Bulls Podcast #46

November 25, 2019 admin Podcast Comments Off on Bulls Podcast #46

It’s the Bulls Podcast #46 hosted by Marcus Couch and Wyse Black. We’re covering Zach Lavine’s career-high “answer” to the doubters (and coaches). Is the new Duo now Zack and Coby? Our State of the Bulls and Game predictions for the coming 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.

And joining us once again is sports blogger, podcaster and admin to one of the best Bulls FB groups there is, it’s Kenyatta Wright!

We’ve got several topics for this episode. Including:

  • What a difference 24 hours makes
  • State of the Bulls: Are we too hard on the team?
  • Game predictions for the coming week

Bulls win the game of the year

What an incredible 24 hours in Chicago Bulls team history.

Let’s break this all down for you.

Friday night, the Bulls were flat out punched in the face by Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. The 116-108 score was nowhere near the reality of the game. The Bulls never had a chance against the Heat.

The Bulls played absolutely awful, already down 34-16 in the first quarter. Including a scoreless streak of nearly 10 minutes to start the game. 

Zach Lavine was visibly frustrated after the game. His initial comment was “We’re all out of rhythm and we’re trying to find it. We’re obviously trying to win. I think we’re a really good team. We have some things we have to continue to get better at. We’re just not there yet.”

Jim Boylen chopped his players off at the knees, pulling Zach Lavine out early in the 4th. When asked about it in his post-game press conference, Boylen stated “I just pulled him. Not combative. Guys know. Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen and our starters got to play better for us to become what we can become. That’s how it works,” Boylen told reporters. “I want him to be a two-way player. That’s what I want him to be.”

LaVine said he thought he was used as a scapegoat for the Bulls’ struggles.

After a reporter told Lavine what Boylen said, he replied “I guess I was to blame for it. I’ve gotten pulled early before by him. I guess that’s just his thing to do,” LaVine said. “I have to take it in stride. I’m not the coach. What did he say I got pulled for?”

Zach LaVine says he senses a lack of trust from coach Jim Boylen after the guard was temporarily pulled in the first quarter of Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat.

“I’m trying my best, I’ll say that,” LaVine told Yahoo Sports “I’m playing my minutes and trying to do the best I can do. It’s tough, especially when you’re in a rut. If he doesn’t trust me, it’s hard to trust someone who doesn’t trust you.”

The Next Game – Bulls vs Charlotte

One night after questioning his relationship with coach Jim Boylen, the Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine came through with a big game.

LaVine had a career-high 49 points, including the winning 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left to give the Bulls a 116-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night. It was undoubtedly the game of the year. I watched nearly every NBA game from every single team this season. There’s been nothing like this so far this year, and there’s not been a last-minute comeback finish like this for the Bulls in years.

After the game, Zach Lavine was all smiles. We talk about revenge games a lot, but it’s usually revenge against a team you previously played for. This was something completely new. A revenge game against your own coach and what he said not even 24 hours earlier.

Coby White’s 12 made field goals in the game were the most by a Bulls rookie in a single game since Derrick Rose did it in 2009. At one point in the game, Lavine turned to Coby and said: “It’s you and me..”. This may be the start of the desperately needed DUO that we’ve been begging for this season, though not the two we suspected would rise up.

After the game, Zach said “Hopefully this is that turning point for us. Every team has it. This could be a big step for us in the right direction.” It seems Zach got the upper hand with his 49 point, franchise record-setting performance of ultimate range and efficiency.

Regarding his last-second game-winner, Zach said “I knew it was CASH”

What was displayed all over social and may have just been a weird camera angle, the Bulls seemed to SHUN Jim Boylen in the game winning celebration on the court. I watched it a few times and it really does seem like the team is shying away from including Boylen in any sort of celebration.

Boylen’s rotations have been the worst in all of basketball this year, but LaVine bailed his coach out on this night. It would serve Boylen well to understand he’s not as smart as he thinks. LaVine simply put him in his place with the ultimate clap-back.

State of The Bulls: Where are we?

This has been some of the most confusing weeks of Bulls games that you can imagine. From injuries to underperforming players to a coach that just seems like the wrong guy for the job, the Bulls are on the bubble of a great team and a tank just waiting to be started up again.

Where are we.. And more importantly… WHAT are we as a team?

Right now we are just a game out of the 8th seed. ONE GAME. Unreal. The NBA is that bad right now.

Is it too early to call this season a wash, or do we need to blow up the roster once more? 

Believe it or not, there are WORSE teams than us in the East. Like Cleveland, Detroit, Atlanta (Who has lost 6 in a row)  and the Knicks.

Where are you guys with how the season is going at this particular snapshot of time in the season?

Let’s predict our next few games for the coming week

Monday November 25th, The Bulls host Carmelo Anthony and the Portland Trailblazers. It’s going to be really fun to see Melo back in action again.

Predictions:

Wyse: L

Kenyatta:  W

Marcus: W (Yes, the Bulls will win 2 in a row!)

Wednesday November 27th, the Bulls actually have a good chance to beat the limping, tanking Golden State Warriors. They are making zero issues about tanking. This is the end of the dynasty.

Predictions:

Wyse: W

Kenyatta: L

Marcus: W  (Yes, the Bulls will win 3 in a row!) I think Lauri wants in on the action.

Then Black Friday, November 29th brings us the rubber-band game with the Bulls again playing the Trailblazers, this time in Rip City against Melo and the Blazers. 

Predictions:

Wyse: L

Kenyatta: L 

Marcus: L

And finally, Monday December 2nd, the Bulls take on the current Western conference 9th seed Sacramento Kings

Predictions:

Wyse: W

Kenyatta: L

Marcus: W

CLOSING:

Wyse Social Links:

Marcus Social Links

Everything show related you can find @bullspodcast. Please make sure you are connected with us everywhere we are.

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.

Until next time, Thank you for listening everyone, Go Bulls!