It’s the Chicago Bulls Podcast #30 with Marcus Couch and Wyse Black and we’ve got Bulls vs Wizards Post-Game, Updates on Otto Porter’s Injury, Fred Hoiberg Goes Back to College, Derrick Rose out for the season (Can we sign him?), and Predictions for Upcoming Games this Week!
Welcome to the Bulls Podcast, coming to you from BullsPodcast.com. This is where we bring you the latest news, reviews, rants, rumors and opinions on the players, coaches and front office of the Chicago Bulls.
We’ve got a lot in store for you this episode. Including:
- Bulls vs Wizards Post-Game
- Otto Porter Injury update
- Fred Hoiberg Goes Back to College Coaching? That and other Rumors
- Derrick Rose is out for the season. Can we pick him up cheap?
- Preview of upcoming games with Our Win Predictions!
Come TANK with us! We’ll be right back after this quick time-out…
Before we get started with the post-game analysis. We want to let you know that Wyse and Marcus were guests on Chicago Bullseye #421 this week. Make sure you go to ChicagoBullseye.com to listen. We also have that interview posted in our YouTube channel as well as in our FB group, which you should be a part of.
Bulls vs Wizards Post Game Analysis. Bulls WIN 126-120
The Chicago Bulls were short-handed in their return to the United Center after a long West Coast road trip on Wednesday, but that didn’t stop them from getting the victory, as they road huge games from Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn to a 126-120 victory over the now fading Washington Wizards.
Markkanen posted yet another huge double-double with one of his best games of the year by going for 32 points and 13 rebounds, while Dunn had what was easily his best game of the year with a season-high 26 points and 13 assists to go along with six rebounds and two steals.
Even the Brazilian Marshmallow got in the action with 16 points and 5 rebounds!
It’s quite fitting that Markkanen hit a huge clutch three for his final points with 32.4 seconds left in overtime off of Dunn’s final assist to secure the victory.
Markkanen: 32 pts | 13 rebs | 5 asts
Dunn: 26 pts | 10-24 FG | 13 asts
Beal: 27 pts | 7 rebs | 7 asts
Otto Porter Jr has been out the last 2 games with a right rotator cuff strain.
This is a bit of a blessing in disguise, as it gives us some games to evaluate our bench role players to see who we can to keep next year. It also helps out the tank, as Otto has been contributing to a lot of Wins as of late. The injury is just a strain and shouldn’t put Otto out for too long.
But with the tanking, it may even be time to shut down Otto and Zach anyway.
Last Week’s Overall Predictions:
In the last 4 games, we both predicted a 1-3 record. The Bulls outplayed our predictions, going 2-2, including the victory over Phoenix and Washington.
Our Predictions Last Week:
Friday March 15th – Bulls at LA Clippers (Wyse L, Marcus L)
Sunday March 17th – Bulls at Sacramento Kings (Wyse L, Marcus L)
Monday March 18 – Bulls at Phoenix (Tank Battle) (Wyse W, Marcus L)
Wednesday March 20th – Bulls vs Washington Wizards (Wyse L, Marcus W)
Fred Hoiberg will accept the head coaching job at the University of Nebraska.
The Bulls will no longer owe Fred Hoiberg’s remaining $5 million once he officially accepts the job. The Bulls are linked to hiring Bill Self (Kansas coach) this summer if they move on from Jim Boylen.
In other collegiate coaching news..
Brandon Lang was on NBC Sports and threw down a bombshell saying, “The biggest rumor mill that I found out today from a very reliable source, [is] that Bill Self will be leaving Kansas at the end of the year to become the head coach of the Chicago Bulls.”
And also in college news:
The following people have notched a triple-double in a NCAA tournament game: Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Gary Grant, David Cain, Andre Miller, Dwayne Wade and Draymond Green. Now add one more… Ja Morant.
The potential newest Bulls point guard of the future is looking better and better with every game. I am 100% convinced that this is who the Bulls should draft if we have the opportunity.
Derrick Rose is out for the Year!
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Derrick Rose will miss the remainder of the NBA season because of a chip fracture in his right elbow.
Sham Charania of Stadium and The Athletic reported the update Thursday and noted Robert Covington (right knee) and Jeff Teague (left foot) are also being shut down by the T-Wolves.
Rose, 30, enjoyed a resurgent campaign in his first full year with the Wolves. He’s flashed the playmaking ability that allowed him to win the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2010-11 season with the Chicago Bulls.
He averaged 18.0 points, 4.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds while shooting a career-best 37.0 percent on three-pointers in 51 games.
Rose owns an extensive history of injuries, most notably missing the entire 2012-13 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL. His setbacks this season were more of the minor variety.
Tyus Jones will likely see the biggest uptick in playing time with Rose and Teague out. It could also create some more chances for Jerryd Bayless and Jared Terrell in the revamped backcourt rotation.
Minnesota, which will soon be eliminated from postseason contention after four straight losses dropped its record to 32-39, will be without three of its top five scorers for the stretch run. Rose ranked second behind Karl-Anthony Towns (24.6 PPG), with Covington (14.5) fourth and Teague (12.1) fifth in scoring.
Rose is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
Should all the Bulls fans be rooting for Jones so we can get Rose on a Cap-Friendly deal?
Speaking of CHEAP GUARDS:
Rumor is that Phoenix will be signing Jimmer Fredette for the rest of the season
Former NCAA Division I men’s player of the year and Bulls Fan hopeful Jimmer Fredette, who bounced around the NBA from 2011 to 2016 before joining the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, may be returning stateside shortly.
Reports are that Fredette is meeting with the Phoenix Suns this week and could sign a contract for the remainder of the team’s season.
The 30-year-old Fredette has averaged 6.0 points on 41.2 percent shooting in 235 career games for four NBA teams. The former BYU guard led Division I in scoring with 28.9 points per game during the 2010-11 season. The Milwaukee Bucks selected him 10th overall in 2011 and traded him to the Sacramento Kings on draft day.
Fredette has found much more success in the CBA, however, as evidenced by his 36 points per game this season. That mark is good enough for fourth in the league.
Chances are Fredette isn’t about to average 36 points per game for the Suns should Phoenix choose to sign him, but the team doesn’t have much to lose at this point.
If it works out, then he could be part of the rotation next year, presumably at a reasonable salary. If not, then the Suns move on at the end of this season.
Regardless, the team may need some backcourt reinforcements, especially if Suns guard Tyler Johnson’s sore right knee keeps him out for longer than the three games he’s already sat. Fredette is a solid option to fill a rotation gap and could be an excellent comeback story to boot.
Upcoming Games this week:
Saturday, March 23 – Bulls vs Utah Jazz (Wyse – L, Marcus – L)
Tuesday, March 26 – Bulls @ Toronto Raptors (Wyse – L, Marcus – L)
Wednesday, March 27 – Bulls vs Portland Trailblazers (Wyse – L, Marcus – L)
[Wyse Prediction] 0-3 for the week.
[Marcus Prediction] 0-3 for the week.
Wyse Social Links:
http://twitter.com/radical_creator
http://instagram.com/radical_creator
Marcus:
Bulls Podcast Call-in Line: 312-239-8586
You can find me on social anywhere, Youtube, Instagram, Twitter and the like, all @marcuscouch.
Everything show related you can find @bullspodcast. Please make sure you are connected with us everywhere we are.
Also remember to check out our compilation website where you can get all of the Bulls Podcasts from every single Chicago Bulls show out there over at http://bulls.fm
If you can’t remember any of these, you can check out our show notes for this show over at our website, which is BullsPodcast.com where we have all the links we mentioned in today’s show.
Remember Bulls Fans, our magic TANK-A-THON NUMBER is down to just 12 more losses, and we’re just 91 days away (June 20, 2019) from the NBA draft and only 62 Days away from the NBA Lottery!
Until next time, Thank you for listening everyone, Go Bulls!