Billy Donovan's comments, Bulls' latest victory set obvious priorities

On the heels of a 139-126 victory over the third-place New York Knicks on January 4, Chicago Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan reaffirmed his team's intentions prior to a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.

When asked about Chicago retaining its first-rounder, Donovan promptly responded, "It's about the integrity of competition." This isn't the first time Donovan has mentioned Chicago's intentions to compete rather than cede victories to retain its draft pick.

Less than a month ago, the coach echoed an eerily similar sentiment, even using the same "integrity of competition" phrase. Donovan mentioned that the front office has never outright told him who or how to play. Instead of focusing on the future, the Bulls have collectively prioritized the present.

If there's a clear indication of Donovan and the Bulls' intentions, it's Chicago's last two victories. The Bulls defeated the Knicks while playing every starter for at least 31 minutes. Furthermore, the only reserve to hit the hardwood for more than 20 minutes was 27-year-old Lonzo Ball, who added eight points and six assists.

Left out of the game plan was prized first-rounder Matas Buzelis. The 20-year-old only suited up for two minutes of action against New York. This came after seeing double-digit minutes for 12 consecutive games. Fellow youngsters Julian Phillips and Dalen Terry combined to play 17 minutes against the Knicks. The duo added nine points, two rebounds, and two assists in the contest.

Two nights later, Donovan's lineup was reminiscent of that against New York. While Buzelis' minutes increased to 12, Phillips and Terry played nine and five minutes against the Spurs, respectively. The trio combined for zero points on 0-of-3 shooting. Buzelis was the only recent draftee to attempt a field goal—neither Phillips nor Terry shot the ball or recorded an assist.

With the reserves, especially those 22 years old or younger, receiving such little playing time, the starters were heavily relied upon. Once again, every player who started the game reached the 31-minute mark. Zach LaVine led all starters, playing 40 minutes and contributing 35 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists against San Antonio.

Like the Knicks game, Ball was the only reserve to surpass the 20-minute mark. This time around, Lonzo dropped five points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals. While the statistics don't stand out, Ball proved to be a difference-maker on the less glamorous end. His third-quarter steal and full-court, underhand pass to LaVine was one of the game's best plays.

If not for Chicago's late-game heroics, capitalized by a monstrous Coby White dunk, the Zo-to-Zach connection would've been the highlight of the night. White stole the spotlight by throwing down his second dunk of the year over revered shot-blocker Victor Wembanyama with less than 20 seconds to go to build a three-point lead.

The morale in Chicago is certainly high. The Bulls' second-half outlook is tilting toward competing rather than tanking after two consecutive victories and winning four of their last five. If not for an unexpected loss at the hands of the Washington Wizards, Chicago would have won five straight.

Regardless of the recent snafu, the Bulls' priorities are clear. Although considering Chicago a contender is a bit of a stretch, it's apparent the Bulls have their sights set on the playoffs. Donovan and Chicago's recent performances have evoked such beliefs. Nonetheless, there remains a possibility that the Bulls will bite on a trade if right offers come along.