Last week in Bulls: Reviewing a 2-2 week, plus interviews with Matas, Dalen and Ayo
Also, an injury update on Patrick Williams' foot
Hello friends,
Another week down, another email in your inbox. Interesting week for the Bulls, but before getting into the game details, I wanted to plug a few cool feature articles I wrote.
Let’s dig in!
Features
In Milwaukee, I spoke with Matas Buzelis about his first 15 games in the NBA. We talked about the adjustment moving back from the high school to NBA three-point line, his signature Dirk-fade, his elite sense of timing when blocking shots and protecting the rim and the challenges he has faced trying to gain weight and add muscle through the early parts of the season.
Link: https://allchgo.com/catching-up-with-matas-buzelis/
Recently, reporters were asking about Ayo Dosunmu about his shooting slump to start the season (he’s currently at 28.3 percent despite shooting over 40 percent last season). He replied, “I’m fully confident shots that I’m taking that actually sometimes after game, I just laugh because I understand that I put so much work into my shot, and now I’m not getting the results that I want right now. But that’s okay, because I know I put so much work into it, so eventually it will show, by the grace of God.”
It definitely was not the first time he had mentioned his belief in God through the years covering him. So I followed up about his religious upbringing, practices and devotion. It was the most open and excited he has ever been talking with me. Really cool story, if I do say so myself.
Link: https://allchgo.com/ayo-dosunmu-faith-confidence-shooting-slump/
Dalen Terry is one of my favorite people in the Bulls locker room. He’s always open to talking and such a class clown. To illustrate his eccentric personality, a quick anecdote: This summer in Las Vegas, I ran into him during a Summer League game and he hugged me, picked me up and said “Have you been lifting!? You’re getting big!”
Anyway, he’s been playing so much better of late so I talked to him a bit about what has changed with his jumper, his approach, understanding his role and how to succeed in it. Very good stuff from him. Always appreciate his colorful language.
Link: https://allchgo.com/dalen-terry-identity-chicago-bulls/
Weekly recap
🏀 Record: 2-2
🏀 Offensive rating: 122.2
🏀 Defensive rating: 123.0
🏀 Net rating: -0.7
🏀 Bulls currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference standings with a 7-11 record
Games
November 23: Grizzlies 142, Bulls 131
The Bulls defense continues to be a major problem — they’ve given up over 140 points in three out of their last six games, this time to the Grizzlies without Ja Morant.
Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 30 which was a fun sub-plot and the Bulls third string turned a 22 point deficit into 9 in the final minutes, providing some excitement at the end of the game.
Recap Link: https://allchgo.com/chicago-bulls-defensive-struggles-continue/
CHGO Bulls Postgame:
November 22: Bulls 136, Hawks 122
The Bulls got their first NBA Cup win in franchise history (1-5 in Cup Games), with a beat down of the completely unserious Atlanta Hawks. Josh Giddey played one of his best games and Billy Donovan explained after the game why he has been putting the ball in Ayo’s hands rather than Giddey’s.
We also got a chance to talk to Patrick Williams about the soreness and discomfort he is experiencing in his surgically repaired foot. He said he isn’t too concerned, but it’s certainly not good for him to be missing games coming back from that kind of procedure.
P-Will talks to the Media
Recap Link: https://allchgo.com/josh-giddey-patrick-williams-update-chicago-bulls/
CHGO Bulls Postgame:
November 20: Bucks 122, Bulls 106
We got word in Milwaukee on Wednesday morning that Patrick Williams had stayed in Chicago to get some imaging done on his surgically repaired foot. Torrey Craig started in his place and played well (15 points, 6-of-10 shooting), but Giannis Antetokounmpo was way too much for the Bulls to handle (41 points, 70 percent shooting).
In the second half, the Bucks had 20 free throw attempts. The Bulls had zero.
CHGO Bulls Postgame:
November 18: Bulls 122, Pistons 112
After losing back-to-back games, the Bulls bounced back with a win over the Detroit Pistons, who were a top-six seed at the time.
The Bulls shot 23-of-46 from three, Nikola Vucevic had 29 and made 6-of-8 threes while Zach LaVine took over in the fourth quarter hitting six threes in the period alone.
CHGO Bulls Postgame: