostly consistent effort. He's still not a great individual defender and probably never will be, but he's functioning within the overall team system. Huerter also usually gives pretty good effort, and Coby has as well. Vuc has looked more engaged defensively too. All poor individual defenders of course, but at least they're trying. If a team at least gives consistent effort on defense, you can at least work with that.
I think the following statements are true:
1) This stretch is probably worse for the Bulls overall. To move the needle of this franchise we need superstar, as well as Giddey and Coby have been playing, they are not that. That said, they've been very very very good in this stretch. Punching well above their value right now.
2) This stretch has probably been the most fun the Bulls have been since pre Lonzo injury. Goes to show how miserable the last 3 years have been. If you can watch them (because lol TV deal), they won't make you want to claw your eyes out. They're entertaining.
This creates the offseason dilemma of, do you trust that this is the way Giddey and Coby are going to perform going forward? How much they get paid in the next couple offseasons if entirely dependent on that. I still think the Bulls should commit to only one of them long term, for the purposes of acquiring some needle moving player at some point down the line. If you're paying 60M+ per year to these two, I just feel like it becomes that much harder to do so and we're back to where we were just a couple years ago.
All this to say...are the Bulls playing well right now? Yes. Is it all for naught because they're just spinning their wheels again? Perhaps.
At least with these guys, they're young enough to where you can have some hope for the future for improvement from them.
I had kinda assumed that of those 11 wins, most would be against actively tanking teams...and a decent chunk are (Ws vs Philly, Toronto, Utah, Brooklyn, Miami arguably). But Bulls also have some solid wins against actively winning teams, especially lately (Lakers 2x, Denver *albeit no Jokic, Sacramento, Orlando). Couple bad losses to Indiana and Cleveland, some close losses to LAC, Phoenix, and Houston. That's basically Bulls basketball since February.
Hilariously, what this is setting the stage for is a final record that is not too far off of last year's. Bulls have a fairly cakewalk schedule the rest of the way. In theory, I can see them going 7-2 the rest of the way (losses to OKC and Cleveland). Bulls could actually conceivably win the play in so they can get their butts kicked by the Cavs in round 1.
What does one even take away from this seemingly Jekyll and Hyde stretch of the season?
For one I think it's funny that the Bulls finally run a seemingly normal sized rotation of players now, instead of 9 guards and Vuc/Smith. Injuries of course play a large factor there (Ayo out for the year, Tre Jones injured for a bit, Lonzo injured for a bit), but we do get to see the Bulls utilizing a bit of size at the wing sometimes between Matas, PWill, Phillips, and Terry. Phillips still doesn't get a ton of minutes, but Terry has gotten more burn of late and hasn't been a consistent trainwreck. THT has been out of the rotation after getting so much burn a couple months ago. Kevin Huerter is a bigger guard as well. Basically, it's not the all PGs lineup anymore, and I think that's a good thing.
On the Kevin Huerter note, I think we finally have actions in the offense that are intended to generate 3s on the move (stuff like pin downs, floppy, single double...for the nerds out there, though I don't think they run all that). I think that helps the offense work better rather than high screen and roll while everyone else stands around in the corner. The player movement in general is probably the best it's been in a long time.
Defensively, the effort has been a lot more present than it has been over the recent years as well. I'll give Giddey a lot of credit there, his defense to start the year was absolutely terrible, but now you can see mostly consistent effort. He's still not a great individual defender and probably never will be, but he's functioning within the overall team system. Huerter also usually gives pretty good effort, and Coby has as well. Vuc has looked more engaged defensively too. All poor individual defenders of course, but at least they're trying. If a team at least gives consistent effort on defense, you can at least work with that.
I think the following statements are true:
1) This stretch is probably worse for the Bulls overall. To move the needle of this franchise we need superstar, as well as Giddey and Coby have been playing, they are not that. That said, they've been very very very good in this stretch. Punching well above their value right now.
2) This stretch has probably been the most fun the Bulls have been since pre Lonzo injury. Goes to show how miserable the last 3 years have been. If you can watch them (because lol TV deal), they won't make you want to claw your eyes out. They're entertaining.
This creates the offseason dilemma of, do you trust that this is the way Giddey and Coby are going to perform going forward? How much they get paid in the next couple offseasons if entirely dependent on that. I still think the Bulls should commit to only one of them long term, for the purposes of acquiring some needle moving player at some point down the line. If you're paying 60M+ per year to these two, I just feel like it becomes that much harder to do so and we're back to where we were just a couple years ago.
All this to say...are the Bulls playing well right now? Yes. Is it all for naught because they're just spinning their wheels again? Perhaps.
At least with these guys, they're young enough to where you can have some hope for the future for improvement from them.
- Joined:
- Jun 15, 2010
- Posts:
- 47,035
- Liked Posts:
- 36,310
My favorite teams
It’s just the nature of the sport: one superstar can change the entire outlook of your franchise, and moreso than any of the other three. The problem is your best chance of getting those superstars is in the top of the lottery.* Of course it’s possible to develop a guy like Kawhi and get a legit MVP in the middle of the first, but that’s not a safe bet.
So yeah, would I prefer the Bulls to lose out and ensure a top lottery pick? Of course. Billy and the players have different thoughts though and theirs matter more. If they’re going to play well, play the way they’ve wanted to from the start of the season, and win games like last night, then cool. But it’s my second option.
I don’t see a problem in logic between wanting them to play well while wanting to see the future look better.
Just wish that I could view them on TV.
* I’m obviously excluding the draft and stash foreign players.
So yeah, would I prefer the Bulls to lose out and ensure a top lottery pick? Of course. Billy and the players have different thoughts though and theirs matter more. If they’re going to play well, play the way they’ve wanted to from the start of the season, and win games like last night, then cool. But it’s my second option.
I don’t see a problem in logic between wanting them to play well while wanting to see the future look better.
Just wish that I could view them on TV.
* I’m obviously excluding the draft and stash foreign players.
- Joined:
- Apr 11, 2009
- Posts:
- 23,740
- Liked Posts:
- 7,441
My favorite teams
I can't remember the last time the Bulls made people go ballistic like this since Demar's back to back game winners...and I think the Internet reaction to this one has been bigger lol
- Joined:
- Aug 10, 2013
- Posts:
- 40,459
- Liked Posts:
- 37,723
- Location:
- Cumming
Have we ever seen Jordan look like a bum like that? I guess you could make a case when Illini great Nick Anderson picked his pocket to secure a playoff win I believe. (Granted this was Jordan’s comeback tour in 95)
Last edited:
Staff online NOW
-
bamainatlantaYou wake him up, you keep him up