Finally, the moment Bulls fans were waiting for — postponement.
The NBA announced Monday the Bulls‘ next two games against the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors are postponed to a later date.
The Bulls are up to 10 players in Covid-19 protocols, with Alize Johnson as the most recent entry on the list.
The only players not in protocols are Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Alfonzo McKinnie, Alex Caruso, Tony Bradley, Tyler Cook, Devon Dotson and Marko Simonovic.
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The Bulls’ next game is slated for Sunday’s contest against the Los Angeles Lakers, who have notoriously struggled this season with injuries to LeBron James and currently Anthony Davis.
Four players are going to return Sunday. Players slated to leave protocols include DeMar DeRozan, Coby White, JaVonte Green and Derrick Jones Jr.
The projected lineup for Sunday’s game against the Lakers? Let’s go with Ball-Caruso-DeRozan-Green-Vucevic. A possible “lineup-gami,” not to be confused with “scorigami,” with LaVine likely out of the starting lineup for the first time this season.
As of now, Bulls' next game is Dec. 19 vs. the Lakers at the United Center.
Players potentially eligible to return by then and date they entered protocols:
Coby White (Dec. 1)
Javonte Green (Dec. 3)
DeMar DeRozan (Dec. 6)
Derrick Jones Jr. (Dec. 9)— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 13, 2021
Making light of the Bulls’ situation
The Bulls’ own NBA epidemic (of the 23 players in Covid-19 protocols, 10 of them are Chicago Bulls) has created chaos as of recent.
The team dropped two rough losses to Eastern Conference opponents, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat. The Bulls moved to third in the conference standings.
The Cavs’ big men Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Kevin Love and former Bull Lauri Markkanen dominated over the Bulls’ small-ball, short-handed lineup.
Mobley made his case for Rookie of the Year against the Bulls. The rookie center recorded a near double-double of 16 points and nine rebounds, and five breath-taking blocks. He flashed his pro-level instincts and fearlessness in the paint.
The Cavs were one three-point-make shy of draining half of their attempts from behind the arc. They cruised to an easy 115-92 win, never having lost a single quarter.
The game against the Heat was no different, highlighted by the unlikely successes of Duncan Robinson, who has struggled greatly since signing a five-year $90 million deal this past offseason, and DeWayne Dedmon, a lowly five-point, five-rebound average player.
Robinson put up 13 points in the first quarter and went into the fourth quarter with 26 points. Dedmon recorded a 20-point 12-rebound double-double, against the Bulls’ homely spotlight of the night — Nikola Vucevic.
Vucevic’s season struggles were noticeable against the Heat. He shot 3-of-15 from the field for 10 points, eight rebounds and a team-worst -29 plus/minus on the floor.
Through all the adversity and so far disappointing season for Vucevic, he is keeping it light through the Bulls’ Covid-wildfire.
Hey @DetroitPistons How about a game of 3×3? https://t.co/OaJp4UTYjR
— Nikola Vucevic (@NikolaVucevic) December 13, 2021
It would be entertaining to watch Ball, Caruso and Vucevic take on Cade Cunningham, Sadiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart NBA2k blacktop style. But, as a Bulls optimist, it’s more satisfying to see Vucevic stay positive during his atypical shooting slump.
On the even brighter side, Vucevic can use this week to work on his shooting. He is one of the players not subdued to Covid-19 protocols.
Well at least we’ll have herd immunity for the rest of the season… https://t.co/XrmBH0OMxW
— Nikola Vucevic (@NikolaVucevic) December 12, 2021
The NBA made the right choice
After wondering if Adam Silver and the NBA would stay true to their rule of making teams play if they have eight available players, they made the right choice.
They’re evening the playing field for the Bulls to get healthy. But also, it seemed like a new player entered the health and safety protocols every day of the past week.
If unresolved, the Bulls would have rolled out a starting lineup of Ball-Dotson-McKinney-Caruso-Vucevic against the Pistons and Raptors. Cook, Simonovic and Bradley would represent the Bulls’ bench in that situation.
Thankfully, we don’t have to watch while covering our eyes with our hands as the Bulls could have possibly given the Pistons their fifth win of the season.
Now, Bulls fans can anticipate the Alex Caruso and DeMar DeRozan revenge game on Sunday against the Lakers. Both experienced rejection and inability to figure out contracts with the Lakers this offseason.
