Unlike the Bucks or the Celtics, but like the Cavaliers, the Knicks or the Heat, the Bulls have decided to opt for continuity this summer. Which had the gift of surprising, when we know that they did not even reach the playoffs last season.
At the dawn of the third year of existence of their trio DeMar DeRozan – Zach LaVine – Nikola Vucevic, the leaders of Chicago therefore remain convinced that this “Big Three” has not yet expressed its full potential. Especially since he still cannot be surrounded by Lonzo Ball, already out for the entire 2023/24 financial year (if not beyond)…
Without the leader who propelled them to a superb start to the 2021/22 campaign (27-13 before his injury in January 2022), the Bulls of Billy Donovan will, however, have no other choice but to perform over the coming months. If only in attack (24th in offensive efficiency in 2022/23…), now that the state of health of their maestro “Zo” is known.
“ What we talked about was keeping the same group but coming up with something different, because you can’t do the same thing and expect different results. “, detailed the Chicago coach, aware that he will have to reinvent himself in order to obtain a better record.
Simple accident or real dead end?
For the sake of team cohesion and change, DeMar DeRozan, for example, insisted that the Bulls training camp take place outside of Illinois for the first time since… 1985. Which forced the players to get closer to each other, even if there has been little change between the squad of last season and that of this season.
Reinforced mainly by Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig, Chicago therefore hopes that this year without playoffs, and ended during the play-in against Miami, represents only a simple accident without seriousness.
“ We need to get back to the playoffs », warns of this fact Zach LaVine. “ We did it the first year [de DeMar DeRozan], but we didn’t get a good result in the first round. Everyone sets their own expectations, individual and collective. For us, it’s in any case consistency and making sure we play beyond the 82nd match [de la saison]. »
Then the double All-Star continues, talking about the trio he forms with DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic: “ We all had very good seasons, but we failed to establish it as a team. This is the year we have to prove things. Three years is a long time to show what you’ve got [dans le ventre]. »
A trio in the hot seat?
Especially since an “air of last chance” hangs over Illinois, due to the transfer rumors surrounding Zach LaVine and the upcoming end of contract (2024) of DeMar DeRozan…
“ We need to make sure this is the right group. I believe in them, I have confidence, and we will see how the season goes », indicated in this regard Arturas Karnisovasthe vice president of the franchise, early last week.
What is certain is that the spirit of DeMar DeRozan remains fully focused on Chicago, despite the vagueness that remains around his contractual situation.
“ Last season I told a few guys I wanted to see them win, for them to see what it feels like to win, for them to see what comes with winning, for them to feel being appreciated. and qualified as a winner », Confides the All-Star winger, open to the idea of returning to the Bulls. “ Even though it sucks to lose, there is always beauty in this journey. Not everything can always go well, but despite that, how do we accept the challenge that comes with it? This is my state of mind. It’s a hell of a ride, so let’s make it worth it. »
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Zach Lavine | 77 | 36.0 | 48.5 | 37.5 | 84.8 | 0.5 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 2.1 | 24.8 |
| Demar Derozan | 74 | 36.2 | 50.4 | 32.4 | 87.2 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 24.5 |
| Nikola Vucevic | 82 | 33.5 | 52.0 | 34.9 | 83.5 | 1.9 | 9.1 | 11.0 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 17.6 |
| Patrick Williams | 82 | 28.3 | 46.4 | 41.5 | 85.7 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 10.2 |
| Coby White | 74 | 23.4 | 44.3 | 37.2 | 87.1 | 0.2 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 9.7 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 80 | 26.2 | 49.3 | 31.2 | 80.5 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 8.6 |
| Goran Dragic | 51 | 15.4 | 42.5 | 35.2 | 65.9 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 6.4 |
| Andrew Drummond | 67 | 12.7 | 60.6 | 0.0 | 53.6 | 2.1 | 4.6 | 6.6 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 6.0 |
| Patrick Beverly | 22 | 27.5 | 39.5 | 30.9 | 53.3 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 5.8 |
| Alex Caruso | 67 | 23.5 | 45.5 | 36.4 | 80.8 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 5.6 |
| Javonte Green | 32 | 15.0 | 56.5 | 37.1 | 66.7 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 5.2 |
| Derrick Jones | 64 | 14.0 | 50.0 | 33.8 | 73.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 5.0 |
| Terry Taylor | 5 | 7.1 | 90.0 | 100.0 | 25.0 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 4.0 |
| Karl Jones | 7 | 8.0 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 62.5 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 2.9 |
| Dalen Terry | 38 | 5.6 | 44.4 | 25.9 | 66.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2.2 |
| Tony Bradley | 12 | 2.8 | 50.0 | 60.0 | 100.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.6 |
| Malcolm Hill | 5 | 1.8 | 50.0 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 |
| Marko Simonović | 7 | 2.8 | 28.6 | 25.0 | 50.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
