There seems to be a lot of self-assessment going around the Advocate Center these days.
With the start of the regular season about a week away, however, the question with this Bulls organization always seems to be the same: Is it sustainable?
Guard Zach LaVine claims he’s fully focused on defense.
Coach Jim Boylen plans to go from what was a crawl and a walk, to a flat-out run on the offensive end.
Kris Dunn has been insisting on being a good teammate first, rather than focusing on a starting job and playing time.
Heck, even general manager Gar Forman preached being accountable this season, with the target for Year 3 of this rebuild to be a visit to the postseason.
Everyone has a plan. But like Mike Tyson famously said, “… until they get hit.’’
That first blow will be thrown next week in Charlotte. The Bulls are hoping to be the puncher rather than the punchee.
“We’re just a lot more together,’’ LaVine said of the mindset with training camp in its final days. “I think we have our goals set this year, and that’s something to strive for. It’s something that we haven’t had. I don’t think we’ve had the opportunity of the last couple of years if there was injuries or expectations. We have them set now. So I think we have something to work to and we’re all together.’’
All that positivity, but what feels more like fact and what sounds more like fiction?
1. The Zach Effect — Buy the hype with LaVine. The torn anterior cruciate ligament rehab is two years in the rearview mirror, and LaVine wants his name mentioned in the same breath as the elite 2-guards in the league.
For the first time, he seems focused on making sure that happens. That means not only putting up 25 points a night — not an issue for LaVine — but also showing that he can be a two-way player. His lack of defense in the past has been a bit of a head-scratcher, especially because of how athletic he is, but he’s focused on changing that perception.
LaVine wants to be front-and-center during All-Star weekend in Chicago come February, by all means necessary. Expect him to be there on that Saturday night, attempting to reclaim his Slam Dunk crown and taking on Zion Williamson along the way. But he also wants Sunday, in the big-boy game. Don’t count LaVine out on any of that. LaVine is on a mission.
Ruling: FACT – Now, if he can also figure out how to play with Lauri Markkanen along the way …
2. Run-and-gun — Boylen has always been very transparent about the way he wanted his team to play. That honesty has angered many, but Boylen hasn’t apologized for that.
So now that he’s promising an up-tempo offense this season, just watch what’s been going on in the preseason.
Ruling: FACT
3. Dunn and done — Dunn has lost the starting point guard spot to Tomas Satoransky, despite it still not being official. Is Dunn happy about it? Absolutely not. But what’s different with Dunn is he’s just going to be smarter about it, rather than get publicly angry with his front office.
This is about Dunn showcasing his talents and his make-up for the rest of the league. The Bulls have their feelings about him, and now it’s about making himself a more valuable trade commodity to everyone else.
Ruling: FACT
4. Accounta-Bull — The Bulls front office feeling more accountable? It sounds good, but no one is buying that. Without consequence being threatened, accountability is an empty barrel simply making more noise.
Ruling: FICTION – Three out of four ain’t bad.
