3. Billy Donovan
Chicago’s inability to get their stars easier looks against quality teams has been an issue all season. Teams figured out the Bulls offense after the All-Star break, takin note of the star guards’ inability to make the right reads out of traps, along with the role players’ lack of shot making.
Donovan took the blame most of the season for their poor outputs against elite teams, and Friday night was another moment where he felt he didn’t do a good job of preparing his side.
LIVE: Coach Billy Donovan media availability following Game 3’s game against the Bucks https://t.co/ToDUS1Hb5P
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) April 23, 2022
He isn’t the one out there shooting airballs from three or throwing the ball to the courtside fans. However, he’s the one who puts the best players on the floor. When it became clear that the role players who were on the floor couldn’t hit open shots during the Bucks initial run, Donovan didn’t make a substitution.
In the playoffs, runs can and will decide the entire series. The run that the Bucks went on the end the first quarter could have easily sealed the series for them. Donovan needed to either burn a timeout to draw up a play to get their stars an open look or sub out the dead weight.
He did neither.
The Bucks went on a 14-0 run, and the Bulls fell apart.