The NBA’s 2023-24 season tip-off ad has got me HYPED. If you haven’t seen it yet, stop what you’re doing and watch it like five times right now.
Also, keep an eye out for a special someone!
Um, is it just me, or is that some massive camera time for Zach LaVine!? We get Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Jaylen Brown, and Luka Doncic all flashed on the screen before LaVine is thrown under the spotlight. The two-time All-Star does a parachute sprint on the beach and proceeds to turn to the camera to deliver a “how do you like me now?”
Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, and Jamal Murray are some of the other players to star in the ad, while plenty of the other big names get a highlight or two thrown in. I mean, what great company for LaVine to find himself in, right? I know we may not be too high on this Chicago Bulls team, but this serves as a good reminder that LaVine is … well … a really special dude! The NBA isn’t just going to use anyone to promote the upcoming season, folks.
Ps: That’s also why the front office has kept their asking price for LaVine sky-high.
From the outside looking in, the Chicago Bulls’ point guard situation looks pretty grim. Lonzo Ball’s career remains in jeopardy, and the organization doesn’t have the financial flexibility to fill his shoes with another proven option. Meanwhile, the options they do have on the roster aren’t the most traditional facilitators. Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Jevon Carter would all fall under the combo-guard category, and it’s hard to see a world where any turn out to be this franchise’s point guard of the future.After watching these preseason games, however, it would be hard for anyone not to be a little more optimistic about who the Bulls can turn to. As we’ve already discussed, Coby White looks ready for the best season of his career. He’s improved drastically as a decision-maker and has done a great job leading by example when it comes to establishing this new-look offense. While we’ll need to make sure he continues this strong play in the regular season, he undoubtedly looks like he’ll give the Bulls a better option than anyone initially expected.Ayo Dosunmu and Jevon Carter have also put together a rock-solid preseason. Dosunmu has dished the second-most assists on the team, and he’s also done a really nice job ensuring that this team checks some important boxes. Indeed, it definitely feels like Dosunmu has attacked the rim off the dribble in the halfcourt better than ever before. We’ve also watched him prioritize the offensive glass and grab 9 offensive rebounds, which is third-most on the team behind only frontcourt players Andre Drummond and Terry Taylor.As for Carter, how he will help this team started to show itself more and more as the preseason games went on. Not only has he been hounding opposing backcourts off the bench, but we’ve seen what he can do behind the arc. Carter went 7-15 over the team’s five games, pulling up in transition with confidence. He also happened to sit right behind both White and Dosunmu in preseason assists, which is exactly what you’d want to see!I still want to see Carter play more with the “Big 3.” This isn’t to say I believe he should start over Coby White, but I do think there will be nights when his on-ball defense is desperately needed. The decision to put him out there is also that much easier when we know he can shoot it from long range as well as Coby White.If Coby White gets an A+ for the preseason, I’d give Dosunmu a B+ and Jevon Carter a B. All passing grades! For a team that entered the offseason with a lot of questions about that position again, that’s pretty encouraging.One guard who didn’t quite prove himself this preseason is Carlik Jones. I’m really hoping another team scoops him up. After last season’s MVP campaign in the G-League, he deserves at least a taste of real NBA minutes somewhere.Death, Taxes, Andre Drummond rebounds.Onuralp Bitim snubbed! In all seriousness, if I had to pick a longshot bet to place, I might look at Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Anthony Edwards. Both are still super young, but what if they lead either one of those teams to a top-3 seed?
