'Joke' is on new-look Bulls during great night to tank

The Chicago Bulls' Tank-Friendly Win Over the Denver Nuggets Raises Questions About Their Direction

A 136-120 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at the United Center left fans questioning whether this "new-look" Bulls squad is truly on track to become a contender. The team, which boasts a mix of talented players including Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons, fell flat in the fourth quarter, outscored by 23 points as Nikola Jokic's impressive performance led his team to victory.

Coach Billy Donovan acknowledged that his team's defensive shortcomings were evident down the stretch. "The defense was not good [in the fourth quarter]," he said. "We're going to make some mistakes. The guys are all playing together; guys are forgetting plays; the spacing may not [be there]. It's going to happen, but we've got to get much, much better defensively."

Despite this setback, Donovan remains optimistic about his team's growth potential. He highlighted a recent game against Miami as evidence that their performance was inconsistent even in meaningful matchups.

Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 21 points and eight rebounds, while Jaden Ivey had a notable debut, playing 33 minutes in his first appearance since being traded from the Pistons.

The team's approach to the rest of the season seems to be shifting under Donovan. Instead of focusing on accumulating draft lottery points, he prioritizes developing their team chemistry. "I looked at it from the lens of we've got a lot of growth yet to get better and a lot of that was, 'Hey, we've got to get more physical,'" he said.

While this approach may not guarantee success in the short term, it could pay off in the long run. As Donovan noted, "The thing that stood out to me more than anything else was the Miami [play-in] game."

Ultimately, the Bulls' tank-friendly win raises more questions about their direction than answers. Can they balance competitiveness with a desire for draft lottery points? Will they be able to develop their chemistry and become a cohesive unit?

Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the Bulls are taking a different approach this season, and it's up to them to prove that it pays off.

omg i'm literally invested in the bulls rn lol what's going on with collin sexton tho? he's got so much talent but seems to be slumping lately i mean don't get me wrong, jaden ively is a sick addition to the team, but like, how are they gonna gel as a unit if sexton can't step up his game? billy donovan's approach to the season is kinda interesting tho, focusing on chemistry over tanking...i'm intrigued to see how it all plays out i just hope they don't blow it this season

I gotta say, I'm loving the Bulls' new direction . They're not just focusing on winning games, they're building chemistry and growth . It's like, they know that the next few years are crucial for them to become a contender, so why rush it? Billy Donovan's approach makes sense to me - he's prioritizing development over draft lottery points .

I mean, sure, their defense was lacking in the 4th quarter , but that's not going to happen every game. And Jaden Ivey's debut was ! Matas Buzelis leading the team with 21 points and 8 rebounds is no joke .

It's all about progress, folks . The Bulls are taking a calculated risk by focusing on growth, and it might just pay off in the long run . Let's give them some time to figure things out .

Im not buying into the idea that tanking is out of the question for the Bulls yet . I mean, they just won by 16 points against a solid team like Denver, but in the fourth quarter? That's a recipe for disaster . And yeah, their defense was a mess, but so were the Nuggets. It's easy to say it's about chemistry and being more physical, but can they execute on the court consistently? Their recent game against Miami showed they're capable of both winning and losing, which is not ideal for the playoffs . I'm curious to see how they'll adapt in the rest of the season. Maybe their tank-friendly approach will pay off... or maybe it won't

I'm kinda intrigued by the Bulls' new approach to the season. It's like they're choosing to take a step back and focus on developing their team chemistry rather than just tanking for draft lottery points . Coach Donovan seems like he's got his head in the right place, but it's gonna be tough for them to balance competitiveness with this new strategy .

I mean, can you imagine if they started winning more games and suddenly became a contender? They'd probably lose all their motivation to tank . But at the same time, if they don't improve their chemistry, who knows what'll happen next season? It's like they're playing a game of chess with themselves .

One thing that did stand out from their last game was how Jaden Ivey performed in his debut. He looks like he's got some serious potential . Maybe this new approach will help them find more players like him and build a solid foundation for the future . Only time will tell, but it's fun to watch these developments unfold .

I'm still thinking about what Billy Donovan said about spacing in those fourth quarter... like, how do you guys forget plays? and then I saw his interview from the Miami game where he talks about growth potential... but the thing is, they just can't seem to put it all together. I mean, Collin Sexton's got some serious skills, but we need him to step up his defense too . The Bulls' tank-friendly win was kinda weird, like, do they really want to lose that badly?

I think what I'm seeing with this team is like they're trying to be all feel good and stuff, you know? They wanna win games just for the sake of winning, but at the same time they wanna stay under 40 wins so they can tank for draft picks . It's like, can't they just pick one thing? Do they want to be a contender or do they want to get some young talent coming in?

I mean, I loved watching Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons play, but if you're not even gonna put your best foot forward when it counts, then what's the point? And Jokic man, he's just on another level . The coach is right though, they gotta work on their defense if they wanna make some noise in the playoffs.

I think this new approach under Coach Donovan might be a good thing, but I'm not sure yet. Maybe it'll pay off and they'll surprise us all . Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure, I'll be keeping an eye on them!

I'm still trying to get used to this new-look Bulls team . They had some promising moments in their win over the Nuggets, but that fourth quarter was a major letdown. I mean, Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons are both talented players, but can't they put it all together?

I'm starting to think that Coach Donovan's approach is more about building chemistry than just tanking for draft picks . The Miami game was a great example of how inconsistent their performance can be even in meaningful matchups. But hey, if it works out in the long run, I'll take it .

One thing that got me thinking was the team's recent games where they didn't win but still managed to look competitive . That's gotta count for something, right? They're not just showing up and going through the motions; there's actually some heart in this team .

It's all about time, though . Can they balance competitiveness with a desire for draft lottery points? Will their chemistry pay off? I'm excited to see how it all unfolds .

I mean, think about it... I remember when teams used to just go all out to lose games and get those high draft picks. Now it seems like everyone's doing it differently. This Bulls team is taking a more relaxed approach, trying to develop their chemistry instead of just tanking for wins. It's interesting to see how it plays out.

I'm not saying it's gonna work or anything... but if they can figure out that whole defense thing, maybe they'll surprise us all. I mean, Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons are talented players, so I think there's potential for greatness here. We just gotta wait and see how it all shakes out.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the Bulls' tank-friendly win . They've got some talented players like Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons, but their defense is a total mystery . Coach Donovan's all about developing chemistry over winning games, which I can get behind . It's refreshing to see them prioritize growth over tanking. But at the same time, it's hard not to wonder if they're just getting destroyed by other teams in the short term . If they can find that balance and become a cohesive unit, they might be onto something . But for now, I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this plays out

I'm loving this new direction the Bulls are taking . Coach Donovan's focus on team chemistry is super relatable - have you seen those behind-the-scenes vids of the squad bonding? It's all about building trust and having each other's backs . I mean, sure, they took a W against Denver but let's not forget it was tank-friendly . Still, if Donovan can get them to click on both sides of the court, we might just have ourselves a contender . The Miami game he mentioned is a big indicator that they're getting there - the energy and effort were still visible despite the loss . Only time will tell but I'm excited to see this new approach unfold .

I dont know man... its like theyre trying to do everything different from the past. Remember when Jordan and Pippen used to dominate on the court? Now they're all about developin chemistry like its some new thing. I get it, we need a fresh start, but can't they just bring back some of that old school swagger? Collin Sexton's got skills, Anfernee Simons too, why not unleash 'em and go for broke?! We need to see more fire in those young players, ya know what Im sayin'

I don't know man... I'm watching this team and it's like they're trying to do too much at once . One minute they're on fire, next minute they're getting destroyed by 23 points in the fourth quarter . They gotta focus on defense first, you feel me? Coach Donovan's got a good vibe about him, but this 'tank-friendly' approach is just gonna raise more questions than answers .

I remember back in my day, we didn't need all these fancy analytics to figure out how to win championships . We just needed heart, hustle, and some decent ball-handling skills . This team's got talent for sure, but can they put it all together? I'm not sure yet .

I'm low-key concerned about the Bulls' direction right now . I mean, they're trying to develop their chemistry, which is cool and all, but at what cost? They just got thrashed by the Nuggets and their defense was a mess . But on the other hand, it's clear that Billy Donovan's approach is working for them in some ways - they do have some talented players like Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons, and their recent game against Miami showed flashes of brilliance.

The thing that's got me thinking is that they're not really prioritizing wins right now. They'd rather focus on growing as a team than accumulating draft lottery points, which makes sense from a long-term perspective. But can they win some games in the process? That's the million-dollar question . I'm curious to see how they navigate this thing and figure out what works for them.

idk man they just got destroyed by the nuggets in the 4th quarter 23 point lead blown what's going on with their defense? coach donovan's all like "we're gonna make mistakes" but that's not an excuse they need to step up their game or they'll be stuck in rebuild mode forever

Bulls need to step up D or tank forever

I'm loving how the Bulls are shaking things up with Coach Donovan's new approach . Instead of just focusing on winning games, he's really invested in building a strong team chemistry . It's not gonna be easy, but if they can make it work, it could lead to some amazing results . I mean, think about it – the Bulls have got some talented players like Collin and Anfernee, and with Coach Donovan's guidance, they're on track to become a force to be reckoned with . Of course, there are still gonna be ups and downs (like that tough 4th quarter), but if they can stay committed to their vision, I'm all in !

I think Billy Donovan's new strategy is actually kinda genius ... I mean, who needs all those wins in a row when you can focus on building chemistry with your squad, right? It's like they're trying to find their identity as a team before worrying about what the standings are gonna look like. And if it means sacrificing some Ws for now, I'm cool with that. The real test is gonna be when they hit a losing streak and gotta scramble to get back on track .

I mean, I get what Coach Donovan is trying to do here, right? He wants his team to develop chemistry and be more physical on defense... Like, I get it. But at the same time, you're playing in the NBA, folks! You can't just tank all season and expect to make a deep playoff run next year. It's gotta be a balance between growing as a team and still being competitive, you know? And what about the fans? We're like, "Hey, we want to see some wins!" Can't have it both ways, right?

I've been following the Bulls' games since the preseason and I gotta say, their recent win over Denver was pretty crazy. They played like a bunch of kids out there, had some major breakdowns defensively... but at the same time, you can see the chemistry forming. It's like they're learning to play off each other, you know? Like Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons are just starting to figure out how to work together.

And I love Billy Donovan's approach - it's all about growth and development. He's not worrying about tanking or getting those draft lottery points; he's focusing on building a team that can actually compete. It's a bold move, but if it pays off... man, the Bulls could be something special. But we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.