By Roxy

Bulls made fans feel almost every emotion possible in Preseason Opener

Ah, preseason: an opportunity to jump into a new sports season and work out the kinks caused by the off-season and its happenings without worrying about it counting. The Bulls were lucky this game didn’t count because, oh boy, did they need the practice. Yesterday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans showed what sports can be filled with: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good

I think it’s important we get this article off on the right foot. There were actually some positives to yesterday’s game. You wouldn’t know this if you turned the game off after the first quarter, but they actually did happen! First and foremost (biasedly, of course) is Nikola Vučević, a player with arguably quite a bit to prove after a less than stellar 21-22 season. Vooch was an important presence in yesterday’s match, posting a double-double (15pts, 11reb) in 23 minutes of play. The most noticeable aspect of Vooch’s play was what he didn’t do, specifically taking threes. He attempted just 4 three-pointers, and they were well-timed, smart looks. Another noteworthy observation was his defense and strong post presence, as he had three steals and 4 blocks.

Another bright spot was 18th overall pick Dalen Terry. The 6’7″ guard from Arizona posted 11 pts in 18 minutes of play. He also showed very impressive defensive vision and held himself up well against some veteran talent from the Pelicans.

The Bad

What is good without a little bad? Unfortunately, there was quite a bit of it yesterday, but that’s what preseason is for, right? The first quarter for the Bulls was one of the worst I’ve seen in some time, which is saying something considering the talent this team possesses. The Bulls score 25 pts in the first quarter, going 5 for 12 from the field with questionable shot selection. New additions Goran Dragić and Andre Drummond looked lost and out of place in their first outing in Bulls uniforms. Plenty of time to turn things around, but important things to keep tabs on.

The Ugly

There’s no denying it, the Bulls bench unit is like a lost kid in the mall; they know where they are but not where they need to be. DeMar being out there keeps them from being a complete disaster, but we can’t have him out there 40+ minutes a game, so eventually, this will need to be figured out. They lack shooting depth that will force the starters little room for error. I mean, sure, that’s the point of your starting roster, but it never hurts to know your bench guys can come in and get the job done – I don’t see that being the case with this Bulls squad.

Overall a lot of observations came out from just 48 minutes of play, there’s plenty of time to turn things around, and that’s what preseason is for. The Bulls’ next game is this Friday vs. the high flying (well, mostly just high) Denver Nuggets. See Red.