More OPs

Bulls’ head coach Billy Donovan is really stuck with a lot of OPs—other people’s players. With the exception of rookies Devon Dotson and Patrick Williams along with free-agent acquisition guard Garrett Temple, Donovan is coaching a roster the work of John Paxson and Gar Forman. How do you say “old regime”? Donovan has this team at 10-14, and they could easily be .500 or a few games over, in which case, we may be talking “coach of the year” honors. Consider that the Bulls average as the tallest (6’7-1/2”) and biggest (226.9 lbs.) team in the NBA, yet they don’t really rebound that well—21st in the league—or play much of a physical game. Somehow, without a true point guard, they are eighth in assists. Again, we may be talking coach of the year. And, again, I think coaching in the NBA is a hard-to-impossible undertaking with the penchant for one-and-done players who come into the league at age 19 or thereabouts. So far, 19-year old rookie forward Patrick Williams has been doing pretty good, averaging a little over 10 points and 4 rebounds a game, but you have to hold your breath given the Bulls’ injury history recently. Center Wendell Carter Jr., 21, has suffered injuries of one sort or another all three years he’s been in the NBA. Forward Laurie Markkanen, 23, has seen injuries mar three of the four seasons he’s played for Chicago. Had he stayed all four years at Arizona, Markkanen would now be in his rookie season. Instead, he’s out with a dislocated shoulder. Markkanen was supposed to be a key part of the rebuild envisioned by Paxson and Forman, along with guard Zach LaVine, who is indeed putting up some gaudy offensive numbers, averaging 28.2 points a game, fifth best in the league; his 3.9 turnovers a game also rank as fifth most in the league. LaVine is a relative oldster, 25, in his seventh NBA season. He shouldn’t be throwing the ball away so much. So, add everything up. Do you hang onto this team or break it up and put your imprint on it? Whatever the Bulls do, I like their chances better than the Pelicans’, the team they beat last night, 129-116. Oh, second-year phenom Zion Williamson scored 29 points and pulled down 4 rebounds for New Orleans, but talk about an injury waiting to happen. Williamson is listed at 6’7”, though he’s most likely an inch shorter. What isn’t in dispute is his weight, all 284 pounds of it. If he weighs that much at 20, what will Williamson be at 24, 28, 32? At least this isn’t a Bulls’ problem, assuming, of course, they’re not tempted to swing a trade with the Pelicans. Fingers crossed.