When the New York Knicks came to town for a pair of games in the United Center, a perfect opportunity was presented for the Chicago Bulls to get their 2022-23 season back on track. At least, that’s what the common sentiment was at the time.
Instead, the Bulls would go on to get embarrassed in front of their own home crowd after dropping the first game 120-128 in overtime and the second by a wide margin of 91-114. As the Bulls once again hit the road to face off against Minnesota tomorrow, this team has been left with far more questions than answers.
Here’s a look at my top three takeaways from the Bulls’ failures early this week.
The Chicago Bulls have a lot to learn after getting annihilated in a pair of losses to the visiting New York Knicks.
1. It’s getting difficult to block out the ‘rebuild’ noise
By all accounts, this rendition of the Bulls is built to win now. But when the wins aren’t coming in, and there’s no real ceiling-raising move to be made in sight, I can’t say I’m surprised to see the increasing levels of pessimism building from within here in Chicago.
Many critics in the media have called for the Bulls to initiate a full-blown rebuild, despite the team not owning any of their own picks in the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft. There’s some merit to this line of thinking, as it would at least provide a tangible direction and goal to work toward moving forward, rather than continue to look lost and stuck in the mud. Especially when you take into the capital Chicago could get in return for its star trio, switching directions looks all the more enticing.
But whether or not that is truly a feasible route to take at this point in time is a subject worth an in-depth discussion.
2. The Bulls’ starting lineup is terrible
In both games against the Knicks this week, the starting five was outscored by a combined -33 points. In both games, Chicago’s bench unit was also forced to repeatedly dig the Bulls out of big holes early and often, posting a +14 plus/minus when on the court. Although the front office dug deep and allocated much of this team’s resources to put this faux ‘Big 3’ together, it’s a terrible sign when they are consistently outplayed each and every game.
It should come as no surprise really, as none of the three All-Star talents are reputed for their defensive skills or playmaking ability. The Bulls are a one-dimensional team when those three are on the court, and until this issue is addressed, this team will almost assuredly continue digging a deeper hole down to the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
3. The fanbase is still stuck in the past
It says a lot about the current affairs surrounding this team when a player who last suited up for Chicago seven years ago is able to get the home crowd more excited than anyone who is, well, actually on the team. Such was the case last night when Derrick Rose elicited an uproar of applause from the stands with a three-point shot in garbage time.
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In fact, I don’t believe it’s even a stretch to say that many fans would prefer to see the 34-year-old Rose out there on the court in the red and white rather than the current product we’re currently getting. Let that sink in for a moment. Rose is currently out of the rotation for the middling Knicks, who are far from guaranteed even a spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, and he’d still be the starting point guard for Chicago if he played here instead.
Due to this team’s shoddy roster construction and lackluster coaching, the future looks bleaker than ever for the Bulls. It should come as no surprise then, that so many fans would prefer to instead be stuck in the past reminiscing the past when Rose and company gave this city real hope for the first time since the ’90s.