The Chicago Bulls' preseason has wrapped up, but a big question mark hangs over their heads: Are they truly ready for the real deal? While they've experimented with rotations and lineups, a cloud of injuries has left key players sidelined, raising concerns about team cohesion and readiness as they approach the regular season tip-off.
Over the past few weeks, the Bulls have been diligently working on their strategy to utilize a flexible rotation and experiment with different starting lineups—a valuable exercise, no doubt. But here's where it gets controversial: Is this sufficient preparation given the significant absences they've faced during the preseason games?
Ready or not, the Bulls are set to launch their NBA season next Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons. They capped off their preseason with a determined 126-120 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday, securing a 3-2 record. Coach Donovan gave extended minutes to rookies Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey in the fourth quarter, showcasing the organization's commitment to player development, even during games that don't really matter.
Buzelis shone with 19 points in 25 minutes, while Giddey stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds. Julian Phillips also contributed significantly with 17 points, and veteran guard Jevon Carter chipped in with 12 points, including a couple of crucial fourth-quarter three-pointers. And this is the part most people miss: the team's ability to pull out a win despite missing key players speaks volumes about their depth and the potential of their younger talent.
While the return of Phillips and Kevin Huerter after three games of injury absence provided a boost, the Bulls were still without Ayo Dosunmu (left thumb), Isaac Okoro (knee soreness), and Patrick Williams (left hamstring tightness). The good news, according to Coach Billy Donovan, is that none of these injuries are considered serious. Fingers crossed!
A bigger concern, perhaps, is Coby White, who sat out the entire preseason due to a calf strain. "It's hard anytime somebody's out, especially someone that's important like ‘Cobe,’” Giddey acknowledged. “Hopefully once he's back practicing and playing, the rhythm can be found pretty quickly. But he's an important piece for what we do. I'm sure he'll pick it up quick and fit right back into the team.”
Adding to the drama, forward Zach Collins briefly left Thursday's game clutching his wrist, but thankfully, he appeared to be okay in the locker room afterwards.
The team is optimistic that White will be ready for the season opener against Detroit, even though he hasn't participated in a full practice yet. “I think the only box he has left to check is contact and we just haven't been able to do that,” Donovan explained. “Saturday would be a day where we get back to contact in practice. That is the only hurdle he has not gotten over.”
Thursday's game against Minnesota offered a valuable test, as the Timberwolves played many of their regular starters for a significant portion of the game. Anthony Edwards led the way with 25 points in 30 minutes, while Julius Randle added 23 in 26 minutes, and Rudy Gobert contributed 16 points. This provided the Bulls with a realistic simulation of regular-season intensity.
Before the game, Donovan emphasized his intention to adjust starting lineups based on the opponent and specific matchups. On Thursday, he opted for a twin-tower approach with Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Smith to counter Gobert and Randle. It’s highly probable that Okoro will secure a starting role, given that the Bulls acquired him specifically to handle challenging defensive assignments, such as guarding players like Edwards. But is that the best use of Okoro's talents? Some might argue he's more valuable coming off the bench as an energy guy.
“We're going to have to be a team where the whole is better than the parts,” Donovan stated. “In relationship to that, moving guys around to different spots or starting different guys or having different rotations or lineups out there is something we have some flexibility with.” This philosophy underscores the Bulls' commitment to adaptability and maximizing their collective potential.
So, the million-dollar question: Can a team with so many question marks surrounding key players truly contend in a tough Eastern Conference? Are the Bulls' experimental lineups a sign of strategic genius, or a band-aid solution for deeper roster issues? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
