October 18th, we’ve finally made it! The regular season is set to tip off tonight with a matchup between the 76ers and the Celtics followed by a West-Coast matchup between the Lakers and the reigning champion Warriors. It feels like Christmas, but I’ve been so wrapped up in a move that I haven’t had to feel the anticipation levels rising. Now that it’s here though, we’re all in!
I tweeted out some of my overall NBA predictions for the year here:
My outlook for the Bulls though is that we will be a playoff team, but not a contender. I think that this has been a long-term play by the Bulls, and that we are not exactly expecting championships RIGHT NOW. I think the way this team is built, they can make a run, but it would take a healthy line-up and a few breaks to go our way. I think the overall goal of this team is to get these younger guys some playoff experience, a taste of the post-season, and set a winning expectation in Chicago. Then, when the next generation of players gets their chance, they know what it takes and can act like they have been there before.
The key players I am looking to take strides this season are:
Ayo Dosunmu: I think Ayo can be the point guard of the future for this team if he keeps making progress on his game. With Lonzo out for an extended period of time again, Ayo is going to get his minutes, and if he takes full advantage of the opportunity like he did last year, we could see him step into a lead role in the future iterations of this team.
Patrick Williams: Sounds like a broken record doesn’t it? His development has taken longer than expected, but the injury last year definitely didn’t help his case. I’m getting as tired as anyone of playing the waiting game, but if his off-season work with DeRozan got him over the hump, and he starts being more aggressive, he will (and should) be a key piece to the future of this team.
Coby White: This team build and off-season moves set Coby up to prove himself as a shooter. If he can become a more consistent 3-point shooter he is going to get plenty of opportunity on a team that is severely lacking shooting, especially with Lonzo being out. He has a chance to carve out a pivotal role in the rotation and shut the mouths of a lot of critics. I’ve always backed Coby, he’s got so much potential, he just needs the game to slow down for him and he can be a real difference maker.
Dalen Terry: The rookie seems to have Glue-Guy written all over him. He is a ball of energy and is surprisingly who I am most looking forward to watching this season. His charisma gives him the ability to be a natural leader, and he’s showing that he is willing to be the voice of the team coming into his first year. I already love this kid and he’s done everything right up ’til now, he is definitely making it difficult to keep him out of the rotation, let’s hope that can continue into the regular season and he can seize his opportunities on the court.
Those are the guys that I want to see progress out of. Obviously we have our staples in Lavine, DeRozan and Vooch. When this team is, or should be, ready to compete though, it will be on these young guys to step up as Vooch and DeRozan begin to fade out. I’m excited for this season, but my expectations aren’t through the roof. I want to see progress, using this season as a stepping stone toward a championship team.
Here’s to the 22-23 season kicking off, and to the future of the Bulls, the new era and getting the young guys to the place they need to be to compete in a couple of years. You can follow me @GreNBA_ on twitter, and you can find me putting out occasional content on ChicagoHoopHeads.com as well. Looking forward to another great NBA Season!
Jacob Grenemeier
October 18th, 2022
Chicago Hoop Heads 