Will the Bulls be Bullied this Season?

Patrick: We’ve touched a little bit on the NBA recently, but let’s focus specifically on the Bulls. Whether they improved from last year, what they’re looking like in this early part of the season, how y’all expect them to be, and, most importantly, how far can they go this season? Russ, you look like you’re ready to go, so hit us.

Russ: Hello, all. So, to start, I had high hopes for the Bulls this season; unfortunately, Zach Levine didn’t play the first two games. I mean, look, I get that he has knee issues— I do, because that was a serious injury he had—but, come on, man, he gets a max contract—

Donald: Over $200 million for 5 years…

John: $215.2 million, to be exact.

Russ: A lot of friggin’ money, is all I know. I wasn’t too keen on giving him the max as it was, even though he’s very good. However, I’m now really having doubts.

Patrick: I’m kinda there, too, Russ. I like Zach a lot. The man’s a beast when he’s on; unfortunately, I feel he’s so not a beast when he’s not on that it gets to me. Fortunately for us last season, we had DeMar DeRozan who could hold up anybody the way he’s been hooping—DeMar’s, simply, a beast all the time. But, trying not to compare the two, considering DeMar is a perennial All-Star who has played with the battle-tested San Antonio Spurs under Coach Gregg Popovich, so he’s already there.

Donald: No, good point, Pat. It may just take Zach a couple more years before he’s somebody. At the moment, with or without him, I can’t take the Bulls that seriously as a championship contender—not yet.

Patrick: What do you think we need?

Donald: A center. A true one. A Patrick Ewing type. Somebody like the guy over there in Atlanta. I can’t think of his name.

John: John Collins? Yeah, he and Clint Capela are somewhat splitting that position, although Clint has the official title.

Donald: I just want a center with a heart, a good bit of talent, someone who's big.

John: The Bulls’ll have their moments. However, without Lonzo Ball, and Andre Drummond as their main rebounder, it’ll be tough to repeat the semisuccess of last season. They still have a good 1-2 punch in De- Mar and Zach, with Nikola Vučević in the middle. However, the rest are average, including Barack Obama’s buddy Ayo Dosunmu.

Patrick: I feel the Bulls could make a lil’ bit of noise. I feel we’re not great, but DeMar is so good that I, almost, feel the same way I felt about Kobe every time he shot: that it would drop. Except, in DeMar’s case, he drops them at a higher rate- just less in quantity.

Russ: Hilarious. You just can’t let that man be. RIP, Kobe!

Donald: You ain’t no good, Russell.

Russ: Let the man rest already! All right, so my seeds go like this: 1. Milwaukee Bucks, 2. Boston Celtics, 3. Miami Heat, 4. Chicago Bulls, 5. Philadelphia 76’ers, 6. Cleveland Cavaliers, 7. Toronto Raptors, 8. Atlanta Hawks.

Patrick: I can rock with that.

Donald: Me, too. Not so sure the Bulls will climb that high, but it is possible.

John: I’d move the Bulls down to the 7th spot, let the board shift—then stick it.