The struggling Chicago Bulls need to seriously think about hitting the reset button.
Last season, the Chicago Bulls lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Most fans believed they would improve with the team primarily healthy, but the reality appears to be the opposite.
So far this season, the Bulls look sloppy, while some players seem unhappy with the organization. Chicago currently ranks 12th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 10-14 record. More than a quarter of the way through the season, it may be time to have some important conversations about this team’s future.
The Chicago Bulls may need a fresh start
The Bulls came into the year with high expectations after losing to the Bucks in the first round. Last year, the Bulls dealt with many injuries, rarely having an entire team for a game. Lonzo Ball is the only player still injured from last season, but the team isn’t playing close to the season’s expectations.
It may be time to hit the reset button.
What are the problems that are plaguing the Chicago Bulls?
The Chicago Bulls are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference standings and look like a team that isn’t motivated, and there is something off about this team. The Bulls’ effort has diminished, and the team seems not to want to be on the court.
If the ball doesn’t go down right away, if they fall behind, they don’t play with the effort and urgency necessary to stage a comeback. The big three of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic have been inconsistent all season, and only one of the three will play well while the others struggle in many games.
After those three, young players are still developing an NBA shot limit scoring and have yet to materialize.
Patrick Williams has all the tools and talent to become an elite two-way player, but he continues to be his own downfall. Williams was looking aggressive and started to blossom, but recently pulled off the gas. Alex Caruso and Javonte Green look great, hustling and playing solid defense, but the rest of the team is struggling, and with the stars lacking in effort, the rest of the group follows.
The Bulls may have given up on Billy Donovan, especially after sitting LaVine in the fourth quarter of a game where he had the worst game of his life. Coach Donovan does not have the team believe in his coaching. They seem unhappy with lineups, rotations, and the inability to motivate the team. The organization just extended Coach Donovan for two more years, but it may be a terrible decision if the team continues this downward spiral.
Is there any truth to the rumors?
There have been rumors regarding a potential trade surrounding DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. The newest additions to the team last season were significant reasons for last year’s success.
DeRozan was in the MVP conversation for a while, becoming the team leader. It’s hard to believe that the Bulls organization would give up on a team that had such success just last year. There have been whispers that the Bulls have made DeRozan unavailable for trade, but Vooch may be on the way out, especially with him seeking a new contract.
"Adrian Wojnarowski said, “This is a Bulls team that wants to make the playoffs and wants to get Lonzo Ball back. They’re not ready to concede yet.”"
In the end, there may not be a trade done, but it’s clear that his team has to get things together, or the Bulls will be on their way back to a tank.