Who says resumption of the NBA season says need for motivation. And who says need for motivation says…? Find good reasons! For each team of the 2022-23 season, we wanted to be useful, helpful, and a little funny if the subject allows it. Here are the 10 good reasons to follow the Chicago Bulls over the next few months, from DeMar DeRozan in the money to the dunks of Zach LaVine passing by the defense of Alex Caruso.
#1 – DeMar DeRozan in the money time
Exceptional last season, DeMar DeRozan chained offensive cards, mid-distance mixtapes and especially completely crazy ends of matches. How can you forget your buzzer sequence in Indiana + buzzer in Washington when it comes to the new year? How can we forget all those bosses’ fourth quarters where DMDR thought he was MJ? Nah frankly, DeMar last year was a real serial-killer and there’s a good chance that the list of victims will grow a little longer this season.
#2 – Adam Amin and Stacey King on commentary
DeMar DeRozan’s exploits are great. But with Stacey King on the soundtrack, it’s downright legendary. The former Bulls player who comments today alongside Adam Amin is never the last to ignite and drop big punchlines. Everything we love !
#3 – Alex Caruso on the opposing ball carrier
If Lonzo Ball will miss the Bulls defense because of his cursed knee, Alex Caruso is there and we can count on the bald to harass the opposing ball carrier every night. The former Laker wasted no time last year to show how good he could be for a collective, and his duo on the backcourt with Lonzo made many backcourts experience very complicated evenings. While waiting for Zo’s return, Caruso will probably work for two, which gives us a very good reason to subdue the Bulls this season.
#4 – Zach LaVine who catches fire
Zach LaVine is one of many Chicago players to go through the infirmary last season. But after a summer where he treated his knee well and with a max contract in his pocket, the rear of the Bulls seems ready to do some dirty work this year. Little reminder anyway, LaVine is an average of almost 26 points per game over the last three seasons with a shooting success percentage of almost 48%, including 40% from the parking lot and more than 83% at free throws. It’s eleven performances with at least 40 pawns since 2019, including a peak at 50. We’re simply talking about one of the best NBA scorers at the moment, who can put on a show through his tomars as well as catch fire since the snack bar. A must-see!
#5 – Benny the Bull animations
Do you like mascots? So look at the Chicago Bulls. You should have some nice surprises.
#6 – The evolution of Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu
If the Bulls have recruited the heavy these last two years in order to find the front of the stage, they also have youngsters whose evolution clearly deserves to be followed with a magnifying glass. First, Patrick Williams, selected in fourth position in the 2020 Draft and who has a potential two-way on position 4 which can help the Bulls take a step forward. Ayo Dosunmu then, kid from Chicago who established himself as one of the steals of the 2021 Draft (38th choice only) by achieving a pure rookie season. With Lonzo Ball’s injury, Ayo could definitely start and will certainly have the opportunity to confirm all the good we can think of him. These two are part of the Bulls’ future, but something tells us the present doesn’t scare them one bit.
#7 – The upcoming transfer of Coby White?
While some young people are rising, there are also projects that could end very soon. Yes Coby, this is you we’re talking about. Injured at the start of last season, White has experienced ups and downs and has so far not won a contract extension with the Bulls. With LaVine, DeRozan, Vucevic and Ball now worth $105 million, it’s unclear whether an additional investment in Coby is in boss Arturas Karnisovas’ plans. The progression of young Dosunmu, but also the presence of Alex Caruso or the arrival of veteran Goran Dragic necessarily weaken the position of Coby White so we wonder if a transfer is not coming knowing that the 22-year-old guard will be a restricted free agent in 2023.
#8 – Andre Drummond shaking Nikola Vucevic
Arriving in Chicago during the offseason, Andre Drummond is fearless. Recently Dédé declared that he considers himself “the best rebounder in history” and that he still sees himself as a starter in the NBA. What put pressure on Nikola Vucevic after a 2021-22 season not tip top for the Montenegrin pivot? Niko can be reassured, his place in the five is not threatened but if he could put on a better face than last year it would clearly not be refused. In any case, coach Billy Donovan wants to ensure that Vooch is better involved and the latter will be keen to shine knowing that he is entering his last year of contract.
#9 – The reunion with Grayson Allen
21st Jan 2022. The Bulls travel to the Bucks and midway through the third quarter Grayson Allen sends Alex Caruso to the ground on a hyper dirty foul. Verdict: broken wrist, operation requested, six to eight weeks of absence. Since that day, Allen has become public enemy number 1 in Chicago, which obviously amused the Bucks a lot since the Milwaukee bench regularly whistled Grayson for messing around during the playoff series against the Bulls. Can’t wait for the reunion, which is scheduled for November 23 on the side of Cream City (three other matches are also scheduled on a regular basis, on December 28, February 16 and April 5).
#10 – Warming up with marsupials
At the Bulls, there is a show during the match, but also before. So instead of putting on the League Pass at 1 a.m. or 1:30 a.m., come twenty minutes earlier. You will not regret it.