Bulls Get a Boost from Zach Collins' Debut, But It's Not All Good News
With the Bulls facing a depleted roster due to injuries, rookie Lachlan Olbrich and veteran Patrick Williams are shouldering the load alongside starting center Nikola Vucevic. However, backup center Zach Collins made his highly anticipated season debut on Friday night, providing much-needed size in the paint.
Collins, who was out for several weeks after suffering a left wrist injury in preseason, showed flashes of his skills but struggled with game conditioning and timing. The Bulls were down by 7 points with 5:10 left in the first quarter when Collins checked into the game, and he quickly scored on a dunk to help trim the deficit.
Despite his struggles, Collins finished with eight points and six rebounds in just 20 minutes of play, and coach Billy Donovan expressed relief that the 6-foot-11 big man was back on the court. "I think [he's] just another body with Jalen being out," Donovan said. "Rookie Lachlan Olbrich has done a nice job coming up from Windy City, but it's great to have Zach back in the mix."
However, Collins' return also raised questions about his readiness for the season and how he'll fit into the team's rotation. The Bulls' contract situation with Collins and Vucevic is also a concern, as both players are set to become unrestricted free agents in June.
In other injury news, guard Coby White returned from a strained left calf but played only 26 minutes due to limited guard minutes, while forward Isaiah Jackson played despite being out of the lineup earlier this week. The Bulls will have a rare break from games until next Friday's matchup against the Hornets, which may give their injured players some time to heal.
With the team struggling with injuries and inconsistency on offense, the Bulls' coaching staff is facing a daunting challenge in finding its footing without key players like Collins, Smith, and Dosunmu. As Donovan said, "The schedule comes when it comes," but for now, his focus remains on getting healthier and capitalizing on any positive momentum from Collins' return to the court.
With the Bulls facing a depleted roster due to injuries, rookie Lachlan Olbrich and veteran Patrick Williams are shouldering the load alongside starting center Nikola Vucevic. However, backup center Zach Collins made his highly anticipated season debut on Friday night, providing much-needed size in the paint.
Collins, who was out for several weeks after suffering a left wrist injury in preseason, showed flashes of his skills but struggled with game conditioning and timing. The Bulls were down by 7 points with 5:10 left in the first quarter when Collins checked into the game, and he quickly scored on a dunk to help trim the deficit.
Despite his struggles, Collins finished with eight points and six rebounds in just 20 minutes of play, and coach Billy Donovan expressed relief that the 6-foot-11 big man was back on the court. "I think [he's] just another body with Jalen being out," Donovan said. "Rookie Lachlan Olbrich has done a nice job coming up from Windy City, but it's great to have Zach back in the mix."
However, Collins' return also raised questions about his readiness for the season and how he'll fit into the team's rotation. The Bulls' contract situation with Collins and Vucevic is also a concern, as both players are set to become unrestricted free agents in June.
In other injury news, guard Coby White returned from a strained left calf but played only 26 minutes due to limited guard minutes, while forward Isaiah Jackson played despite being out of the lineup earlier this week. The Bulls will have a rare break from games until next Friday's matchup against the Hornets, which may give their injured players some time to heal.
With the team struggling with injuries and inconsistency on offense, the Bulls' coaching staff is facing a daunting challenge in finding its footing without key players like Collins, Smith, and Dosunmu. As Donovan said, "The schedule comes when it comes," but for now, his focus remains on getting healthier and capitalizing on any positive momentum from Collins' return to the court.
, I'm loving Zach Collins' debut but at the same time, I'm like 'wait a minute' 
... he's gotta get back up to speed quickly before it becomes a problem. His game conditioning and timing are still kinda wonky, you know? 
Like, he was down by 7 points with only 5:10 left in the first quarter and still managed to make a dunk 
... that's some highlight reel stuff 
And what about Vucevic? Their contract situation is super uncertain, which is already stressing me out 
... Coby White's back, but only played 26 minutes? 
Isaiah Jackson should've been benched for like a week after coming back from an injury 
. The Bulls are struggling to find consistency and I'm worried they'll keep losing players left and right 
. Coach Donovan needs to stay focused on getting his guys healthy and on track 
... but for now, it's all about the next game against the Hornets 
but at the same time, his return gives dem a boost 
. and omg, contract situation with collins and vucevic? 
that's a whole mess 
... 20 min play time is pretty generous tho... i feel bad for donovan trying to juggle all these injuries and player availability... it's hard to see the bulls thriving with all these players in and out 
And I'm still trying to figure out who Lachlan Olbrich is, is he like a backup plan or what? 
The Bulls are having a really tough time right now, but at least they have some fresh blood coming in, maybe that'll turn things around for them? 
Coach needs to mix and match, find what works