Josh Giddey limping on the court

Mo Gueye is everywhere.

Hawks defense is on a string tonight. Held the Raps to 44 points in that first half.

Before I was an NBA writer, I was a pro poker player for 12 years. I played against many pro athletes, including Ty Lue a few times. Here's a snapshot of that period of my life, and thoughts on Lue's alleged connection to Chauncey Billups' private game: www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/...

NEW #CashConsiderations with @rickyodonn.bsky.social and @stephnoh.bsky.social! - Recapping that wild Sixers game. How are Bulls so clutch?! - Giddey mea culpas all around - Give Billy and Vucevic their flowers - Mailbag on Coby, Matas, trades and more! open.spotify.com/episode/7d9j...

My first power rankings of the season are up! www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/...

Bulls beat the Sixers in a game where Chicago held the lead for 3.2 total seconds. 6-1, first place in the East.

What a shot from Vooch

Perfect timing for the 0 fg graphic

Look at Josh Giddey staying solid on defense!

Mo Gueye has been the best Paolo defender, and he's wanted that matchup.

Bane gets a flagrant, a tech, and an ejection for this one

Lame to call a technical when the guy is right!

Magic scored three straight times three different ways on this Ram Exit play in the second quarter.

Mo Gueye has been terrific in this one defensively.

Dyson Daniels picking up a thing or two from Trae Young

New: The two leading teams in the Eastern Conference will face off in Chicago tonight, with the 5-1 Sixers taking on the 5-1 Bulls. Here’s the tremendous @stephnoh.bsky.social on what has changed in Chicago this year, Josh Giddey’s development and more: www.phillyvoice.com/sixers-vs-bu...

This has been the biggest development for Josh Giddey since the middle of last year. He used to play like he was the smallest guy on the floor. Now he utilizes his 6-foot-7 height.

I always get a kick out of coaches reactions when they know what's coming. Knicks have started 90% of their SLOB plays this year with this backscreen, which is rarely open. Billy Donovan screamed, "There it is Kev!" at Kevin Huerter when they tried to make that lob pass.

I like to boost this near the start of every season. Here's how long before you can start trusting a team's stats, per @knarsu3.bsky.social. Some noteworthy ones: Offensive rating: 13 games Defensive rating: 16 games True shooting %: 12 games It's still early. fansided.com/2017/12/21/n...

Bulls 135, Knicks 125. Bulls improve to 5-0, last undefeated team in the East.

Don't see this every day. OG Anunoby elbows Kevin Huerter, stops to see if he's okay, then dunks it

I repeat,

Look at the defense from Matas Buzelis. Gets skinny over the screen, jams the ball right back at Anunoby, then stuffs the next pass with his wrists (he drew a foul on the lob)

This is a great example of what I talked about in my column today. Bulls don't have great individual advantage creation, so they screen and pass like hell. Nine pass possession here.

Ayo Dosunmu's one of the most dangerous scorers in the league when inbounding with under 10 seconds left in a quarter

Patrick Williams had Mikal Bridges jumping in the opposite direction

The Pelicans are preparing to fire Willie Green, but it's going to be too little to late. Inside the demoralized state of the organization from players to staffers: intheno.substack.com/p/a-preventa...

Are the Bulls back? I dove into how they're finding an unusual path to success on both ends of the floor, and how sustainable it is: www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/chica...

I'm ready to be hurt again. Bulls are 4-0, blast it from the streets.

Hello old friend.

Doing this at 6-foot-10, sheesh.

Nice read by Kevin Huerter. Recognizes that Vooch has a mismatch but Schroeder is giving backside help, so he flashes to the free throw line and claps for the ball to set up the high-low entry pass.

Basic way to break a zone, flash to the middle. Bulls have done it twice tonight.

Kings were spamming stack pick-and-rolls in that first half (watch for a shooter like LaVine starting low, setting a backscreen, then popping out to the 3-point line). Bulls had a lot of trouble guarding it.

Nice scouting by the Bulls. Kings ran this play for a LaVine backdoor cut ➡️ dunk to open their season. Tried it again as an ATO and Isaac Okoro was ready for it.

Bulls getting it up the court turbo speed, Vooch pulling out the rim protection, Buzelis going to work.

Nets (0-4) started the game up 12-0 against the Hawks (1-3). Brooklyn opened with: -Dunk -Missed 3 -Dunk -Made 3 -Layup and one -Fouled 3-point attempt (made 2 of 3 FTs) Some of these defensive lapses for the Hawks are rough.

To me, this crunch time ATO encapsulates how the Bulls have opened 3-0. It's not a crazy complicated set (Pistol 5 - zoom), but the timing, reads, ball/player movement, and execution are perfect. The Bulls aren't out-talenting teams, they're just playing extremely solid ball.

It's been a fun first week of the NBA season! Here's one thing that I'm excited about/have enjoyed watching for each team in the league: www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/...

Nice ATO from Quin Snyder. Here's what great spacing and movement can accomplish.

Cason Wallace major younger brother energy watching big bro Keaton hit a middy

File this in "it's early but:" Blazers have been a crazy inbounds pressure team this yr. -Pressing on 24% of their possessions -Pacers led the NBA last yr at 12.7%. Blazers have gotten early season praise for being tough to play against. No. 7 defense in the league rn.

NBA gambling scandals aren't going away any time soon. It might feel right to go hard and ban players/coaches, but the league is the one that deserves the most blame for causing this mess: www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/...

Down the stretch of their OT win, the Warriors were ruthless about picking on Jokic. Whoever he was guarding was setting a screen for Curry.

For the "they don't play defense in the NBA" crowd: Here's all the stuff that you might miss in real time. First watch normally, then check out the slowed down version.

Great opener for Matas Buzelis. 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, some electric dunks/drives, and big defensive plays.

Another awesome play from Matas Buzelis

Matas Buzelis NASTY dunk