It Was a Foul Party Against the Nuggets, but Matas Still Looked Great

It Was a Foul Party Against the Nuggets, but Matas Still Looked Great

All right, so not the best game to say the least, but hey, at least it’s the preseason. This game doesn’t count for anything. A bit concerning though given the fact obviously we’re seeing more starters get more and more minutes and that goes for both teams really. Generally speaking, you start to see teams extend minutes for their main guys as they get closer towards the regular season. And because you’re seeing the starters go head-to-head longer in these games and you see the Bulls struggle in the way that they did, not the best. That said, I mean, this is a very good Denver Nuggets team. They have the best player in the world. He did play tonight. They’re a team that is trying to win a title this year and made some key moves over the offseason to build around Jokic. So naturally, you would expect this to be a team the Bulls are going to struggle against even in the regular season. But even still, I would expect the Bulls to be at least a little bit more competitive. To the Bulls credit though, I mean, they still have been more physical. They still are playing with effort, keeping up with what they promised in training camp. But as I said in my last video, you have to figure out how to be physical without fouling incessantly. Like if your man is going downhill at you, they’re attacking and you’re looking to be aggressive, you have to have a plan. You can’t just hack him and call that physicality. Limit your fouls where you can make smart plays on the defensive end. Don’t get yourself into foul trouble. Don’t give them easy points by sending them to the free throw line. The Bulls committed 32 fouls in this game. Granted, the refs were calling a lot in this one, even against the Nuggets, but still, the Bulls have to be better and smarter when it comes to playing the game more physically. Not going to help when you’re just constantly sending your opponent to the free throw line. Nuggets scored 37 points, 37 of their points at the free throw line in this game. Now, I’ll talk about some of the things that I still like seeing from this Young Bulls team in the preseason, but one thing that has started to become a bit more concerning to me is the Bulls three-point shooting. I mean, it was one thing, all right, it’s just one game, they shot around 30%, then it’s two games, then a third game. And now, in completing their fourth preseason game, and there still hasn’t been a single game where the Bulls have shot above 35% from three in these past two games, shooting below 30%. Now, yes, the Bulls have been playing without Kobe White, who is one of their better three-point shooters. Kevin Herder has been out as well. And yes, it is the preseason. some of those shots that the guys are taking, they probably wouldn’t take in regular season game, especially when Javon Carter is getting a bunch of minutes and just chucking up threes like it’s the last game of his career. But still, it’s uncharacteristic of the Bulls who one of the highest three-point shooting teams in the league last season by volume and shot near 37% from three on that high volume. And so, you hope that they turn things around because if that shot isn’t falling, the Bulls aren’t creating offense other ways, then what? Bulls want to play fast with pace and space. They’re doing that, but you have to score. You have to actually finish in order for that style of offense to be successful. So anyway, I’m hoping we can just chalk this up to it being the preseason, but a bit concerning just how poorly they’ve shot the ball from deep. Things I’ve still continued to like though, Modest Buselis, like I have to say this is the first time in a while as a Bulls fan where I’m watching a young player and getting this giddy feeling inside when I see him moving on offense. Like sure, I had some of those sentiments about Patrick Williams in his rookie year here and there, but it wasn’t like this. This is something else. Modest is ready. And I know I keep saying this and I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but is showing that he absolutely has star level potential. I honestly don’t think I even felt this way about Lowi Markin in his rookie year. I know they’re very different players, and Modis obviously isn’t at this level yet, but I haven’t had this feeling since the young Derrick Rose days. This kid could save what’s been some very dark years for the Chicago Bulls franchise. Modest tonight, another 20 points on very efficient shooting. Uh seven for 12 from the floor. Showed off that range, three for seven from three and had five blocks in this game. He was active, aggressive on both ends. His ability to finish with his left hand, something we did not see much of last season is going to be such a big difference maker for him because he’s already so quick and agile in getting to the bucket. Being able to use his length and finish with either hand opens up so much more for him on offense. Iodumu still looked really great as well. Now, I tweeted during the game, I was going to get paid because the way he’s playing right now on both ends, his improved handles, his speed and ability to get downhill is going to get him a pretty sizable contract this summer. Whether it’s from the Bulls or not, we’ll have to see. I’ll save that topic for a different day. That really does require a whole video in and of itself. But, he’s been very impressive this postseason nonetheless. It’s also a solid game from Josh Giddy. Came out with a hot hand from three. Continues to do well in getting to the foul line. Still a little inconsistent when it comes to that floater inside and he went back to having a lot of turnovers in this game after having zero the other night. Bulls were also minus 22 tonight when he was on the court, which is not good. That said, none of the starters were great in terms of their overall box plus minus because the Nugget starters really dominated from the start in this game. But in any event, 25 points, nine rebounds, and six assists for Josh Giddy, who was 7 for14 from the floor. A few other call outs. I’m not going to say that I’m that worried about this, but uh Nicolvich has looked pretty terrible so far this preseason. He didn’t play in one of the games, I know, but in the other three, he has not looked good at all. Has looked slow, has struggled to finish around the basket, still can rebound, at least he can do that. He’s always been great at that. But he just has not been involved in the offense. Hasn’t taken many shots. still looks just as flatfooted on defense as he did before. Like, I really hope this isn’t another one of those off years for Vuvich where his productivity is very limited. You would think he would be looking to play some of his best basketball in a contract year right now, probably his last big contract of his career. But we’ll see because right now he’s just been a non-factor on offense for the Bulls, which is not going to bode well for his overall trade value, which we know the Bulls are going to be looking to do come the trade deadline. And then for Isaac Aoro, I mean, he got in foul trouble early and then Billy Donovan basically just decided not to play him for the rest of the game. But yeah, Okoro just has not been the factor I think we had all hoped for, especially after he was setting the tone early in training camp for these guys. We were talking about how yeah, he for sure should be the Bulls starter at the three to be that hard-nosed defender they need. But thus far, while yes, that defensive tenacity has been there at times, there have also been not so smart plays on defense on his part that have resulted in getting in early foul trouble on offense. He’s also not been a factor. I don’t know, man. With the way that I was playing, it might make more sense to start IO over Aoro or Kevin Herder. Again, I always have to say it’s only preseason, but I would have expected to see more from Isaac even in the preseason, especially being with a new team and fighting for a starting spot on this organization. In other news, I’m sure you all saw by now that Kobe White will not be playing in the preseason. Initially, there was some optimism that he would be able to play in the preseason finale, which is on Thursday, but the Bulls are going to have him rest so he could be available on opening night. And even though the Bulls have said it’ll be likely he’ll start out on a men’s restriction, not ideal, but I would rather have them ramp up Kobe than have him come back earlier than is needed and risk a more serious injury down the road. Anyway, guys, the regular season is almost here. Bulls open their season next Wednesday. We’ve got one more preseason game on Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the UC. Let me know what you guys thought of the game tonight. Let me know in the comments. As always, be sure to subscribe and I will see you in the next

Reacting and recapping the Bulls preseason loss against the Nuggets

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