The NBA season is just around the corner, and with it comes one of the most anticipated games on opening night: Chicago Bulls vs. Brooklyn Nets. The matchup will feature two star players who have been teammates for years in DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic as well as Coach Billy Donovan seething over a light suspension given to Grayson Allen by Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations & GM.
The “nba news” is a story about how the Chicago Bulls stars DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic are seething over Grayson Allen’s light suspension. Coach Billy Donovan is also mentioned in this article.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – As if the Chicago Bulls hadn’t already been through enough in recent weeks as they saw their finest season in a decade crumble, the weekend delivered another devastating one-two punch that left them bleeding and broken.
Already without guards Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, and Javonte Green, the Bulls’ woes were compounded on Friday night when Alex Caruso was hit in the air by Milwaukee’s Grayson Allen. Unfortunately for Caruso and the Bulls, the blow knocked him out on his right hand and threw him to the ground. Caruso, who had just lately returned after a month-long layoff, somehow managed to remain in the game. With a fractured wrist, he guarded Giannis Antetokounmpo for a period and buried a key late 3-pointer.
Caruso’s wrist was fractured, and he will be out for at least six weeks, according to X-rays. Allen — and his history of shady play — only received a one-game punishment for his hit, exacerbating the damage.
Allen’s one-game ban and Caruso’s injury have enraged the Chicago Bulls.
In the third quarter of a game at Fiserv Forum on Jan. 21, 2022, in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Bucks player Grayson Allen commits a Flagrant-2 foul on Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso. | Getty Images/John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service
Due to all of the injuries, the Bulls only had nine players available for Sunday’s game in Orlando, yet the results were still surprising. Despite DeMar DeRozan’s season-high 41 points, the Bulls were scarcely competitive in a 114-95 defeat to the Magic, who have nine wins. DeRozan should be heading to the NBA All-Star Game after carrying the Bulls all season. However, without its regulars, Chicago’s backcourt was so shattered that it only managed 10 assists and 22 turnovers at Orlando on Sunday.
The Bulls are furious after suffering their second consecutive loss and their seventh in the last nine games. They were enraged, though, because Allen was only suspended for one game by the NBA. In the meanwhile, Caruso might be out for up to two months.
“Grayson Allen’s play has no place in basketball,” stated Bulls center Nikola Vucevic. “He didn’t go for the ball, and he didn’t go to simply hard-foul” (Caruso). It was merely a game of chance. Obviously, (Allen) is well-known for it; he has a history of doing it in college and throughout his career. So, that was a really shady move, and it’s too bad because (Caruso) was gravely injured.”
“It’s annoying – not only for the team, but for myself,” an outraged DeRozan said (Caruso). He’s just returned, and now we’re without a crucial player and someone we need. It’s a pain, and it’s aggravating, but we’ve got to get through it.”
Caruso has already gained the respect of his new teammates in his debut season in Chicago. He’s set career highs in rebounds, assists, and steals thus far this season. Caruso’s performance was properly paid by the Bulls, but the team will now be without one of the finest spark-plug players in the NBA.
Milwaukee’s response to Allen’s flagrant violation did not sit well with Bulls coach Billy Donovan.
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Vucevic and DeRozan were irritated, but Bulls coach Billy Donovan was much more so. He didn’t appreciate what he heard about the event from Milwaukee’s players and coaching staff. Of course, Milwaukee’s players backed Allen and praised his work ethic and team-first approach, according to Donovan.
Many of the same Bucks players were on record as saying Allen had done nothing wrong during the mid-air collision. Donovan responded with a series of pointed questions.
“My issue is if the positions were reversed and Alex Caruso pulled down Giannis (Antetokounmpo), (Khris) Middleton, or Jrue Holiday in the same fashion, it seems like they would say it’s OK and it wouldn’t be a malicious conduct,” Donovan said. “Would it be the same reaction if it occurred to those men, or would it be a different one?”
Donovan said that he would never condone any kind of retaliation against Allen, and that he does not believe the Bulls have any players who would do so when the teams meet again on May 4. However, he is aware that in these circumstances, things tend to happen.
“I’m aware of a player code of conduct,” Donovan said. “I’m sure there will be emotions in the game once we face them again.” I don’t get the impression that the players we have here are striving to do all they can to have a great season.”
Finally, the Bulls will be relieved with the return of high-scoring guard Zach LaVine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=9HnoI5GkZSQ
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The Chicago Bulls were on a nine-game winning run and were atop the Eastern Conference at 26-10 only three weeks ago. Then came the merciless grind of the NBA season, which smacked the Bulls in the face.
The Bulls were slowed by knee injuries to Zach LaVine, Derrick Jones Jr., and Loans Ball. Ball and Caruso’s surgeries mean the Bulls will be without two of its best playmakers for a few months, which might force Chicago to look for a point guard on the trade market.
With the likely return of LaVine and Javonte Green on Monday, Chicago could receive some much-needed relief. The Bulls are in desperate need of anything to preserve a season that has been sent off course by a pair of emotional and physical haymakers.
“It’s frustrating with our terrible luck, losing (Caruso) and not having our important players… DeRozan acknowledged late Sunday night in Orlando, “It’s been tough.” “However, we still have to compete.” Hopefully, we’ll have part of the calvary back tomorrow, which would be quite beneficial.”
All of the quotations in the article were got directly from the source.
ESPN.com provided the statistics.
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