Bulls vs. Warriors 11/12
Bulls vs. Warriors
11/12/21
Chicago played strong defense to start the game, forcing 6 turnovers in the first 7 minutes of the first half, and they held the lead through much of the first half. Yet they were unable to finish enough defensive possessions with a rebound, and unable to convert enough of their offensive opportunities to gain the separation they needed before Golden State went on its inevitable run. At least the first half action was fast-paced and fun. But a fun first half turned into an unwatchable second half (for Bulls fans anyway). So what happened?
Three Thoughts From Today's Game
1. 2020 Bulls
It was hard not to be reminded of last year's squad watching this game. We saw the Bulls look hopelessly overmatched in the second half. Then, Zach Lavine decided (perhaps correctly) that he was the only one who could make something happen on offense, and as he sought to take over the game he made almost as many poor plays as he did impressive shots. He pressed too hard and often dribbled into traffic going one-on-one, which usually became one-on-two or one-on-three situations, and that led to bad turnovers. Between the ugly defeat, the overmatched feeling, the failed attempt at hero ball, and the inept offense, it was everything we learned to become numb to in recent years.
But these are the new Bulls. So why did they fall apart like they were the old Bulls?
2. The Vucerfly Effect
While Vucevic has struggled with his shot so far this season, many fans have become frustrated with him, expressing regret in the acquisition, and some even calling for his benching. But tonight showed the important role Vucevic fills for this team even when he is struggling with his shot. He does many other things on the floor that seem to go unappreciated or underappreciated by many. So let's take a look at what the Bulls were missing in tonight's loss:
Rebounding
We got destroyed on the boards today. Vucevic is one of the top rebounders in the league. 'Nuff said, right? Even in the early part of the game while Chicago had the lead, it felt unsustainable with the way they were giving the Warriors extra opportunities. The Bulls dodged a lot of bullets early but the Warriors were never going to finish with 48 turnovers or miss every decent look all game long. You have to finish possessions against the best teams. Even WITH Vucevic, this will be a concern, and it's the reason why I might welcome an acquisition like Marvin Bagley, whom I liked at Duke, but admittedly have seen little of at the NBA level (well, he HAS missed half his games in his career). Though if nothing else, Bagley has proven he can score and rebound at this level, and that's what we needed tonight.
Interior Offensive Threat
A wild first-quarter pass from Tony Bradley out of the middle of the paint made you miss Vooch's steadiness on the offensive end right off the bat. You love Alize Johnson's energy but he is limited by size and talent. Having no Vooch to dump it into was noticeable from the start, even when the Bulls held the lead. His absence makes the Bulls much more perimeter-oriented. There was no one in the middle to be a threat and relieve pressure; in other words, there was no inside-outside game. Everything started from the perimeter, and that kind of one-dimensional attack is not likely to work against good teams most nights. It was expertly planned for and defended by Kerr and his Warriors. DeMar wasn't just off with his shot tonight -- it was that the Warriors collapsed on him any time he tried to get to his mid-ranged spots. He had very few opportunities all game long. I think if the Bulls had Vucevic for this one, they have an excellent chance of winning because the Warriors don't really have anyone that can disrupt him down on the block or the high post. And if they double him...?
Good Passer (Low Turnover Guy)
...Vucevic is a very good and willing passer. When he kicks it out to the guards, they begin with an advantage with the defense running at them. It opens up driving lanes and creates easier looks from the outside, which the Bulls sorely lacked tonight. Plus, he is a big reason that Chicago was at the top of the league in terms of taking care of the ball. He has always been an extremely low-turnover guys for his usage.
Floor Spreader
Vucevic is not just an inside-outside conduit, however. He is also a threat to shoot it from the outside, and that in and of itself opens the floor more. The high screen and roll, a weapon that has been very effective for the Bulls this season, was also non-existent as the other big men on the roster lack the shooting and finishing ability that Vooch provides (except for maybe Simonovic?). Whether you have Tony Bradley, Alize Johnson, or Tyler Cook in the game, no one is a threat from distance and that kills the floor-spacing. The Bulls were never able to adjust to accommodate this change in their attack.
Defender??? (*GASP)
Dare I say it? Vucevic helps on the defensive end? I'm still not sure about this one, but statistically he has been one of the best at his position at getting steals and deflections. And ever since the Philly games when he met the challenge of guarding Embiid for pride's sake considering his lack of offense at the time, he has played better position and help defense. I'm not ready to declare him a + defender, but his size might have helped make things more difficult on the Warriors' many drives in this game. That's why, while I AM concerned about the Bulls' record over the next 5 games or so, I am not concerned about their long-term prospects if the team's big 3 are healthy and in action. They have enough quality wins by now to show who they really are.
By the way, many were curious how exactly the rotation would work in Vucevic's absence. The answer? Tony Bradley started but only played 14 minutes. Alize Johnson saw 21 minutes off the bench, and Tyler Cook got 12 minutes, mostly in garbage time, to fill out the rotation at the center position. Though many were anticipating Simonovic seeing some meaningful minutes for the first time this season, he did not enter the game, which was not a huge surprise to me. Still, considering the blowout nature of the game, I would have liked to have seen him get some time on the court at the end. He may be a liability on defense, but he would hopefully at least spread the floor. He looked like a competent shooter and a self-assured decision maker in the Summer League games. Cook, at least, looked solid in his mostly meaningless minutes, but he is not the answer if the Bulls want to be serious about a deep playoff run.
3. Coby White
Ball's limitations as a PG were on display tonight. I admire the way he plays defense and he is a threat from 3-point range, but he does not break down the defense and create opportunities for others in the half court, nor can he create and convert off the dribble for midrange pull-ups, a glaring weakness in his game. The more I see it, the more I realize the importance someone like White can play, especially in a game like tonight. If he steals some of Ball's minutes, I don't think it will be a bad thing, because when Ayo is hitting back-to-back 3s like he did in the first half, I can't help but think... does Coby White improve this team if he just steals Ayo's minutes?
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