Coby White, 22, will enter the last year of his rookie contract and will unlikely get an extension offer from the Chicago Bulls. The 7th Pick in the 2019 NBA Draft dealt with injuries and a new role off the bench last season when Chicago brought in many new faces. He has been in trade talks since the Trade Deadline last February. Chicago’s front office tried exploring a package of the 18th Pick and White, but there weren’t any reasonable offers on the table.
Inconsistent Offense
White has shown he can score at any time but has shown he can struggle at any time. Coming into the 2021-22 season, White started the 2021-22 season recovering from a shoulder injury and had a new role off the bench. White still managed to start in 17 games in the 2021-22 season, with Lonzo Ball getting hurt in January and averaging 16.5 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds. But off the bench, he didn’t perform well as a 6th man, especially against good teams. White against the top 4 teams in the eastern conference shot 31.1% from the field and 31.3% from three. White averaged 8.4 points during the postseason, shooting 33.3% from the field and 27.6% from three.
Depth Chart Issues
Entering the 2022-23 season, Chicago would have seven guards on the depth chart and will most likely find minutes for bench players Goran Dragic, Ayo Dosunmu, rookie Dalen Terry, and Alex Caruso. But what about White? Finding minutes will be significant if they want to increase White’s trade value. But at the same time, those other guards can defend and hustle, which is more important. During the first round of the 2022 Playoffs, Milwaukee attacked White’s weak defense, leading to some easy points for the Bucks.
Currently, there have not been any known teams that are interested in Coby White. If White can shine off the bench next season, he will most likely get moved to a contender in exchange for a solid bench player or maybe more. A trade for White will be good for him to shine more and have more opportunities to score. It’s unclear how much trade value White has in the trade market. My prediction is White will get traded in February at the Trade Deadline.
When Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu announced they would not be playing with the Bulls during the 2022 Summer League, Bulls fans probably started thinking about who will be on the roster except for the Bulls’ 2022 First Round Pick, Dalen Terry. Many people thought this team wouldn’t win without Dosunmu and Williams, but that didn’t happen.
Chicago would play well and finish the Summer League with a 4-1. Their only loss came against the New York Knicks, who lost today against the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2022 Summer League Championship Game. Dalen Terry and 2020 Second Round Pick Marko Simonovic were significant contributors, Carlik Jones, Justin Lewis, etc. Here are my four takeaways from the Chicago Bulls 2022 Summer League.
1. Terry shows offensive improvement
It took some time for Bulls Rookie Dalen Terry to get going, but he improved every game, especially on offense. Terry had to learn quickly with a more significant offensive role than in his role at the University of Arizona. After Chicago selected Terry with the 18th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, questions started to arise about his scoring and shooting. Terry struggled in his first Summer League game with 9 points, shooting 3-for-7 from the field. He responded with three straight games of double-digit points. Terry understood his role and showed he could move without the ball and cut to the basketball, which is needed with the Chicago Bulls. His best performance was in the 89-73 win over the Hornets, in which he had 20 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field and 2-for-2 from three.
2. Simonovic deserves a chance with Bulls
Marko Simonovic started the 2022 Summer League with a strong performance of 27 points and 13 rebounds, shooting 10-for-19 from the field. That includes a game-winning free throw to get Chicago to 1-0. But he struggled in games 2 (Knicks and 3 (Raptors), shooting a combined 3-for-11 from the field. He scored at least 15 points and grabbed at least eight rebounds in the final two games. In the last game, he made a statement with a 26-point performance, shooting 11-for-15 from the field. Simonovic deserves a chance to prove himself at the NBA level. The question will be how Chicago gives him minutes with Vucevic and Drummond ahead of him in the depth chart. Remember, Vucevic will be a free agent after the 2022-23 season.
3. Carlik Jones earned a Two-way Contract
At the start of the Summer League, Carlik Jones was a name nobody knew. In 5 games as a starter, he averaged 11.6 points and 6.2 assists on 53.7% shooting from the field. Jones struggled in game 1, shooting 1-for-7 from the field, but managed to get 6 points and got his teammates involved with nine assists. The former Louisville guard led the Bulls in assists in all three wins during the Summer League. His best performance came in the last game against the 76ers, in which he had 15 points, nine assists, five steals, and shot 6-for-11 from the field. Jones won’t be able to earn a two-way contract with the Bulls since they have gotten used on Liberty and Lewis. But he will earn a two-way contract with another team or an invite to a training camp.
4. Freeman-Liberty and Lewis will shine with Windy City Bulls
Javon Freeman-Liberty and Justin Lewis, before the 2022 Summer League, accepted Two-Way Contracts from the Chicago Bulls. Two-Way Contracts mean they will start with the Windy City Bulls but can be called to play at the NBA level with the Chicago Bulls. Lewis, projected to go in the second round of the 2022 draft, had a quiet 2022 Summer League averaging 7.6 points and 4.4 rebounds, shooting 47.2% from the field. I would compare Lewis to a guy like Bulls forward Patrick Williams. Versatile forward can stretch out the floor and guard positions 1-4.
Javon Freeman-Liberty, out of DePaul University, averaged 6.6 points on 38.7% shooting from the field. But he scored in double-digits twice, including his best Summer League performance of 11 points on 4-for-7 from the field in 14 minutes. Hopefully, he gets more minutes with the Windy City Bulls in the fall.
Marko Simonovic leads the Chicago Bulls with 26 points and eight rebounds, shooting 11-for-15 from the field in a 119-104 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Simonovic scored 20+ points for the second time during the Summer League, which resulted in two wins. Chicago will finish the 2022 Summer League with a 4-1 record but didn’t earn the chance to play in the Championship game because they lost to the New York Knicks last Sunday.
Malcolm Hill got 20 points as well, going 6-for-10 from the field. Justin Lewis scored in double-digits for the first time during the Summer League with 11 points. Point Guard Carlik Jones had 18 points, nine assists, and five steals. Bench scoring was significant, with Dalen Terry out for most of the game, leading to 41 bench points for Chicago. That includes three guys in double-digits, Sindarius Thornwell (10 Points), Javon Freeman-Liberty (11 Points), and Makur Maker (11 Points).
Chicago and Philadelphia went back-and-forth to start the game, but the Bulls slowly got their lead to double-digits to end the first half. The 76ers were in the game and striking distance at halftime, down 10 points, 58-48. But in the third quarter, they couldn’t cut the lead to less than eight points and would easily give up on defense and allow Chicago to do whatever they wanted when the lead was in single-digits. Charlie Brown Jr led the 76ers with team-high 21 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field. Trevelin Queen struggled, going 6-for-19 from the field, but managed to get 16 points in 30 minutes. Grant Riller scored 19 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field off the bench.
Bulls pull away in Fourth Quarter
After the 76ers had a small run in the first minute of the fourth quarter to get the score to 91-86. Chicago would go on to outscore Philadelphia 28-15 run to finish the fourth quarter and earn their third straight win to finish the 2022 Summer League. Lewis and Jones combined for 14 points in the fourth quarter.
Terry Exits with Hamstring Injury
Bulls 2022 First Round Pick Dalen Terry in the second quarter, went down with a hamstring injury during the second quarter and got ruled for the rest of the game. Hamstring injuries have been easier to recover from than knee injuries, especially when it’s a non-contact injuries. During the second half, he was on the bench and was cheering for his teammates. He seems fine and will be ready for Training Camp in September.
Final Thoughts
Bulls close out Summer League with 3 game Win Streak
Chicago had a good 2022 Summer League team; even though they lost by 32 points, they responded well and fought to earn a 4-1 record. Multiple players deserve a two-way or a G-League contract, Carlik Jones and Makur Maker. Jones averaged 11.6 points and 6.2 assists on 53.7% shooting from the field in 5 games. Maker averaged 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 5 games. But he scored at least 10 points in the last three games.
Bulls 2022 First Round Pick, Dalen Terry, performed very well. Terry had averages of 14.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 4 healthy games. But Terry showed up more with hustle plays and energy to spark his teammates, which helped big time. He cut at the right time, which will be needed when he plays with DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine later this year.
76ers couldn’t rally late
After cutting the lead to 5 points, the 76ers ran out of energy to get back the lead. Grant Riller will hopefully get a two-way contract and a spot with the 76ers G League team. Trevelin Queen struggled in today’s game but has earned some minutes to come off the bench on the 76ers next season. Hopefully, the 76ers will find a way to get him some minutes next season.
The Chicago Bulls (3-1) will play in their last 2022 Summer League game against the Philadelphia 76ers (2-2). Chicago is coming off an 89-73 win on Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets. Yesterday, Philadelphia got their second win in a 97-71 win over the Denver Nuggets. Grant Riller led the 76ers squad with 18 points. The 76ers will look to finish the 2022 Summer League with a positive record.
Match Details
Fixture: Chicago Bulls vs Philadelphia 76ers | NBA Las Vegas Summer League 2022.
Date & Time: Saturday, July 16, 5:00 PM CT, 6:00 ET.
Channel: NBA TV
Venue: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas NV.
Keys to Bulls getting Win
Move the Ball to everybody
When the Bulls move the ball and involve everyone, they score on most of their possessions. In their most recent win against the Hornets, Chicago got 20 assists as a team, and Carlik Jones got the most with six assists. Even Simonovic got four assists, including his flashy back-the-back assist in the third quarter. You can also see the Bulls having fun and not trying to go one vs. 1. If Chicago can get at least 20 assists, expect the Bulls to get to 4-1.
Rebound Rebound
The 76ers, in their two wins during the Summer League, have gotten at least 40 rebounds. That includes yesterday’s game against the Nuggets with 51 rebounds as a team and 17 offensive rebounds. Simonovic and Maker will be challenged in the paint to limit Philadelphia to one possession. In their two losses, they got under 40 rebounds. When Chicago has accumulated at least 40 rebounds, they are 2-0.
Seize the Moment
Some of these guys will 100% be on either the Bulls roster or Windy City Bulls roster in the 2022-23 season, Dalen Terry, Marko Simonovic, Javon Freeman-Liberty, and Justin Lewis. But for some of these guys, this could be the last time they play with an NBA Organization for a long time. These guys need to seize the moment and take advantage of this game to earn a G League Contract or contract to play with a European team. This game will be the final Chicago Bulls game before the preseason starts in October.
(Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Every Sports fan base will always have moments to think about what ifs in their team history. Thinking about these moments could be fun to think about but also be upsetting think about depending on the player or situation. Bulls teams in the past have made you think, what if a player didn’t get hurt or a coach never left. The Bulls still haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 1998. With that, here are my top 5 biggest what-ifs in Bulls history.
5. Bulls were fully healthy (2021-22 Season)
Expectations were low for the 2021-22 Chicago Bulls. But they surprised everyone with a 27-13 start that landed them the best record in the Eastern Conference in early January. But during January, Chicago faced several injuries, including star Zach Lavine, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso.
Lavine received platelet-rich plasma therapy and a cortisone shot and had fluid drained from his left knee in January. But he wasn’t ever to get back to 100% to finish the season. Lonzo Ball got a meniscus injury in his left knee, and after a couple of months of trying to get back on the court, he got ruled for the remainder of the 2022 NBA Season. Caruso dealt with multiple injuries of the shoulder, COVID, Hamstring, and then the wrist injury on January 21st against the Bucks. The wrist injury caused him to miss 4-6 weeks, but he returned late in the season. He wasn’t enough to help Chicago get past Milwaukee in the first round of the 2022 Playoffs.
After January 14th, the date of Ball and Lavine getting their injuries, Chicago finished the season with a 19-23. One reason could be their more challenging schedule later on in the season. But there were most significant needs for three-point shooting, defense, and transition offense. All of those things are the strengths of Lonzo Ball. I think Lonzo Ball was the most significant player on the court for Chicago. There was only so much DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine could have done, but they needed more help offensive and defensive.
4. Tom Thibodeau never got fired after 2015 Season
Tom Thibodeau was brought to Chicago on a two-year contract in the 2010 off-season. After the 2012 season, he got extended four more years. He was previously with the Boston Celtics as an assistant coach and part of the 2008 NBA Championship team. Thibodeau, in five seasons in Chicago, had a 255-139 record, which included five playoff appearances and one Eastern Conference Appearance (2011). He was the fastest coach to 100 wins, even with Derrick Rose missing 210 games during that stretch
As the Bulls entered the 2014-15 season, Thibodeau and the Bulls Management had arguments and never got along. Many fans knew Thibodeau would be gone after the 2015 season. But what Bulls fans didn’t know is that it would be the last season with going to the second round of the playoffs and winning their final home playoff for a very long time. Fred Hoiberg became the new Head Coach, and everything seemed to fall apart, which led to the trades of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. Chicago has a team record of 231-316 since the 2015-16 season.
3. Kobe Bryant signs with Chicago (2004)
First all, RIP to the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant and seven others who passed in the January 26th, 2020 Helicopter Crash.
Many Bulls fans remember how Kobe Bryant almost got traded in 2007 to Chicago but don’t remember the possible signing of Kobe Bryant during the 2004 Off-season. The Lakers tested Bryant’s loyalty. The Lakers dynasty was over, and Phil Jackson was gone. Shaq and Kobe’s beef continued, and they couldn’t play together in the future. During the 2004 off-season, Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf and GM at the time John Paxson flew to California to meet with Kobe Bryant and his agent to convince him to move to Chicago. So how close was Bryant to joining the Bulls?
“We were looking at houses, “we were looking at schools. We already were talking about a sign-and-trade.” Bryant said in an interview for NBA on TNT with Shaq. The trade got called off when Shaq got traded to the Miami Heat, and Bryant became more of the one-man show in Los Angeles. That was one of the best moments of John Paxton being a GM and meeting Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant would have made the Bulls a playoff contender immediately in 2004. Maybe Bryant would have gotten Chicago another title.
2. MJ never retired in 1993
Michael Jordan would have been looking to earn his 4th straight NBA Title in the 1993-94 season. But that didn’t happen. Jordan instead went to play baseball for the Chicago White Sox in honor of his father, James Jordan, RIP. James Jordan got murdered while sleeping in his car on July 23, 1993. Jordan’s father always wanted Michael to play in the MLB, and one factor on why he retired after the 1993 season. Another factor in retiring in 1993 was his mental and physical exhaustion and having nothing left to prove in the NBA. But returned in 1995 and went on win three more NBA Championships with the Bulls.
So if Jordan never retired in 1993, does Chicago get eight titles in a row? That would have probably never happened, but maybe. Scottie Pippen would have never gotten to be the #1 guy in Chicago for a couple of seasons when MJ left. But Jordan retiring was the right decision for him at the time, but from a Bulls fan’s point of view, the 1993 season could have been the last season ever for him. But happily, that wasn’t true and returned in 1995.
1. Derrick Rose healthy in the 2012 Playoffs
Chicago’s Very Own Derrick Rose got selected by the Chicago Bulls with the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. With the new head coach of Tom Thibodeau, Rose exploded and won the 2010-11 MVP award and became the youngest MVP of all time. Rose didn’t have the best stats, with averages of 25.0 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.1 rebounds in 81 games. He was more known for leading the Bulls as the only superstar to the best record in the Eastern Conference with a 62-20 record. Chicago would lose five games against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the 2011 Conference Finals.
2011-12-Rose ACL Injury
With everybody returning for Chicago, they would finish the 2011-12 season with the best record in the NBA, 50-16 (Lockout Season). But Rose sat out 27 games due to several injuries. To begin the 2012 Postseason, Chicago would face the Philadelphia 76ers. With about one minute left in Game 1, up 99-87, Rose went up for a layup and fell to the ground holding his left knee. Derrick tore his ACL in his left knee, which caused him to miss the 2012-13 season. Chicago would lose the 76ers in 6 games. Within the first two months of the 2013-14 season, he tore the meniscus in his right knee and missed the rest of the season. Rose would continue to deal with injuries for the rest of his Bulls playing days. He is still dealing with injuries on the New York Knicks.
Derrick Rose being healthy in the 2012 Playoffs is one of the biggest what-ifs in NBA History. Rose, at the time, was 23 and had a bright future. Many Chicago fans will support him no matter what forever, including me. Bulls fans support him so much that no one will be allowed to wear the #1 on the Bulls anymore. Chicago could have gotten past the Heat and won their first finals since MJ played in the 1990s, but unfortunately didn’t happen.
Dalen Terry leads the Chicago Bulls with 20 points in their 89-73 win over Charlotte Hornets to earn their second straight. Chicago will now be tied for the best Summer League record at 3-1 but won’t play in the Summer League Championship Game. Charlotte will fall to 2-2 and wait to find their opponent tomorrow night.
Simonovic returned to his usual self with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds. Dalen Terry had his best performance of the Summer League with 20 points and five rebounds, shooting 8-12 from the field and 2-2 from three. Justin Lewis had 6 points and 6 rebounds. Charlotte struggled big time; Bryce McGowens had team-high 15 points but shot 4-18 from the field.
Another Great Second Quarter for Chicago
After outscoring Charlotte 20-14 in the first quarter, Chicago got hot fast shooting 9-20 as a team, but defensive as well, forcing eight turnovers and contesting every shot. Chicago finished the final 5 minutes of the first half with a 14-6 run to get an 18-point lead at halftime. That resulted in Charlotte getting cold, shooting 3-20 from the field and 1-11 from three. Justin Minaya made the only three-pointer by the Hornets; that was the only shot Minaya made all game.
Quiet Second Half
Chicago and Charlotte went back-and-forth in the second half, but the Bulls held their lead above double-digits for the rest of the game. At one point, the Bulls got the lead up to 24 points. Both teams played an even second half. Makur Maker got 10 points off the bench, shooting 4-4 from the field and 2-2 from the three in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Charlotte cut the lead down to 13 points with good plays of Ty-So Alexander and LiAngelo Ball. Fan favorite LiAngelo Ball finished the game with 6 points shooting 3-8 from the field.
Final Thoughts
Another Great Team Win
Chicago all around played another excellent game. After getting blown out last Sunday, they heard the noise and responded. Dalen Terry played his best game by far. Especially his off-ball moves and cutting to get open will be key this season when he plays with DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine. Simonovic got his second double-double of the Summer League and a cool ESPN Top 10 behind-the-back assist in the third quarter. Chicago didn’t play well enough to make the Summer League Championship game but will look for their third straight win on Saturday.
The Hornets struggling in the second quarter cost them the game. One reason for struggling could be for playing for the second straight day. Their best player, in my opinion, Bryce McGowens, couldn’t find anything but got 15 points. LiAngelo Ball played alright but deserved more minutes, and hopefully, he earns a G League contract or two-way contract. They will look now to complete their Summer League season above .500 on Saturday against the Timberwolves.L
Up Next
Chicago will take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday at 6:00 CT
Charlotte will face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday at 4 CT
The Chicago Bulls will try to build a little win streak to 2 games with a possible win today against the Charlotte Hornets. Both teams are coming off wins and are trying to become 3-1. Chicago is coming off a great victory over the Toronto Raptors, 93-83. Charlotte will play their second game today of back-to-back games after winning 91-80 over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Bryce McGowens led the Hornets and scored 24 points on 7-10 shooting against Cleveland.
Match Details
Fixture: Chicago Bulls vs Charlotte Hornets | NBA Las Vegas Summer League 2022.
Date & Time: Thursday, July 14, 4:00 PM CT, 5:00 ET.
Channel: ESPN2
Venue: Cox Pavilion, Las Vegas NV.
Three Keys to Bulls winning
1. Get Simonovic going early
Many Bulls fans got hyped after Simonovic got 27 points and the game-winning free throw in game one against the Dallas Mavericks. But since that game, Simonovic has struggled big time, scoring 8 points shooting 3-11 from the field. Another lousy performance could land him back in the G League with the Windy City Bulls next season. Simonovic will likely get guarded by Hornets 2022 First Round Pick Mark Williams. Williams scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his first Summer League start in yesterday’s game against Cleveland.
2. Ball Movement
When everybody touches the ball, the Bulls win games. There was a reason why the Chicago lead vanished down to 10 points at the end of the game against Toronto: having six assists in the second half. Unlike the first half, the Bulls got 14 assists and made intelligent decisions instead of trusting themselves in isolation. When the Bulls get at least 20 assists, they are 2-0. In their only loss against the Knicks, they got a total of 14 assists. Creating a good shot for a great shot is impressive and will help you earn the trust of the Head Coach and an NBA roster spot.
3. Three Point Shooting
After shooting below 31% from three in the first two games, Chicago exploded, shooting 37.5% from the three to earn their second Summer League win against the Raptors. Charlotte is 2-0 when they win the three-point battle, and in their only loss, they shot 22.6% from three. Two Hornets shooters to look out for is Lonzo Ball’s younger brother, LiAngelo Ball, who went 2-6 from three but got 12 points in 13 minutes yesterday. Bryce McGowens got hot yesterday, shooting 5-6 from three; whoever the hotter team is will likely get the win and be at the top 10 of the standings at 3-1.
The Windy City Bulls are a professional basketball team that is a part of the NBA G League and an affiliate of the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. They play their home games at the NOW Area in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, located 25 miles away from Chicago. The Windy City Bulls became the 13th D-League team to be owned by an NBA Team in 2015. Once the 2017-18 season started, the D-League became known as the G-league by their new multi-year partnership with Gatorade.
History
In October 2015, the Chicago Bulls focused on a plan to have an expansion team play in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. One month later, on November 9, 2015, the Hoffman Estates board unanimously approved a Bulls D-League team. The fans selected the Windy City Bulls’ team name on the Chicago Bulls website. The fans submitted about 3,600 possible names. The three finalist names for the team were Great Lakes Bulls, Heartland Bulls, and the winner Windy City Bulls. At the first-ever pep rally in February of 2016, the Bulls announced the team name Windy City Bulls.
On November 11, 2016, the Windy City Bulls won their first game in franchise history, 123-94, against the Long Island Nets at the Series Centre. J.J. Avila led the Bulls with 21 points and nine rebounds. Spencer Dinwiddie got a double-double of 17 points and ten assists.
Season by Season Record
Season
Divison
Finish
Wins
Losses
Pct
2016-17
Central
5th
23
27
.460
2017-18
Central
3rd
24
26
.480
2018-19
Central
2nd
27
23
.540
2019-20
Central
5th
17
26
.395
*2020-21
2021-22
Central
11th
15
19
.341
*Opted out of Single Site Season
Postseason Experience
The Windy City Bulls have appeared in one G League Postseason game (2018-19 Season) in their six-year existence. In the first round of the 2019 G league playoffs, the Bulls (6 Seed) took on the Westchester Knicks (3 Seed) in a best-of-one game. Westchester beat the Windy City Bulls 93-85 and advanced to the second round. Billy Garrett led the Knicks, who had a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds. Walt Lemon Jr led the Bulls with 29 points and seven assists. Westchester would lose in the second round to the Lakeland Magic.
In the G League Playoff format, teams play a best of one in the first three rounds and a best of 3 series to determine the G League Championship Winner.
2021-22 Windy City Bulls Roster
Player
Position
Height
Date of Birth
From
Bryce Alford
Guard
6 Ft 3 In
January 18 , 1995
UCLA
Vrenz Bleijenbergh
Forward
6 Ft 10 In
October 14, 2000
Belgium
Perrion Callandret
Guard
6 Ft 4 In
April 8, 1995
Idaho
*Tyler Cook
Forward
6 Ft 8 In
September 23, 1997
Iowa
Devon Dotson
Guard
6 Ft 2 In
August 2, 1999
Kansas
Henri Drell
Guard/Forward
6 Ft 8 In
April 25, 2000
Estonia
*Malcolm Hill
Forward
6 Ft 6 In
October 26, 1995
Illinois
Daniel Oturu
Forward/Center
6 Ft 8 In
September 20, 1999
Minnesota
Jeremy Pargo
Guard
6 Ft 2 In
March 17, 1986
Gonzaga
Kerwin Roach
Guard
6 Ft 4 In
October 24, 1996
Texas
Marko Simonovic
Forward/Center
6 Ft 11 In
October 15, 1999
KK Mega Bemax, Serbia
Ethan Thompson
Guard
6 Ft 5 In
May 4, 1999
Oregon State
*Two-Way Player
Head Coaches
Head Coach
Term
Games Coached
Wins
Losses
Pct
Nate Loenser
2016-17
50
23
27
.460
Charlie Henry
2017-19
100
51
49
.510
Damian Cotter
2019-20
43
17
26
.395
Henry Domercant
2021-Present
34
15
19
.441
Why should you go see the Windy City Bulls?
First, let’s start with how many future stars have played in the G League, including Rudy Gobert, CJ McCollum, Hassan Whiteside, Danny Green, and Bulls fan favorite Alex Caruso. One player who made himself a name with the Windy City was Spencer Dinwiddie. You can tell your friends or family that you saw someone from the beginning. Some players rehabbing from an injury play with their G-League team to get minutes before hopping back to the NBA level.
The G-League is used as a “Research Lab” for the NBA when they want to try out new rules. You can see how these G-League teams adjust, which is fantastic to see in person. One example is the rule of teams from constantly fouling the opposing team’s worst free-throw shooter away from the ball in the 2015 season.
Tickets are cheap and affordable, so if you are bored after work or school, you can decide to spend some money to see a Windy City game. The average price for a Windy City Bulls game last season was $43, and the lowest price was $13, according to SeatGeek.
After losing to the Knicks, Chicago responded with a 93-83 win over the Toronto Raptors to become 2-1. The game’s largest lead for Chicago was 30 points, 87-57 in the fourth quarter. But the Raptors managed to cut the lead down to 10 points with four pointless three-pointers in the game’s final two minutes. All starters for Chicago didn’t play over 23 minutes. Carlik Jones led the Bulls with team-high 17 points and five assists, shooting 7-7 from the field.
Another Slow Start but Respond
Dalano Banton led the Raptors with 12 early points to get a 17-7 lead with 5:33 left in the first quarter. Coming out of a timeout, Chicago became a new team and went on a 17-2 run to finish the first quarter. You can tell something changed during that timeout for the Bulls. After their second game together, it seemed like they finally found their mojo. Toronto never got the lead back after the first quarter. Terry and Hill combined 12 points in the first quarter.
Both teams went back-and-forth to start the 2nd quarter. After a Banton layup to make the score 34-30, the Bulls went on an 18-7 run to get a 15-point lead at halftime. Terry, Lewis, and Jones scored all 18 points in the final 5 minutes of the first half. The most significant adjustment made by the Bulls was the ball movement and transition offense. Chicago had 14 assists on 19 shots to end the first half and finished the game with 20 assists.
Dominant 3rd Quarter for Chicago
Coming out of halftime, the Bulls stayed hot, going 66.7% from the field, with 4 out of the five misses being from three-pointers. Chicago’s defense allowed only 18 points in the third quarter and continued to get a more significant lead. Jones had six early points in the third quarter to get the lead to 20 points. No Bulls starters played in the fourth quarter.
Final Thoughts
Bulls get back on track
Chicago now stands at 2-1 and is in the top 11 in the standings. Overall, this was by far the best game Chicago has played out of the three. More ball movement, motivation, and passing up good shots for great shots. After this game, Carlik Jones will likely get offered a two-way contract by the Bulls after the Summer League. Jones has averaged 12 points and 5.3 assists in 3 games this Summer League. Dalen Terry had another solid performance and will look to earn more minutes in the Bulls rotation this upcoming season.
Raptors couldn’t find their touch
Toronto will become 1-1 and try to get revenge against the Jazz tomorrow. Only three players scored in double-digits, D.J. Wilson (10), Jeff Dowtin (16), and Dalano Banton (18). Their bench fought in the fourth quarter, getting 28 points to cut the lead down to 10. Ryan Hawkins had 9 points in the fourth quarter. Armoni Brooks didn’t perform well off the bench getting 8 points, shooting 2-6 from the field.
Up Next
Chicago will take on the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday, 5:00 CT, ESPN2
Toronto will face the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, 6:00 CT, ESPN2
The Chicago Bulls will look to bounce back after their embarrassing loss against the New York Knicks last Sunday afternoon. Toronto became 1-0 with their first Summer League win against the Philadelphia 76ers, 97-77. Armoni Brooks led all scorers with 25 points off the bench. Starter Dalano Banton had 21 points and five assists. Toronto will start a stretch of playing three games in the next four days.
Match Details
Fixture: Chicago Bulls vs Toronto Raptors | NBA Las Vegas Summer League 2022.
Date & Time: Tuesday, July 12, 4:00 PM CT, 5:00 ET.
Channel: ESPN3
Venue: Thomas & Mack Center, NV.
Keys to Bulls getting the win
1. Good Start
In the Bulls’ first game, they got out to a quick 10-4 run against the Mavericks and won the first quarter 21-16. But the second game was a different story, allowing the Knicks to start the game with a 13-0 run. Chicago got their first point by a free throw. New York would finish the first quarter outscoring Chicago 27-11. Once the first quarter ended, you could tell there was no motivation to be at Cox Pavilion. The Bulls can’t afford to play from behind if they want to become 2-1.
2. 50/50 Plays
New York dominated Chicago by getting every 50/50 ball. There was no fight by the Bulls. Dalen Terry tried giving good energy in the third quarter, but that wasn’t enough to come back by 30 points. Players not named Lewis, Liberty, Simonovic, or Terry are fighting for a roster spot on an NBA team or G League team; coaches and general managers love guys who hustle on every play and give energy.
Key Players
Bulls: Marko Simonovic
After getting a game-high 27 points in the first game against Dallas, Simonovic struggled big time with scoring only 1 point and grabbing 7 rebounds. Nobody expected Simonovic to score a pathetic one point, including me. No fans have ever seen a player go from 27 points and hitting the game-winning free throw down to one point in the next game. If the Bulls plan on winning games, Simonovic must be a critical part of those wins.
His biggest challenger against the Raptors will be Christian Koloko, former teammate of Dalen Terry at the University of Arizona. Koloko earned Pac-12 defensive player of the year honors and got named first-team all Pac-12 for the 2021-22 season. Simonovic will have his hands full, but expect a solid bounce back game.
Raptors: Armoni Brooks
Armoni Brooks earned his chance to play by signing a 10-day contract on March 6, 2022, with the Toronto Raptors. Ten days later, the Raptors signed Brooks for another 10-day contract. On March 26, he signed a two-year deal to stay in Toronto. Brooks averaged 2.6 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 13 games. Brooks averaged 6.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 41 games with the Houston Rockets.
Brooks was a significant factor in their 97-77 win over the 76ers last Saturday with 25 points, shooting 9-18 from the field and grabbing seven rebounds in 26 minutes. He is a player fighting for more minutes on the Raptors next season and is worth watching for today when they take on the Bulls. One matchup to look out for Brooks against Terry.
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