WOOF! Chicago Bulls have lost seven straight games

Summary

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Dan Bernstein Unfiltered — Episode 122

Title: "WOOF! Chicago Bulls have lost seven straight games"
Release Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Dan Bernstein
Co-host: Jason Bernstein
Producer: Cody Delmendo

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the depths of the Chicago Bulls’ season-defining seven-game losing streak. Dan and Jason Bernstein bring their trademark unfiltered candor and sharp analysis to dissect what’s gone wrong for the Bulls — from failing veterans to misfiring young talent, coaching questions, trade speculation, and the bigger picture of where the franchise stands compared to their NBA peers. The vibe is equal parts frustrated, introspective, and darkly humorous, reflecting the mood of a fanbase beleaguered by another year of dashed hopes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of the Bulls: Rock Bottom Re-Redefined

(Starts ~01:35)

• Seven-game losing streak: Jason laments that each loss somehow feels “worse than the last,” and Dan notes that the Bulls’ social media can barely find a play worth highlighting:

  “When the Bulls Instagram posts one highlight a game, that's not really a good sign.” — Dan, [02:01]

• Freefall after positive start: The Bulls started 6–1, but have gone 3–13 in their last 16 games.
• Playoffs now a long shot: Sitting at 9–14, 11th in the East, even a play-in berth looks unlikely.
• Injury barrage: Major injuries to Noah Esenge, Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, Jalen Smith, and Kevin Herder have decimated the rotation.

2. Injury Impacts and Effort

(03:22–06:15)

• While injuries aren’t an excuse, missing key contributors hurts cohesion and effort. Kevin Herder’s absence is highlighted:

  "He often sets the tone for effort…" — Jason, [04:56]

• Bulls forced to stretch their rotation into “bum fest” territory, playing deep bench and two-way guys like Emmanuel Miller and Lachlan Ulbricht.

3. Absence of Exciting Young Talent

(06:57–10:25)

• Dan contrasts Bulls’ games to exciting young teams (Timberwolves, Pelicans, etc.):

  “That basketball game is so much more watchable and interesting than any Bulls game I’ve seen as of late.” — Dan, [07:44]

• Bulls lack high-flying athleticism, rim protection, and explosive talent; even recent first-rounders fail to impress.

4. Trade Deadline & Roster Breakdown

(12:35–17:03)

• Bulls face a glut of expiring contracts: Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins, Kevin Herder, Kobe White, Ayo Dosunmu, Javon Carter, Dalen Terry.
• Much of the segment is spent on assessing who’s truly valuable as a trade asset, with skepticism that role players will return more than late draft picks.
• Jason criticizes the “locker room guy” label for young players — a red flag for upside.

5. Development & The Bulls’ Direction

(15:01–17:03, 16:18–17:03)

• Dan notes few players are bona fide keepers (“he and Modest and I guess by default Esenge are really the only guys I’m saying keep…” [15:01]).
• Debate about Bulls’ attempts to emulate the “Pacers model” of development, but Jason notes that Indiana’s core (including Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam) was assembled through trades, not player development.

6. Trade Chatter: Pelicans Opportunities?

(19:14–21:26)

• Pelicans reportedly listening to offers for everyone, including Trey Murphy and Zion Williamson.
• Jason considers if Kobe White should be included in such a deal.
• Dan frequently brings up Euroleague prospect Carlo Matkovic as a target for teams needing athletic interior play.

7. The Bulls’ Grim Identity and Comparisons

(21:45–27:07)

• Extended lament over the team’s inability to draft and develop sudden, “explosive” talent.
• Only Modest Boozelis stands out among the young core.
• Other franchises (Charlotte, Houston, Detroit, Pelicans) outpace Bulls in terms of hope and excitement.

8. Coaching and Motivation — Is Billy Donovan the Problem?

(29:31–30:45)

• Jason and Dan agree coaching changes likely won't matter; issues run deeper than X’s and O’s.

  “I don't think it makes that much of a difference right now. No, I really don't.” — Jason, [29:49]

• Motivation and leadership issues are highlighted.

9. Is This the NBA’s Actual Worst Team?

(31:16–32:07)

• Jason flatly declares:

  “At the moment, the Bulls are the worst team in the NBA.” — [31:27]

• They are close to a “throw in the towel” point pending the outcome of the next game.

10. Tanking and Organizational Philosophy

(32:07–33:11)

• Discussion on the nature of “tanking” and the need for smart asset accumulation, something the Bulls’ administration has neglected.

11. Reflection on Bulls Leadership and Nikola Jokic’s Ascendancy

(33:11–34:04)

• Dan wryly mentions Denver didn’t become elite until Bulls’ exec AK left.
• Long tangent on Nikola Jokic’s historic greatness and the rare nature of his skillset.

12. Leadership Vacuum — Vucevic’s Warning Unheeded

(38:37–40:23)

• Vucevic’s locker room outburst after a recent loss is dissected:

  “But the thing is that you can't be a leader and suck that much ass on defense.” — Dan, [38:49]

• Kobe White reportedly now tasked with policing defensive effort and accountability.
• Vucevic’s veteran pride isn’t translating to improved results.

13. Comparing Rebuilds: Bulls vs. Young, Fun Teams

(37:09–38:11, 40:23–41:07)

• Across the NBA, young talent abounds. Bulls lack direction, ambition, and internal leadership compared to teams like Detroit, Houston, Brooklyn, or New Orleans.

  “Would you rather be the Pelicans or the Bulls right now?” — Dan, [37:22] “Pelicans.” — Jason, [37:25]

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Memorable Quotes

• On hitting a new low:

  “Every time I think they've defined rock bottom, they redefine it.” — Jason, [01:53]

• On the Bulls’ grim highlight reels:

  “When the Bulls Instagram posts one highlight a game, that's not really a good sign.” — Dan, [02:01]

• On coaching changes:

  “I don't think it makes that much of a difference right now. No, I really don't.” — Jason, [29:49]

• On where the Bulls stand:

  “At the moment, the Bulls right now are the worst team in the NBA.” — Jason, [31:27]

• On organizational philosophy:

  “This team is fucked.” — Dan, [31:58]

• On the Bulls compared to others:

  “Would you rather be the Pelicans or the Bulls right now?” — Dan, [37:22]
  “Pelicans.” — Jason, [37:25]

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Significant Timestamps

• 01:24 — Show begins, mood set: “Times have been better for the Chicago Bulls...seven in a row, man...”
• 02:55 — Bulls' catastrophic recent record, standings discussed
• 03:51–04:21 — Injury rundown; Herder's underrated importance
• 07:44 — Dan: “That [Pelicans–Timberwolves] game is so much more watchable...than any of the Bulls games...”
• 12:35 — Full list of expiring contract Bulls
• 15:01 — Dan: Only a couple of guys are “keepers”
• 16:21 — Bulls' flawed “Pacers model” notion
• 19:14 — Pelicans’ willingness to trade everyone, Bulls ties
• 29:31 — “What more could coaching do?”
• 31:27 — “At the moment, the Bulls are the worst team in the NBA.”
• 32:07 — “This team is fucked.”
• 37:22 — Better to be Pelicans or Bulls?
• 38:37 — Vucevic’s warning going unheeded, locker room leadership crisis
• 40:23 — Vucevic experience, fans’ disappointment
• 49:00–59:00 — Extended “Showdown” stats/puzzle segment (NBA trivia fun)

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Notable (Non-Bulls) Sidebars

• Praise for Nikola Jokic and his all-time offensive impact. [33:18–34:04]
• Joking about Dan’s and Jason’s Halloween costumes, running gags about being “sudden,” “athletic,” and the saga of Jewish Bernsteins at Tulane. [43:05–47:11]
• Playful takes on “bum fest,” obscure Euro prospects, and NBA trivia (e.g., 30-point games by second-round picks).

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Episode Tone & Takeaways

• Tone: Frustrated, sarcastic, darkly amused, and self-aware.
• Key takeaway: The Bulls are at a crossroads with no clear path forward. The roster is full of role players with dubious value, there’s a lack of both developmental progress and front-office boldness, and Bulls fans are justifiably feeling despair.
• Final mood: If anything, the extended tangents and dark humor are a sign that even diehard Bulls analysts and fans are emotionally checking out — at least until management and ownership show a real plan for change.

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For New Listeners

This episode will give you a warts-and-all sense of just how far the Bulls have fallen — and how their malaise isn’t simply bad luck or injury misfortune, but a deeper organizational problem. The hosts are brutally honest but still find ways to inject dry wit and big-picture thinking into the conversation.
If you’re craving a sugarcoated or hopeful take on the Bulls, look elsewhere; if you want intelligent, unfiltered, deeply Chicago sports talk, Bernstein Unfiltered delivers.

Transcript

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[Jason Bernstein]

You want to know about your.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dumbass.

[Jason Bernstein]

I thought, I thought it ran and we just couldn't hear.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, you have to do it again. Podcast.

[Jason Bernstein]

Sorry, sorry, sorry. I should have said something. My bad.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dan is stupid.

[Jason Bernstein]

All right, well, I'm gonna remove myself and I'm gonna play it and then go. Oh, idiot. Freaking idiot.

[Dan Bernstein]

With Jason and dan Bernstein on 312 Sports. Organizations win Championships.

[Jason Bernstein]

A Chicago Bulls podcast with Jason and.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dan Bernstein on 312Sports.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, times have been better for the Chicago Bulls and times have certainly been better since we have been covering the team here.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know, it's been pretty bad.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah, this is OWC organizations win championships. It's episode number 122. We are a 312 sports podcast today. Along with our producer Cody Delmendo, Dan Bernstein, Jason Bernstein. But seven in a row, man. And, and it's like each one worse than the next.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, it's.

[Jason Bernstein]

They worse. And there's. Every time I think they've defined rock bottom, they redefine it.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's. It's. It's bad. It's bad. They, they just look horrible. They look horrible. When. When the bulls Instagram posts 1 highlight a game, that's not really a good sign.

[Jason Bernstein]

Is that what they're doing?

[Dan Bernstein]

That all. All I've seen recently on the Bulls Instagram is a modest dunk here, a three point shot there, and L after L after L and they're all bad. Ls. We thought this was the stretch. We thought this was the stretch where. Okay, you go six and one to start the season. All right. You have a little bit of a rough patch. You're at 6 and 5, 6 and 6. Whatever. Whatever they were at at that point. And you just get absolutely waxed. They started 6 and 1 right? And they're what, 3 and 13, their last 16? Something like that.

[Jason Bernstein]

It is, it's. I would say it's inexplicable just because of how thoroughly so many aspects of their game have completely deserted them. Right now The Bulls are 9 and 14, and that puts them 11th in the East. So at the moment, out of everything, you know, we had talked about, oh, could they be an actual playoff team? Could they be a playoff team? And there were a lot of people.

[Dan Bernstein]

Who were out over there. How about now?

[Jason Bernstein]

What about now? And now it's. Can they. Well, can they make it back to the play in. I will say let's get this out of the way. Injuries matter. Of course it is. It is. You cannot ignore the injuries that they've had. And we're going to get to the. The main one in a second because obviously there's, there's questions about Noah Esenge and where he fits and all that he's done for the year. He's out.

[Dan Bernstein]

Guess how many months they said he was out.

[Jason Bernstein]

How many? Six.

[Dan Bernstein]

Out of a month? Six?

[Jason Bernstein]

Seven. Oh, God, we're still doing that.

[Dan Bernstein]

What do you mean?

[Jason Bernstein]

Just declare it done.

[Dan Bernstein]

Nope, never.

[Jason Bernstein]

So Tre Jones, day to day with an ankle. Isaac Okoro, day to day with his back. Jalen Smith, day to day with his knee. Kevin Herder with a hamstring is going to be out for a while before he's reevaluated.

[Dan Bernstein]

And that, that's, that's that he's so under. We've talked about this. He's so underappreciated for this team and really any team that he's on, if he's playing like this. If you remember when the Kings had that one year, I think it was 2023, with De' Aaron Fox and demonic Sabonis, where when they started the light the beam thing and he was just, he was just, he was just on one and he kind of cooled off. And since he's been playing with the Bulls, he's been good and they, they miss him a lot when he's hurt.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, he often sets the tone for effort and his lack of athleticism is more than made up for by his ability to just.

[Dan Bernstein]

I wouldn't say he's unathletic, though. It's not like he can't move. It's not like Vuch, where it's just. He can't.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, he can move okay, but he's not a great leaper. But he's strong. And his ability to always be moving and always be working does set an example. He is a tone setter and so is Tre Jones. You know, missing him is just enormous. And looking at how in between everybody is and looking at each other as if nobody Knows what anyone else is doing to see them kicking the ball all over the place. And they're. They've had to extend into their two way players the fact that Emmanuel Miller and Lachlan Ulbricht are getting run. And it isn't just, hey.

[Dan Bernstein]

What? Bum fest. I know you love it and look, fave. Ooh, my bum fest.

[Jason Bernstein]

My favorite. Can I say never lose that. Never ever lose your ability to appreciate bad NBA basketball.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, it's awesome. I don't even want to say bad NBA basketball because I prefer good NBA basketball. I know you do, and I'll get to this in a second, but I love bad or bad NBA players and bad kickers in the NFL. You know, it's just my thing.

[Jason Bernstein]

But you do you have like a halfway house for failed kickers like before, before they go onto the caravan that makes its rounds of all the Tuesday tryouts, they have to come to you for like this giant stamp of certification.

[Dan Bernstein]

Philip Rivers is back. I don't know if you saw that, but I did. The thing that I was going to say was it was last week on Thursday and I went to 15 bucks. Went to the SAT in the club level, went to the Pelicans Timberwolves game.

[Jason Bernstein]

15 bucks. That's an expensive ticket for you. Yeah, usually it's been like five.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think part of it is because it's Anthony Edwards potentially and he didn't play very well, but God, the way he moves. Just different, just different. But even watching those two teams play an injury riddled Pelicans team, I like the way they look under James Borrego. They play fun basketball and I know they're not in a great position. And the Timberwolves are obviously a team that I'm not expecting them to win in the west because the OKC Thunder are way too good at every. It's not fair.

[Jason Bernstein]

Have you seen some of the defensive metrics?

[Dan Bernstein]

That's not what I'm. That's not what I'm really getting at here.

[Jason Bernstein]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just the fact that that basketball game is so much more watchable and interesting than any of the Bulls games I've seen as of late. It's remarkable.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, part of it is that the Bulls have had this tendency in this stretch, what was supposed to be the get right stretch, looking at the look of the winning percentage of the teams that are coming up in their schedule and the other teams are looking at the Bulls like these guys ain't shit. And the Bulls, they start slowly, they end up having to work their way back after trailing the first quarter by like 12 points and they fight and they fight and they fight and they get it in single digits at halftime and then they make their last little run somewhere. They work and they work and they work and they get some adorable little hard working bucket and a foul and then the other team goes doo doo doo to do three pointer, three pointer ball game and they're at 16 and then it's 20 and it's over and all these games have like it.

[Dan Bernstein]

So you're saying it's a, it's a bunch of Ryan Archidiakanos out there. Five Archidia.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well not, it's not quite like that but they're really down into some of their, their, their low level roster and it's too bad. And then a senge gets hurt. You know, then like maybe if it's a lost season, you're retrading guys away. You think okay, developmental time for this child that they drafted 13th. Did you see was drafted 12th?

[Dan Bernstein]

He was drafted and saying it was drafted 12th.

[Jason Bernstein]

What did he see was 11 or 13th?

[Dan Bernstein]

Derek Queen.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. And Derek Queen had a. I'm still.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not a fan of his game.

[Jason Bernstein]

I know you're not but it's hard. Hard to argue with a 30 point triple double.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. I mean and four blocks. That's what I was confused by was the fact that he got four blocks. Mm. I think part of it with that could be DeAndre. I still can't believe DeAndre Jordan is on the Pelicans. But there are. He's. He's there to coach. That's all he's doing. If you see the way he treats fears and Queen and I love Jeremiah Fierce by the way.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

A lot of people seeing him in person, he, he was running around some of the guys on the Timberwolves and even, even guys like Terence Shannon Jr. On Minnesota who you kind of forgot about what the 20 late first round pick in a bad draft even he's explosive in making plays. And you get nothing from the Bulls.

[Jason Bernstein]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's no high flying athleticism. There's no rim protection and if they're not making threes, they can't, they can't defend a traffic cone. It's really not good.

[Jason Bernstein]

And even the stuff that they would had been counting on last year from Nikola Vucevic being able to hit from the post or mid range. He's been terrible around the basket, missing bunnies, missing those little half traded them.

[Dan Bernstein]

After the six month.

[Jason Bernstein]

Aha. So you beat me to one of my bullet points here as I think they Missed the boat on Vuch. The. The larger question is if this thing is over and Friday night against Charlotte, like you've, you're, you have time to practice now. You have time for some guys to get healthy, you have time to practice, you've got time in your own bed, you've got time to look in the mirror and reevaluate how you're going about your job as a professional. But this becomes a really big game to just prove that they can win something, something against Charlotte. But Vuch said it, Vuch said it after the Washington win when he had to bail him out at the end. And Portland, same thing that say, look, we can't do this. We've got to play harder. We can't have these 20 point leads that get whittled away. And it was all, everything was an omen. All that stuff was foreshadowing.

[Dan Bernstein]

And also I think it's worth mentioning that in that stretch where they were winning games at the beginning of the year, opponents were shooting horribly, especially from three.

[Jason Bernstein]

And we noted that. Yeah, that's not sustainable either.

[Dan Bernstein]

Exactly. And that's. And it's not to say that during those games they were terrible defensively. They've certainly worked, looked worse since then. And I do think part of that could be that Tre Jones is hurt. Kobe White being back, I think makes them worse defensively as much. I, I think Kobe White's very important. And if they are going to make any trades and if they really want to get a superstar, if they really do, I think I might have shifted my Anthony Davis thing a little bit after what's going on this week. But I still think you hold on to Kobe. Shit, he has an expiring contract. Like, What do you do?

[Jason Bernstein]

Okay, well, I'm glad you mentioned those words, expiring contract, because they have a lot of them. Here are your list of Bulls in the final year of their deals. Okay. Nicola Vucevich, Zach Collins, Kevin Herder, Kobe White, IO Dasumu, Javon Carter and Dale and Terry.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. I don't think Javon, Carter and Dale and Terry are really those two. Look, if you can shoot, you think people are going to trade a second rounder for him?

[Jason Bernstein]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Exactly. And that's the second round.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, probably not.

[Dan Bernstein]

So maybe Dale and Terry. I guess somebody might give up a second for Dale and Terry to say, look, he's a, he's a long, athletic wing that works hard, willing defender, good defender, good locker room guy. That's really not something you want to hear as a player like One of the first things someone brings up about you. Good locker room guy, but.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah, especially when you're young.

[Dan Bernstein]

Exactly. It's one thing if you're old, because Dalen is something there that a team might say, like maybe Miami, who's playing really well, and they can look at somebody say, look, we think we can get something out of him.

[Jason Bernstein]

I'm just not sure.

[Dan Bernstein]

Maybe you offload everyone and people are saying, oh, keep IO he's really important to the team. Why?

[Jason Bernstein]

He's a guy you could.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think there's a chance with that. I know it's expiring right now. He's not making a lot of money. See if you can get a first out of him.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, he's important. It's already a ridiculous win to have a second round pick play his way into the second deal. And if somehow that could turn into a first and you're. And you bank that increase in value and that's. That's.

[Dan Bernstein]

Also.

[Jason Bernstein]

Keep that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Keep it. Keep that second round pick thing in the back of your mind for later.

[Jason Bernstein]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, I'm just saying for later in this episode.

[Jason Bernstein]

Ooh. But that's. That's kudos to your developmental people there. I'm a little worried how. I'm worried about how Kobe White looks. He's back to being that. Either too fast or not fast enough, kind of in between. I think you've got a lot of guys trying to do too much right now because of the injuries, and Josh Giddey is being asked to do just about everything. And statistically he is doing everything except block anybody out.

[Dan Bernstein]

But the thing is that you can't. I know he's 6, 8, but you can't expect that from a guard to be the guy that gets the most rebounds for you.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, it should. It's a bad sign.

[Dan Bernstein]

Exactly. That's what I'm saying. If he's. The fact that he can't block anybody out, nobody else is helping him. And that's the. He and Modest and I guess by default A Senge are really the only guys on this roster where I'm saying keep them and see what happens. And what. Who would you trade?

[Jason Bernstein]

I don't think Modest is untouchable. No, no. He's. Just because he's a really good player on the Bulls, it doesn't mean that I'm young. Yeah. He is talented young and he works hard.

[Dan Bernstein]

Great.

[Jason Bernstein]

I will. I'm open to anything about anybody right now because I.

[Dan Bernstein]

You just signed him, though.

[Jason Bernstein]

I know, but he's really good at Office. Yeah, he does need the right people around him. He's got to be. They don't have any of the right people around him.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know, and that's what I think. AK was saying this. I believe it was AK But I saw a report or something that the Bulls want to find the Pascal Siakam to their Tyrese Halliburton and Halliburton and Giddy, I think are very different players and I think that Giddy might be. Halliburton's a great playmaker, don't get me wrong, but Giddy does some stuff that I don't. Playmaker.

[Jason Bernstein]

Are they saying that Boozelis is the Siakam?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, no, no, no, no. They want to find one is what they said.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, yeah, yeah, but even Siakam wasn't Siakam. They didn't find him. They developed him.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, the Pacers did. The Pacers did not develop Pascal Siakam.

[Jason Bernstein]

The Raptors did. That's what I mean.

[Dan Bernstein]

But the Pacers traded for him. So that doesn't. So that argument that you're making is no validity about development.

[Jason Bernstein]

My point is that development of your own guys matters to this model.

[Dan Bernstein]

How many times. The thing is that if they want the Pacers model, then you can't really have that because Giddy was a trade. Halliburton was a trade. Siakam was a trade. Okay, fine. You trade for that Siakam, right?

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, maybe. I just. I'm trying to figure out who's going to want what and why. Are you going to trade some teams to their trade some players on expiring deals to bottom feeders who just need cap space and they're just say, you know what, it's. I'll give up minimal assets just because we need to have this coming off our cap. Or are you trading guys because they're really going to help a contender? What contender wants Vucc Vic? Why do they want a below the rim big who doesn't defend and struggles in ball screen situations? You know, Zach Collins might have some value, but he's got to get his game back together. Kevin Herder might have some value. Kobe White for sure. Now that could be the guy who somebody would come calling for, you know, I.O. yeah, sure. But not enough to change your trajectory as a franchise, I guess.

[Dan Bernstein]

Kobe. Yeah, it is a good. That is a good point because Kobe was drafted in 2019. He's been here for quite a while.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

And they haven't been close. I'm not going to call that one season with Demar And Zach, that in Lonzo, that first remarkable year, remarkable half to the year, I'm not going to call that close to anything. I'm not going to call it close to a title because they were never. DeMar DeRozan just had a historic season, and that's that. But all in the. Kobe's never been on a Bulls team that's ever close to doing anything special in the playoffs, and this season is no different. So I guess I get. Maybe I'll trace my words back and say that, you know what? If you get the right offer, take it. And something that I sent you something as well. The Pelicans said they're open trading everybody. And I know I talk about the Pelicans a lot on this podcast. If you hate it, I'm sorry. Yeah, whatever. I watch a lot of the games because I live in New Orleans. Nine months out of the year. Eight months out of the year.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, they also have a lot of young talent.

[Dan Bernstein]

They said they're willing to listen to trade offers for Trey Murphy and Zion Williamson. So that means everybody on their roster right now, with the exception Dejounte Murray because he's recovering from an Achilles injury, is available. Okay. Trey Murphy's a dog.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I know that Zion's hurt all the time, and he's a huge question mark. I'm a little concerned about that. But, like, you can't deny his talent.

[Jason Bernstein]

I can't trade for Zion Williamson.

[Dan Bernstein]

Would you give. Would you include. Kobe wanted a package for Trey Murphy?

[Jason Bernstein]

I'd consider it. I don't. I don't know that it would just be that. But I like Trey Murphy a lot. The other guy is your dude, Matkovich, that no one's ever heard of. And you have been banging the drum for this guy. What's his first name?

[Dan Bernstein]

Carlo. Carlo. Another one of these. One of these Croatian dudes. But the things that he. He doesn't. You can see in the way he moves and kind of calculates things. It's very Euro. But the way he just goes his. I don't want to fall back on any stereotypes, but the way he jumps is not very Euro.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, I get it.

[Dan Bernstein]

He can get up there, man, and the Bulls need that. He's also so willing. That's another thing. He doesn't just stand there on defense and let things happen. Even if somebody goes over him, somebody posterizes him or somebody goes around him, he's trying to make a play, and you see guys like Vuch, even if he tries, it doesn't look like it. You Know, like he's so bad at defense that they'll just go right around him or over him or through his legs at this point. I mean, I love. I don't think it would take a lot to get him because that, that roster is so stacked right now with young talent and especially young bigs. With the draft pick of Derek Queen, Eve Mece is still there and that's another guy that I would look at. Like Makovic is right there in Zion. I guess he's a big.

[Jason Bernstein]

So like Carlo Matkovic is listed at 6, 10, 231 play plays bigger than.

[Dan Bernstein]

610 because of his vertical.

[Jason Bernstein]

He is from Bosnia and Herzegovina, second round pick, 52nd overall in 2022.

[Dan Bernstein]

He was just a Euro stash guy that came out of nowhere last year.

[Jason Bernstein]

With all of the games that I've been watching, I have noticed it's been fun to watch. The games have not been fun. But I will say this.

[Dan Bernstein]

When the Bulls are games or the.

[Jason Bernstein]

Bulls games, the Bulls games. When the Bulls are bad, I think it's when Stacy King is at his best because he has to be realistic. Yeah, I think he's at his best when it's not all catchphrases and silly because he's good at the catchphrases and the silly and I know people love that. But when he is forced to really start to do some. Like he and Adam Amina had some great basketball talk the other night when they were getting serious and they were telling truths about stuff and, and there was a. There was a moment in the recent Pacers game when J. It was Jay Huff and I had. I had another dude, you know, wait, I had given a parlay for my DBU picks. The. My bookie picks.

[Dan Bernstein]

You love talking about this way too much.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, I had given a parlay.

[Dan Bernstein]

You love tooting your own horn about the correct picks you make. Like when the Bulls played the fouls and you. You had what Alvarado, three or more assists and you got three in the.

[Jason Bernstein]

First four minutes and he ended up with like six in. In very few minutes. But I had J. Huff over one and a half blocks and he had two blocks in the first five minutes and it was. And I also had Pascal Siakam with two or more steals and he got his two steals late and there was a third prop bet that I had. Oh, it was Vuch to hit at least 13 and, and all the legs hit. So Huff was in there and I. And, and what I love about Huff, just as an aside, he is a Finesse, shot blocker. Have you noticed that he. He doesn't swat the ball. He doesn't like volleyball spike it.

[Dan Bernstein]

He.

[Jason Bernstein]

He feathers it. He will tip it as a pass. That dude is like a. A hockey goalie who has such great rebound control that he can make sure the puck rebounds to a defense. Like, he will.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hey, man, that. That I was pretty damn good in high school.

[Jason Bernstein]

I'm not talking about you, but I'm singing. But sometimes my remote control is terrible. Oh, yeah. It was not. Not your best, but it was either great or awful.

[Dan Bernstein]

There was no in between.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, the problem was you were. You were. You made so many great saves off your own shitty rebounds. It's, like, so true. Whatever the equivalent of like a Kobe assist would be or something like that. You made so many spectacular saves because you spat the rebound in the deep slot. They're like, oh, what a save. Wow, What a great save.

[Dan Bernstein]

Slowing down on a fly ball to make a diving catch for espn.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. Jim Edmonds. Yeah, but no, I mean, look, you stopped it, and then you're like, oh, I better stop it again. Stand on head. All right, let's go. So back to J. Huff. So Huff has all these blocks, and you hear Stacy go, man, he's good, too. He's another one. And then I realized, if you look at this string of rim protecting, like, everyman types, and this is. Every team has one except the players. I know, I know. This is just off the top of my head. J. Huff, Ryan Kalkbrenner.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, he's a little.

[Jason Bernstein]

I'm just saying. Donovan Clingan and a guy who's a big bad dude. Goga Bataze.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

Strong. Goga don't mess with. Now. He grew his hair out and he looks like. Like some sort of, like, medieval monster chasing people.

[Dan Bernstein]

And there. There are two guys on the nets. We haven't even talked about that game yet.

[Jason Bernstein]

That was brutal.

[Dan Bernstein]

But I like Daron Sharp a lot. He had two blocks and 30.

[Jason Bernstein]

They've got talent, too. Yeah, they've got a ton.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he's. He's a little better because he's been a starter for a while, but Nick Claxton.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, like, yes. That dude's a shop blocker. I think he's. He's a tier above those guys.

[Jason Bernstein]

I'd say Nick Clack, but still. Yeah, he's got that great second jump where he doesn't. It doesn't take him long to reload.

[Dan Bernstein]

Every team has one of these dudes.

[Jason Bernstein]

I know at least one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Most teams have four.

[Jason Bernstein]

It's the middle of the game. Stacey's like, we gotta get one of those. And like, what a giant talented white. Is that what you say? Carlo Jay Huff. I mean J. Huff, remember in college, was like Frankenstein's monster. And then all of a sudden they realize, you know, he can run. He's. He's a. He's really a smart positional defender and he's enormous. Yeah, Giant people can be really good at basketball. Who knew?

[Dan Bernstein]

And you know who else is. Who. Who else is really good at basketball that we're gonna have to deal with on Friday. There are two guys I should say on other than lamello ball because.

[Jason Bernstein]

Brandon Miller.

[Dan Bernstein]

Brandon Miller. And.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah, well.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

I told you about Knipple.

[Dan Bernstein]

You were right about Knipple. You. You called it Brandon Miller. I thought I smooth. He's that. That team is another team that just. They just farm talent. And it's not with the Bulls. It's a little bit different because the Bulls have good players like Trey Jones. Good player Zach Collins. Good player Kevin her. You know, IO. I guess now.

[Jason Bernstein]

But where is.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's the young talent where you're like, oh, okay. Like you could. You could become something young, explosive talent.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. Like other teams.

[Dan Bernstein]

Modest is the only guy right now that you could say is up there.

[Jason Bernstein]

But he doesn't look like some of these other guys. Like they don't have the. The suddenness. The Bulls are one of the least sudden teams other than Julian Phillips, who isn't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Good call.

[Jason Bernstein]

But he's not that good.

[Dan Bernstein]

I. I think. Although here, let me say this about corner three.

[Jason Bernstein]

He's got. He.

[Dan Bernstein]

He hit the.

[Jason Bernstein]

He crims that corner three.

[Dan Bernstein]

But the thing I'll say about Julian Phillips and I know if my grandma had wheels, should be a bike. If Lena had wheels. Whatever.

[Jason Bernstein]

Grandma's still dead. Grandma's not going to do anything. If grandma had wheels. She's just under the ground with wheels. Nada. Maybe. But Grandma. That's your own mother, dude. What? That's right. Nana is. Yeah, I'm saying if she had wheels. What did you say?

[Dan Bernstein]

Nana does have wheels because of that tank she has.

[Jason Bernstein]

That'd be cool. She had an actual tank. Like a Sherman tank blowing shit up. Yeah, she's Star wars thing.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, she would have a lot of fun with that.

[Jason Bernstein]

Wait, which Star wars thing?

[Dan Bernstein]

Like in Empire Strikes back with the at 80s. Yeah, but what do they say in.

[Jason Bernstein]

The Family Guy when those things show up? It's like, well, we're protected against everything. Unless the other got Giant Mechanical camels.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. They show up and start blowing everything up. And then Brian gets on one, blows up a squirrel just because he can.

[Jason Bernstein]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

But what I was going to say is that if Julian Phillips gets in weight room, he's sudden. No.

[Jason Bernstein]

We'd know it by now.

[Dan Bernstein]

Combine his suddenness with Patrick Williams body.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, you can't do that. You can take all these guys in a lab and take a trait here and a trait there and come up. If you threw all the Bulls right now into a crucible and smelted them down to their talents and rebuilt it.

[Dan Bernstein]

You might have greatest player ever.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, no. You might. You might end up with like three NBA players that are as good as some of these guys they're seeing. There's just not that much there. And. And this is the big question that we kind of been talking around. I don't know what. What more coaching can do. Like if you swapped out Billy with this group.

[Dan Bernstein]

Especially not even the hurt group for Jim Boylan.

[Jason Bernstein]

No. And you've just violated the rule there. Drink. Good.

[Dan Bernstein]

If you.

[Jason Bernstein]

If you swap out Billy for. Pick your. Whoever you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Three shots of Bailey's in this peppermint mocha. I'm kidding. I don't.

[Jason Bernstein]

There's a beverage here, man. Who is the. Would it pick your replacement level NBA coach? Maybe it's James Borrego. Whoever it is. I don't think it makes that much of a difference right now. No, I really don't. I wish I could say I thought it would but I don't think this at the moment is a coaching issue.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Right.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not like a college team where. Where it's really about coaching because they're a bunch of kids that, that where motivation is just as important as talent. Especially at the mid major level. It really is.

[Jason Bernstein]

But the motivation comes really true within. At the pro level.

[Dan Bernstein]

Exactly. And there is a motivation problem. Motivator.

[Jason Bernstein]

They are not playing hard enough. There is no question that the Bulls do have to.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know that. But they can't. But they can't ask Billy to do that. I think there's one coach in the league that may. That would possibly. One coach in the entire league that would possibly have any chance of making something happen. That would be Eric Spoelstra.

[Jason Bernstein]

And wow, that's very high praise from you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Eric Spoelstra has been one of the best coaches in the league for years. Hall of Famer.

[Jason Bernstein]

I, you know I agree he's 112.

[Dan Bernstein]

Titles been for granted. You know you have the best player of all time. On your team with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. That may or may not happen. But he's been to the finals twice after that with not great rosters.

[Jason Bernstein]

Oh, I agree.

[Dan Bernstein]

So it's like.

[Jason Bernstein]

But they've got to listen. They got to read the scouting report. And that's part of the problem is the Too often the Bull first of.

[Dan Bernstein]

All podcast is a doom spiral.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, it's. Well, it's hard after seven losses in a row, it's hard losses to teams. Let's say it, and I have said.

[Dan Bernstein]

It before.

[Jason Bernstein]

At the moment, the Bulls right now are the worst team in the NBA.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, you've texted me this probably, yes, nine times or something.

[Jason Bernstein]

At the moment, the Bulls are the worst team in the NBA. But. So they're going to do this. Would they have to do this week before Friday, get healthy.

[Dan Bernstein]

That being a losing machine.

[Jason Bernstein]

Have some real, have some real practices.

[Dan Bernstein]

Practice machine.

[Jason Bernstein]

We're doomed. So there are a lot of people say fire Billy. We're so screwed.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're. I'm just gonna, you know what? I'm just gonna say it. I don't know if I'm allowed to say it. This team is fucked.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. I mean, do you tank?

[Dan Bernstein]

Do you make trades just to make trades?

[Jason Bernstein]

No, they're not tanking.

[Dan Bernstein]

What if, what if they trade and they win and try to win or try to lose? You trade for a bunch of. You trade for column you never.

[Jason Bernstein]

Tanking doesn't mean trying that the individual players themselves take the court trying to lose that. That's not what tanking is.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

It's that you understand that the roster you put on the floor just doesn't have as good a chance of winning as one would otherwise have because you're trying to be in the lottery or you're trying to. You've got a plan. I, I, the plan this year was.

[Dan Bernstein]

A portal in the NBA just for the Bulls. So we can just ship everyone off and get all these young dudes.

[Jason Bernstein]

There is a transfer portal and it's called making intelligent, visionary trades that end up helping you down the road because you've cared about draft assets and this team just hasn't valued draft capital enough to make that difference.

[Dan Bernstein]

Something I also want to mention is the Nuggets really didn't take off until AK left. Right.

[Jason Bernstein]

Because he was involved in acquiring a lot of the players who mattered there.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I mean, yes, yes, I understand. He drafted Kola Jokic. He didn't nobody expect. I'm sorry, AK with all due respect, I'm sure You saw something in him and you thought he could turn into something you did not expect him to be arguably the greatest offensive player in NBA history.

[Jason Bernstein]

No. And he's. He's in his prime still like that. That, that's the thing.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's. He's an all time great already. I. Oh, yeah. I genuinely think he might go down as the greatest big man to ever play. And you know people are going to say, oh, no, it's Kareem. Don't love Kareem. Oh, it's Shaq. He was so dominant. You can't tell me Jokic is not the most dominant player in the NBA right now.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, he. He does everything. Some of these passes.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's the one dude that could stop Thunder because he's that good.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, but the way they're defending, I don't know what you do with them. They're not.

[Dan Bernstein]

And how many first round picks do they have?

[Jason Bernstein]

All of them. They got all of them. Fine, trade.

[Dan Bernstein]

Trade Kevin Herder to the Thunder and get a. For like, trade everyone to the Thunder.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, it's. We're not there yet. We're not at sort of throw in the towel point threshold yet for the Bulls.

[Dan Bernstein]

If they lose Friday, they damn near might.

[Jason Bernstein]

We're getting damn close. We're getting way too close to this already being a lost year after starting 6 and 1. And it just, it's too bad because I. Yes, it was fun.

[Dan Bernstein]

God, those first seven games were fun.

[Jason Bernstein]

It wasn't just fun that they, they played well together together and that we were just finding out, oh, gee, Trey Jones, who, who knew he was this good?

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, and Kobe White still hasn't come back and.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah, wait till Zach Collins comes back and look what he's going to be able to do. And he'll provide some of the rim protection and it'll take the pressure off of Vuchi and Patrick Williams coming off the bench will find his aggressiveness again and it's all just.

[Dan Bernstein]

Also, Coro does matter a lot defensively is something I'm realizing. He matters a lot.

[Jason Bernstein]

It's more than an individual, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know it really.

[Jason Bernstein]

Just box out, find a body, do something. Do something physically. Take just the pride. And when I heard Billy talk about it has to do with the sacrifice. And I know NBA players shouldn't have to hear this, but when you play as hard as you can and do what you're supposed to do, it helps you and it helps everybody around you. You're putting this on film. You are putting this on. Why are you holding up Your Javante Green jersey. Just sad he's not here. No, he's on a real team.

[Dan Bernstein]

We need athleticism. We need suddenness.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah, but that's. But that's Julian Phillips. That only goes so far because he's so grabby with his hands and so foully. He's always. He's always fouling people. Javante Green, he's not coming back. And even if he did, they're too far gone for that. There's just too much has happened. This. This has been a stunning. And. And I'll show you a dude across the board collapse. What are you doing now? Another problem. What are you doing now? Well, that's. Nobody knew that. Oh, just let the record. If you're listening on the pod and not watching on YouTube, I held up.

[Dan Bernstein]

A Javante Green jersey and a Kate Cunningham jersey to show that. To show my pain for the Bulls. Losing Javante Green. I shouldn't say losing Javante Green because it's not like he would have won them a title unless he would because he's the greatest player of all time. However, Cade Cunningham is a dude that could win the Pistons a title because that team is nice.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yep. Yep. We knew it. That's when you saw young people. They're no good, but they've got young talent.

[Dan Bernstein]

Houston.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. Portland. Right now, the Brooklyn. The Wizards have dudes. How many guys do we see?

[Dan Bernstein]

New Orleans. Ish. If they're healthy, like, who are the dudes?

[Jason Bernstein]

Hold on.

[Dan Bernstein]

Would you rather be the Pelicans or the Bulls right now?

[Jason Bernstein]

Pelicans.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's how bad it's gotten. For the record, that's how bad it's gotten because the Pelicans traded away their first round pick for next year to trade up for Derrick Queen. He's been balling out, don't get me wrong. But the thing is that next year's draft, when you have three guys that would have gone number one in any draft ever. Not any draft ever. I'm sorry. Any draft within the last few years with the exception of Cooper, Flag and Vick, you know, like, that kind of sucks. And yet you would still rather be the Pelicans than the Chicago Bulls.

[Jason Bernstein]

I think I would. I think I would. There's just. There's more pieces there. I don't. I can't identify the pieces here when they're. When they're all together and they're making moves too.

[Dan Bernstein]

They fired their head coach. You know, they're doing. And I'm not saying the Bulls should fire Billy Donovan, but if he's completely lost the locker room. I don't think that's too far out of sight, out of mind here. They're doing things, you know, and they're willing to look at their roster and say, huh, what can we do to get better? And that's what every team in the league has done. I, I haven't seen any of that from the Bulls in the past four years.

[Jason Bernstein]

No. And recently the problem too is the leadership's got to come from the players. It's got to come from inside the locker room. And that's why we highlighted the Nicola Vucevic post game rant.

[Dan Bernstein]

I was going to say, but the thing is that you can't be a leader and suck that much ass on defense.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, but nobody listened to him. Nobody paid any attention. Just smile, bro. That's what. Yeah, have fun, be happy. No, listen to what he's saying. That's a proud guy. That's, that's an all star. That's, that's a, that's a 35 year old professional player.

[Dan Bernstein]

Crap on him. But he's had a hell of a career.

[Jason Bernstein]

He's been, yeah, look at the double doubles that dude has put up.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, you remember him in Orlando, like.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yes, I remember how excited I was when they traded for him.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

I remember my reaction when they traded like, that's, that's a guy that used to kill them. And you're like, oh, that's a player. Look at him. And he's still going at 35. And no one listened to him. So the, their, the latest reporting has been that whatever internal issues there have been about effort and who's boxing out and who's guarding and who's not and who's pointing at somebody saying, that was your guy. Why am I guarding your guy? Is that Kobe? It's fallen on Kobe White now to be in charge of, of policing and refereeing some of this stuff. And if I'm Vuch, I don't blame him. I don't blame him. It's like, don't look at me. I told you everything.

[Dan Bernstein]

You remember when? Because in that game, this was after the Wizards game, when he said all that stuff like, stop it. We need to, we need to stop screwing around here. And he was, he was hurt. He was on the bench. This against New Orleans, a game I remember it was like the day I got home for Thanksgiving break expecting to win. They got boat raced and they showed Vuch a couple of times, kind of.

[Jason Bernstein]

Sitting there like, yes, I pointed.

[Dan Bernstein]

They're like, okay. He was like, Nice sitting there. It wasn't one of those things like oh come on guys. It was. I told you. He's like I warned you. I warned you idiots.

[Jason Bernstein]

It's a shame too because. And watch him end up on a contender that knows how to. How to minimize his deficiencies and maximize what he still does. Well, I. I wish him the best. Maybe. Maybe he's. He can tell what team would.

[Dan Bernstein]

What. Tell me what a team that he could go to where he's an. He's on an expiring contract. So do you think he would be willing to come off the. Come off the bench for half a season to win?

[Jason Bernstein]

I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do you think he's selfless enough? I wouldn't be surprised.

[Jason Bernstein]

I don't know. If he were a second unit I.

[Dan Bernstein]

Don'T think they'd trade him in division but like Detroit could. You know that. I don't think they would too. Too young for that. You think?

[Jason Bernstein]

I don't know. Like last year we were thinking you would have to go to a place that had another big. Next to a rim protector. Because he could be pretty good if he's next to a rim protector. You know what he'd be really good at?

[Dan Bernstein]

Louisiana. LA Lakers. Is that what you're going to say?

[Jason Bernstein]

That. That's one.

[Dan Bernstein]

Because Ayton's there, I think. Yeah. Jackson Hayes is still there and you know some. Two guys named Luke Doncic and LeBron James. God, LeBron is still doing it. You saw that thing with his 10 point streak ended the other night and he made. And he did it for. I watched.

[Jason Bernstein]

He was out there chucking it up around, you know, he was trying to.

[Dan Bernstein]

But he made the pass for the game winner. And I just want to mention I watched a video by Jimmy High Roller. Love him on YouTube. YouTube. And he talked about how unbreakable that streak is. J.J. redick, when that streak started, J.J. redick was eight games into his NBA career. Really? Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

Damn. Damn. That's. That's insane.

[Dan Bernstein]

And people say oh, 10 points is 10 points. If somebody averages 10 points for in a season, granted it's LeBron James, but if somebody averages 10 points in a season, that'll get him paid, you know.

[Jason Bernstein]

Sure. Like that's not nothing.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's 10 points.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like he. He's turned that streak in. 07. Wow.

[Jason Bernstein]

And you were three.

[Dan Bernstein]

Two or three. If it was anytime before Christmas of 07. I was two years.

[Jason Bernstein]

I was joking about you today because last night I was watching. Did you watch any of the Monsters Inc Monday Night Football broadcast.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, my God, like, the double turnover thing.

[Jason Bernstein]

Did you. But did you watch any of the Monsters, Inc.

[Dan Bernstein]

I saw some of the clips.

[Jason Bernstein]

Okay, Well, I was watching it from the start just to see what they were doing, because I know they had Billy Crystal. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

But Sully had a career performance on.

[Jason Bernstein]

Defense, which some of it was just hysterical. And I just kept thinking about you.

[Dan Bernstein]

How old are you?

[Jason Bernstein]

I have a picture. Sully, were you three?

[Dan Bernstein]

I think I was younger.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, I think you were three. Do you have.

[Dan Bernstein]

I remember my first. What you guys said was, I was a monkey with. And there was a stuffed banana attached to the hand, and I was trying to.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yes, you spent the entire. You were teething, and you were dressed as a monkey, and the costume had a. Like, a stuffed banana sewed onto the hand so you couldn't drop it, and you spent the entire time with a banana jammed in your mouth. I think we had to, like, throw out the pause. It was so gross. No pause. Wait, do you have the picture?

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm trying to find it. Not a third monkey.

[Jason Bernstein]

One. You had some great Halloween costumes, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, man. My. My. Rocky one was.

[Jason Bernstein]

Rocky was great. Indiana Jones was. Was great.

[Dan Bernstein]

I was definitely Groucho Marx.

[Jason Bernstein]

I think you were the only Groucho Marx one year. Don't you remember? Oh, the grease paint mustache. And you had the.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Bart Simpson one year.

[Jason Bernstein]

And the cigar.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

That's what I tried to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, I do remember the Groucho Marx one.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You had a lot of questions.

[Dan Bernstein]

Here it is. Here it is.

[Jason Bernstein]

Let me see. I'll hold it up.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's with Katie Mateo. Wait, you can't really see it. Focus. Come on.

[Jason Bernstein]

Oh, I got it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, you can kind of tell. There we go. Good enough.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. Oh.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh.

[Jason Bernstein]

Now you're gonna be 21. Yeah, I can't imagine what's gonna happen on that night. Just don't be an idiot.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's Christmas. I can't.

[Jason Bernstein]

Did you storm the field, by the way? When Tulane Morgue.

[Dan Bernstein]

Of course I did.

[Jason Bernstein]

Okay. I don't know, because we were from that name.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'll be honest.

[Jason Bernstein]

Did mom tell you what we were doing when we saw the kids coming out of the. Out of the stands?

[Dan Bernstein]

What?

[Jason Bernstein]

Okay, so it's on live on abc.

[Dan Bernstein]

This is not esp.

[Jason Bernstein]

This is live on abc. And we look over, they show the student section, and they show all you idiots jumping out of the stands, and then they're going down. And it was chaos on the field for all the posts.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

So we're all like, oh, no, don't have. Please don't show Jason in the background. So many kids were in the background just clowning.

[Dan Bernstein]

Everybody was sober.

[Jason Bernstein]

I know, but we're like, don't be Jason. Please don't show Jason. Please don't let one of these.

[Dan Bernstein]

Was that on tv?

[Jason Bernstein]

No, thank God. But enough people there look like you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, my God. Everybody looks like me. I know.

[Jason Bernstein]

I know. Everybody's got the same hair and the big nose, and everybody.

[Dan Bernstein]

Everybody's a Jewish kid from Chicago. Chicago. Whose last name is Bernstein. It's. It's.

[Jason Bernstein]

I know. There's two Bernsteins on the baseball team.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, my God. There are so many Bernsteins at this school.

[Jason Bernstein]

I was just. I was dying because first they show everything emptying out of the stands, and I'm like, here it comes. The running of the Jews. Here they come. Watch them all. It's the deer. They come watch all the drunk. All the drunk Jews. And. And then every time there was a. We're like, is that Jason? That's not Jason. Is that Jason? No, that's not Jason. Because everything was a double take. Because so many people look like you. So thanks. If you did something stupid that you didn't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Everybody. A bunch of people started doing snow angels in the confetti. But the thing is that they had just painted the field for the. Like, the logo. Oh.

[Jason Bernstein]

So they all got up with it.

[Dan Bernstein]

So there was so much paint on my right hand. Just right here.

[Jason Bernstein]

Wait, you were doing confetti angels?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, I was. Okay, great.

[Jason Bernstein]

Look for the sports editor. School paper. Well, as long as I had a busy weekend covering that, man, I bet you did.

[Dan Bernstein]

A head coach and it.

[Jason Bernstein]

Oh, that's right. Who is the. Who's the new head coach?

[Dan Bernstein]

Will Hall. God, he's such a Southern football guy.

[Jason Bernstein]

Will Hall. Oh, where's he from?

[Dan Bernstein]

Mississippi.

[Jason Bernstein]

Oh, he's from Mississippi. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

He was the player's choice. That's why they hired him. The players.

[Jason Bernstein]

Half those players will be gone. Half the players are going to the transfer portal.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's my. That was my first thought.

[Jason Bernstein]

Why does it matter?

[Dan Bernstein]

Although there were a lot of. There were a lot of players at the press conference.

[Jason Bernstein]

All right, fine. That's enough.

[Dan Bernstein]

Let's.

[Jason Bernstein]

Let's go. Let's get to the showdown.

[Dan Bernstein]

We're so tired of the Bulls. This is what we're talking about.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, it's time for the showdown. I know that much. All right, there's that. There's it. I did the music now. I just. I saw this, and I was I did this sort of backwards because I just saw this cool bit of information and I tried to sort of make a question out of it. All right, so there's been something. There's several great pieces of trivia that come from this item, but I will tell you that recently in the NBA we had a player who became only the third player ever to have two career games that fit this criteria.

[Dan Bernstein]

Only player ever to have two career.

[Jason Bernstein]

Okay, he's the third.

[Dan Bernstein]

Third. Okay, the third.

[Jason Bernstein]

A current player who.

[Dan Bernstein]

Last current player.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, no, no, no. There's one. Sorry. One current player who became the third ever NBA player to have two or more games of 50 points on the road while shooting 75% or better.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, my immediate guess is going to go to Jokic.

[Jason Bernstein]

Now, Jokic has done it, but he's only done it once.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Jason Bernstein]

He did it this year. He did it on November 12th.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm going to go with. I'm going to go with guys.

[Jason Bernstein]

And I would say Luca Luka did it last year.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Once.

[Jason Bernstein]

Luca did it.

[Dan Bernstein]

January 26th of last year's guess is going to be LeBron, but I don't think it is.

[Jason Bernstein]

He's never done it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wow. I'm going to say James Harden.

[Jason Bernstein]

He's never done it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wow.

[Jason Bernstein]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. Because I would have thought there would be enough times where he would just get fouled so many times and be above 75%.

[Jason Bernstein]

Right. And then he. Then he only took, like six other.

[Dan Bernstein]

Shots from the field or whatever. It's not going to be Shay.

[Jason Bernstein]

I'm exaggerating.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not gonna be Shay. It's gotta be an all time great, right?

[Jason Bernstein]

No, it's an all time very good.

[Dan Bernstein]

Really.

[Jason Bernstein]

But I don't think. I don't think an all time. But he's. And he's done it twice. He did it. This guy did it on February 19th of 2021.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Jason Bernstein]

And he did it just this December 3rd.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm trying to think, guys that scored 50 plus recently, kind of blank in here, but you said hall of. Very good. So it's not going to be Giannis. It's not going to be.

[Jason Bernstein]

No. Giannis has done it. Giannis did it. Giannis did it in November of 2020. But you're saying he did it once.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's pretty too young to be Wemby, right? I don't even think.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah, Wemby's too young.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not gonna be. I mean, definitely not Durant, because he's an all time great. Has he made an All Star team?

[Jason Bernstein]

I believe so.

[Dan Bernstein]

But it's not like a surefire, you.

[Jason Bernstein]

Know, there's been so much stats guardian I would have to look. Let me just make sure I have his career numbers.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is he a guard?

[Jason Bernstein]

He is. He is. Six, four, 2:15.

[Dan Bernstein]

2:15.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's not Edwards. It's not. Oh, is it Devin Booker?

[Jason Bernstein]

It is not.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, I thought. Okay.

[Jason Bernstein]

You know, I don't think he's. I don't think he's ever made an all star team. He hasn't.

[Dan Bernstein]

What?

[Jason Bernstein]

He has not made an all star team. This guy McCollum, even though he's had multiple years averaging 20 points a game, McCollum 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 in a row. He's ever. No, it's not.

[Dan Bernstein]

McCollum never made an all star team. What?

[Jason Bernstein]

Not according to this. Not according to basketball reference.

[Dan Bernstein]

When. When was he draft or tell me the year he came in the league.

[Jason Bernstein]

2016. He's got ring. He's got a ring. I mean, said he's six, four. Yeah. And he has done this twice. He said two 50 point games on the road while shooting more than 75% for the field.

[Dan Bernstein]

Never made an all star game. He came in the league in 2016. So that's 2016, 2017.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. He was fifth in rookie of the year voting. It's the only thing listed under awards.

[Dan Bernstein]

There's no way this is d' Angelo Russell. Correct.

[Jason Bernstein]

It's not.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I think he was an All Star, so fifth in 2017. So that's the draft with. So that's Ben Simmons. Brandon Ingram. Jalen Brown. He's an All Star. Jalen Brown, All Star. Porzingis was the year before.

[Jason Bernstein]

All right, I'm gonna, I'm gonna give it to you.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, no. Is he a Euro guy?

[Jason Bernstein]

He was not born in the United States, but he's not European.

[Dan Bernstein]

Asian?

[Jason Bernstein]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

African?

[Jason Bernstein]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Canadian.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yes, he's Canadian.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, now I. Now, now I should get it. I mean, it's not R.J. barrett. He came to the league in 2019.

[Jason Bernstein]

Correct.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dylan. It's not Dylan Brooks, obviously. No. Oh, wow. Oh, I knew this guy never made an All Star game because Jamal Murray. All right.

[Jason Bernstein]

Jamal Murray has done it twice now. Here's another little bit of Triv from this.

[Dan Bernstein]

Wow.

[Jason Bernstein]

This is what's incredible. When Jamal Murray did this a second time, or shall I taunt you a second time?

[Dan Bernstein]

Shut up.

[Jason Bernstein]

He has joined two teammates this year because not only did Jokic do it this year, so did Aaron Gordon.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

Three players from Denver. October 23rd was, was Gordon. November 12th was Jokic, and December 3rd was Murray. All three of them this year have done it. Now, the other guys, I. I have.

[Dan Bernstein]

A reaction to that. Pretty good.

[Jason Bernstein]

Pretty good. The other guys. The other guys who've done it, who you haven't mentioned, Kyrie Irving did it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Jason Bernstein]

And then when, before Murray did it in 2021, it was 32 years. It had taken 32 years for it to happen again.

[Dan Bernstein]

32 years. So that's 1989.

[Jason Bernstein]

In 89, the only other. There was another guy who did it once in Karl Malone.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Jason Bernstein]

And on the remainder of the list, there's one guy who did it twice. One guy who did it three times and kind of an obscure name. Who did it once in 1981. Not really. Not obscure if you're me. It'd be maybe obscure if you were you.

[Dan Bernstein]

Jesus Christ. All right, I'm going to guess Jordan.

[Jason Bernstein]

Jordan. Jordan did it twice in 88, his MVP season.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right. And I'm trying to think of scores, but you said. And you said 89. That was. That was Jordan.

[Jason Bernstein]

Jordan did it twice in 88. And then there was three in 1967 and one in 1981.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, Wilt.

[Jason Bernstein]

Wilt. Good guess.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes, I. I think that's pretty.

[Jason Bernstein]

And you're never gonna. 1981. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

All Star.

[Jason Bernstein]

Oh, yeah. Hall of Famer, but not Walton. No, he's not. He's a guy who you always remember saying, oh, yeah, great, great player. But he was never a. Like a marquee kind of great player. He was a guy who just. By the time you looked at his.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, this might sound like an obscure question. Was he ever in winning time? I'm not saying he's David Thompson or Alex English.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, I don't think he was in winning time.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm pretty sure he was. It's not. It's not.

[Jason Bernstein]

But he was a rookie in 1976 and he played to 1991.

[Dan Bernstein]

You said hall of Famer, all star guard.

[Jason Bernstein]

He was inducted in the hall of fame in 2008.

[Dan Bernstein]

Thanks for asking. Question?

[Jason Bernstein]

No. He was a 6, 5 forward.

[Dan Bernstein]

Interesting.

[Jason Bernstein]

And could be kind of a power player. He was technically a small forward, but he had a great post game. One of the great under. Maybe one of the great undersized post players of all time.

[Dan Bernstein]

White guy? No. Okay. Nate Thurman was too early.

[Jason Bernstein]

And I think to this day, this guy is a. He's a. He's a school crossing guard. Like a full time. Like works full time as a school crossing guard just because he Wants to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did he start his career in the aba?

[Jason Bernstein]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Jason Bernstein]

But he did start his career with a now defunct NBA team.

[Dan Bernstein]

Interesting. Seattle?

[Jason Bernstein]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Bullets?

[Jason Bernstein]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Buffalo braves?

[Jason Bernstein]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

Bob McInew? No.

[Jason Bernstein]

And it wasn't sweat Nader. I only go three deep. I think I can go Randy Floyd.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or world free or something.

[Jason Bernstein]

Adrian Dantley.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ah, okay. Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

Adrian Dantley, Beast.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. All right, give me your question.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, my question, it's a little more simple. Yeah, that was kind of like a hodgepodge.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah, it just had a lot of question. I looked at it. There was a lot of casserole.

[Dan Bernstein]

That was a casserole question. Yeah, I like that. Yum.

[Jason Bernstein]

For the warm and winter.

[Dan Bernstein]

God, you're so white. What?

[Jason Bernstein]

Because I like casserole.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. All right.

[Jason Bernstein]

What do you think? Like Mac and cheese at the cookout. That's a casserole.

[Dan Bernstein]

I wanted a casserole dish. I want you to name as many of the top 10 for number of 30 point games by a second round pick since 2015. So I'm not saying they did not have to be drafted after 2015. Okay. It's just since 2015, the amount of 30 point games they've had. Okay.

[Jason Bernstein]

Why did you do that? Why that? That cutoff point?

[Dan Bernstein]

Why did I clear.

[Jason Bernstein]

Why 2015?

[Dan Bernstein]

That's what. What the quiz was and just keeps it more recent. Well, Jokic number one with 154. And this might be. I don't think this is an older list, but Jokic, right from the time this thing came out. I think this might have been before the season when this came out, but it's still valid. So Jokic, 154. First.

[Jason Bernstein]

Was McCollum a second round pick?

[Dan Bernstein]

CJ McCollum was 10th overall, I believe.

[Jason Bernstein]

Oh shit.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's not a bad guess though.

[Jason Bernstein]

Was. Was Sengun a second round pick, 16th overall.

[Dan Bernstein]

I remember that.

[Jason Bernstein]

How do you know all this stuff?

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm a nerd.

[Jason Bernstein]

Oh, Brunson.

[Dan Bernstein]

Brunson's number two.

[Jason Bernstein]

All right, well, good. I got, I got. This will take me. I'd see. I just. I don't know these guys like, you know. What about Norman Powell? Yup. He is.

[Dan Bernstein]

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Ninth. Good call. Thank you. Bucket. Get it right there.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. Good. Really good player. Norman Powell since 2015. Second round picks. Yeah, I'm trying to think of. And these are 30 point.

[Dan Bernstein]

So they're.

[Jason Bernstein]

Do me a favor, give me the total number of games. How many has Jokic had?

[Dan Bernstein]

154. This is before the Start of this season. Some of these guys are retired. All right, just letting you know that now. So Jokic, 154. Brunson 78, third. There's a tie with 42 games. I thought it would be more, but only 42 games for these two guys. And then fifth, 37, six, 36. Seventh place has 38th, has 28. Ninth was Norman Powell with 26.

[Jason Bernstein]

What about Chris Middleton?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Fifth with 37. Great call. Thank you. And if you want to give it up in 10th, there's a tie between two players. It might have switched this season, I'm not sure, actually.

[Jason Bernstein]

And each of them have 20 was Duncan Robinson. He was undrafted and I don't think.

[Dan Bernstein]

He'D be on here.

[Jason Bernstein]

Are you sure?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, he was undrafted, though.

[Jason Bernstein]

Okay, what was. What is the total number for the 10th spot? How many games?

[Dan Bernstein]

20.

[Jason Bernstein]

20.

[Dan Bernstein]

So 42.

[Jason Bernstein]

That's a lot. That's a lot of 30 point games.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Jason Bernstein]

Bogdanovich.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep. Bojan Bogdanovich with 36. In sixth place.

[Jason Bernstein]

I think I'm done. I think I'm done.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right.

[Jason Bernstein]

I will count that as a win. That I got five.

[Dan Bernstein]

Pretty good.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah. Okay. Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

So tied for third with 42, you have Isaiah Thomas.

[Jason Bernstein]

Oh, I would never have gotten that.

[Dan Bernstein]

And Lou Williams.

[Jason Bernstein]

Sweet Lou Williams.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, so with 30 and then seventh, you have Jeremy Grant still going. Yep. Eighth with 28, Jordan Clarkson.

[Jason Bernstein]

Really?

[Dan Bernstein]

You can score.

[Jason Bernstein]

Yeah, I just didn't know he's had that.

[Dan Bernstein]

You got ninth with Norman Powell and then tied for 10th right now with 20. And maybe one of these guys scored over 30 this year. Not too sure. Gary Trent Jr. And Spencer Dinwiddie, former Bull.

[Jason Bernstein]

Well, that's a really good question.

[Dan Bernstein]

What's crazy is Mark Gasol didn't even crack the list.

[Jason Bernstein]

Wait, it wasn't that much of a score.

[Dan Bernstein]

No. Great player, though.

[Jason Bernstein]

That. That's a really good question. That's outstanding. Good stuff. All right, well, we're going to do this next week and it's going to get physical up in here.

[Dan Bernstein]

Unlike the Bulls.

[Jason Bernstein]

No. Yeah, no, we're going to show the Bulls how to do it because you're going to be sitting right here and.

[Dan Bernstein]

I will be like a Jordan nut tap, you know?

[Jason Bernstein]

No, thank you. Yeah, but no, it wasn't. Yeah, that's right. Jordan did it to take embedded Mutombo. Yeah. Because he was setting screens out like this. But that was a little more than the tap. That was kind of a. It wasn't like in the football game a couple weeks ago when a guy did the big bolo punch to the guy's nads.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, my God.

[Jason Bernstein]

Suspended. That was brutal. All right, we gotta. We gotta go. That's gotta do it. I gotta work out and I gotta go to the grocery store. So that's why I get.

[Dan Bernstein]

I got stuff to write.

[Jason Bernstein]

And you're coming home Friday? Yeah, I think I'm picking you up. You're coming into Midway, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, is this really a discussion for the podcast? No.

[Jason Bernstein]

No, probably not. Okay, well, that's gonna do it. Thanks to our producer, Cody Delmendo, and thanks for joining us for episode 122. And maybe when we reconvene next Tuesday, the Bulls will have righted the ship.

[Dan Bernstein]

Probably not. Damn it. Organizations win championships.

[Jason Bernstein]

A Chicago Bulls podcast with Jason and.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dan Bernstein on 312 Sports.