Addition of players don’t always mean an addition of production, as the Bulls and Billy Donovan found out in their embarrassing blowout loss to the Embiid+Simmons-less Sixers in their first game out of the All-Star break.
The extra time off meant both Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter Jr. returned from injury, giving Donovan some top options in the frontcourt. I applaud the Bulls coach for putting Lauri right back in the starting lineup. I don’t think it should be assumed, there are undoubtedly other coaches who’d say “well we beat all those turd teams in February with Garrett I’m rolling with Garrett”.