Ricky and Jason recap the Bulls' three games after their disastrous 43-point season-opening loss to the Raptors. The Bulls got their first win under Tiago Splitter by beating the Bucks in a comeback victory after an ugly start, with Splitter benching Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey in crunch time to help secure the win. Then came a close loss to the Wizards that saw a furious fourth-quarter comeback fall just short. The Celtics game was somewhat competitive for about two and a half quarters before Boston unleashed an avalanche on Chicago.

(16:23) - While it has been a struggle for the Bulls, Caleb Wilson has been a clear bright spot. Wilson's game against the Wizards with 30 and 14 is the headliner so far, but Ricky thinks the Celtics game was actually his best performance. Wilson showed off his versatility on both ends of the court with multiple splash plays, showing why he's arguably the Bulls' best player already. It has been interesting to see Splitter play Wilson deep into blowout games, as the head coach clearly feels the rookie needs the reps regardless of game situation.

(25:38) - While Wilson has been terrific, Buzelis and Giddey have really struggled. Giddey is apparently dealing with a left wrist injury, but that's no excuse for just how poorly he has been playing and how low the effort has been. Although he's clearly making it more of a point to be a facilitator, he needs to be more aggressive looking for his shot. The numbers across the board are ugly, and while he'll undoubtedly hit a hot streak at some point like he has in the past, it's becoming more and more clear that this roller coaster is just who Giddey is. Wilson will almost certainly need a higher level point guard next to him for the Bulls to reach the next level.

(34:44) - Buzelis' struggles have also been disappointing and rather mystifying, especially after he talked a big game in the offseason. Buzelis admitted to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times that he's still struggling to find his place in Splitter's offense alongside Wilson and Norman Powell, and there's obviously just something off right now. There's still plenty of time for him to figure things out, but is it time to smash that panic button when it comes to Buzelis' fit next to Wilson and any star equity he may have?

(45:18) - Final quick-hitter thoughts, including the pleasant surprise of Noa Essengue minutes and Dailyn Swain finally making his debut.

Interested in advertising on this podcast? Email sales@bluewirepods.com!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The first game of the Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter era was a total disaster, with the Bulls suffering a historic 43-point loss to Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors. The Bulls got sucked into a perfect storm of bad, with the Raptors presenting a uniquely difficult matchup for a young roster just learning how to play together under a new head coach.

It was a mess up and down the lineup. Caleb Wilson's debut was marred by nine turnovers and a -45 in the box score, Josh Giddey played arguably his worst game as a Bull, and Matas Buzelis didn't do anything until garbage time. The Bulls' best offense was often Norman Powell grifting, or the occasional Tre Jones drive to the basket. At least Jalen Smith was pretty good too.

The worst season-opening loss in franchise history was a harsh reminder of just how far the Bulls have to go, with Giddey and Buzelis' struggles the most disappointing. The good news is there's nowhere to go but up.

Interested in advertising on this podcast? Email sales@bluewirepods.com!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

After winning their preseason opener against the Suns, the Bulls then suffered close losses to the Grizzlies and Nuggets. Ricky and Jason go through the roster to highlight the biggest storylines from these two preseason losses.

(02:14) - Caleb Wilson has been a roller-coaster ride this preseason, but there have been plenty of exciting star flashes. After a quiet first half against the Grizzlies, Wilson exploded in the second half with a barrage of 3-pointers. He followed that up with a solid game against the Nuggets that did still feature plenty of mistakes. The Bulls are clearly giving Wilson a lot of leash to make mistakes, and there are going to be plenty of growing pains. What's the best way to handle Wilson's development?

(17:45) - Matas Buzelis missed the Grizzlies game with an injury but returned for the Nuggets game and got off to a hot start from 3-point range after missing all of his triples against the Suns. Buzelis cooled off from deep after that but still wound up having a solid overall game as he shows an ongoing determination to get to the rim. However, there are still some concerns about his handle and playmaking ability as he tries to make a major leap in Year 3.

(23:38) - Leonard Miller has arguably been the Bulls' best player in preseason, with his 26-point performance against the Nuggets really standing out. Not only was Miller everywhere as usual, he also hit four 3-pointers. Miller is making a strong case for big minutes this season off the bench and is making the Ayo Dosunmu trade look much better despite the Rob Dillinngham disaster.

(35:55) - Rookie Dailyn Swain has been a disappointment so far, and Ricky is second-guessing his positive pre-draft evaluation. While Swain has been better than he was in Summer League, that bar was so low there was nowhere to go but up. Swain just doesn't look like the same guy he was at Texas with his lack of effective slashing, and his ugly 3-point shot needs a total overhaul. Will he get a lot of time in the G League or actually get rotation minutes to start the season?

(43:26) - While Ricky is quickly souring on Swain, he's keeping more hope alive for Noa Essengue, who has seen more playing time in the last couple games. Essengue continues to struggle offensively, especially with his 3-point shot, but he did a bit more all over the court in Denver. In an intriguing move, the Bulls had Essengue pressuring the ball 94 feet, frustrating Jamal Murray on several occasions. Essengue does look ticketed for a lot of G League minutes and could wind up being a lost cause if he never develops offensively, but it's hard to give up on his size and athletic profile given he's still just so young.

(56:17) - Final quick-hitter thoughts on Patrick Williams, Jordan Hawkins, Orlando Robinson, Josh Giddey, Tre Jones' return and the Bulls' bench.

Interested in advertising on this podcast? Email sales@bluewirepods.com!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.