Chicago Bulls
The 2024-25 Chicago Bulls can be defined by finally moving on from Zach LaVine and a fun late-season run.
What did we learn?
In the end, it was a redux.
2023-24 Chicago Bulls:
Record: 39-43
Lost in the 2nd Play-In Game to the Miami Heat
2024-25 Chicago Bulls
Record: 39-43
Lost in the 1st Play-In Game to the Miami Heat
This was actually the third year in a row the Bulls were eliminated by the Heat in the Play-In.
Different year, same shit.
The Bulls missed the playoffs entirely and have another middling draft pick to show for it.
EXCEPT…
They finally moved on from Zach LaVine at the deadline and had an exciting post-All-Star Break run.
From March 5 to the end of the regular season, the only teams in the NBA to win more games than the Bulls were the Celtics, Clippers and Thunder.
Over that last 20 games, the Bulls had a top-10 offense and top-10 defense, stampeding through opponents left and right. It was a rip-roaring good time!
This mini-run as an in-season Young Surprise Team blossomed from post-trade deadline freedom, free from the chains of Zach LaVine.
Coby White ascended further as the teams No. 1 scoring option, scoring more than 35 points five times over that memorable run, including three games in a row, all wins on the road at Sacramento, at the Lakers and at Denver.
And it was the next game after those three that the Bulls pulled off that INSANE comeback in the last 12 seconds vs. the Lakers at home with Josh Giddey’s half-court buzzer-beater sending the home crowd into a TIZZY. The baby Bulls were the talk of the town!
Giddey ran the offense with relative ease, comfortable after being given the keys. Giddey tallied five triple-doubles over the last five weeks of the season and averaged 20.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.7 assists in his last 13 games played.
Matas Buzelis emerged as a lanky and lethal Lithuanian — a.k.a. Lil Buzi Vert. He cooked Luka going baseline. Everybody saw that one.
Even Dalen Terry showed a couple flashes in the pan, especially in that one game in Denver. (When Dalen Terry scored 12+ points, the Bulls were a perfect 7-0… just sayin’.)
Yes, the Bulls did still lose that first Play-In game in rather embarrassing fashion at home. It was a reminder that the treadmill of mediocrity in Chicago has been running for numerous seasons.
But at least now there is a glimmer of hope toward the future with a fun young trio of Coby White, Giddey and Buzelis.
The Pacers have shown us a new path that perhaps the Bulls can follow.
Who knows in the weak Eastern Conference.
These baby Bulls just might graduate from mediocre to good.
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Additional Notes
Vooch somehow still remained here for reasons unknown. But Vooch stayed a professional as always.
Lonzo Ball played ball! It was only 35 games and limited minutes, but it was so good to see him back out there! He sadly was not a part of the baby Bulls late-season run.
Pat Williams was his usual consistently inconsistent self, sometimes really awesome and sometimes completely invisible. Let’s continue to remember that Pat Willy is still just 23 years old.
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Did our preseason Over/Under prediction hit?
The incentive to tank is too drastic to resist. Under 28.5 wins.
Bulls 2024-25 record: (39-43)
NOPE. This actually had a chance until the Bulls stormed out of the post-All-Star gates.
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What’s Next?
The No. 12 pick in the draft. Gotta be a big-man, right?
Giddey’s new contract is top priority.
Bobby Marks tells us that "Eight of Chicago's 12 players under contract for next season are on expiring deals, including Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins and Kevin Huerter.” *whistles* Listen, financial freedom can be everything.
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Favorite Bulls Highlight of the 2024-25 Season:
Game of the Year.
