Tales from the front office

[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE FINALS (GAME 2)

Despite point guard Marcus Donovan being sidelined with an injury, the Bulls were still able to come away with a convincing fourteen point victory. What wasn't convincing was the play of Donovan's stand-in, Joe Chealey. Chealey made only his fifth start of the season and over the course of 42 minutes he was 1 of 18 from the field, 0 of 14 from three and 1 of 3 from the free throw line. Wow...that is monumentally bad basketball, but a win is a win and we'll take it. P.J. Washington was named the player of the game, with 23 points and 13 rebounds.

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           EASTERN CONFERENCE                        WESTERN CONFERENCE
        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W            Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
ORL(2)| 15 | 23 | 32 | 24 | -- |  94 (0) | SAC(4)| 20 | 37 | 21 | 20 | -- |  98 (0)
CHI(1)| 29 | 32 | 29 | 18 | -- | 108 (2) | NOP(2)| 32 | 31 | 31 | 27 | -- | 121 (2)

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[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE FINALS (GAME 3)

The Chicago Bulls Joe Chealey is on a mission and I assume that mission is to become a professional mason, because he is laying bricks left and right. Historically speaking, Chealey's ineptitude might be the two worst playoff performances in the history of the NBA. Over the course of two games Chealey is 4 of 25 from the field, "ZERO" of 25 from three and 5 of 8 from the free throw line. Honestly, if he doesn't stop taking shots, I may release him just to prevent him from playing.

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           EASTERN CONFERENCE                        WESTERN CONFERENCE
        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W            Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
CHI(1)| 25 | 19 | 33 | 22 | -- |  99 (2) | NOP(2)| 23 | 26 | 20 | 19 | -- |  88 (3)
ORL(2)| 24 | 32 | 32 | 26 | -- | 114 (1) | SAC(4)| 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | -- |  81 (0)

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[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE FINALS (GAME 4)

With game four in the books and the series now tied at two games a piece, it's time to have a serious discussion with coach Starks about the play of Joe Chealey. If I had my way, he'd never touch another basketball in Bulls uniform. Unfortunately, I can't actually release him and I don't want to force the situation by taking over the depth chart, but he can't play again...ever. I'd rather lose with our rookie point guard than let Chealey back on the floor again. Some might say that I'm harshly judging Chealey, but I disagree. In three games he is 9 of 41 from the field, ZERO of 35 from three and he just keeps shooting. Thankfully, Marcus Donovan is healthy again, but I don't want Chealey on the court again, so I went into the depth chart and removed all of his positional availability, but that didn't work. So, I went into commissioner mode and changed his playing style, changing Pass to 100 zero's in all else. I also reduced his range to 100 in the Post. That should keep him from chunking up anymore bricks...I hope.

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           EASTERN CONFERENCE                        WESTERN CONFERENCE
        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W            Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
CHI(1)| 23 | 21 | 32 | 22 | -- |  98 (2) | NOP(2)| 38 | 26 | 27 | 25 | -- | 116 (3)
ORL(2)| 24 | 25 | 23 | 33 | -- | 105 (2) | SAC(4)| 36 | 19 | 27 | 38 | -- | 120 (1)

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[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE FINALS (GAME 5)

Thank goodness Donovan is back in the lineup. We have a very good starting five, but our bench isn't as deep as it has been in the past. In case your wondering and you probably weren't, Chealey did play five minutes in the game and he didn't take a single shot. He did go 2 for 2 from the free throw line, but at least he's not shooting. Anyway, we head back to Orlando for game six and although it would be great to end the series on the road, I'm pretty certain we're going to a game seven.

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           EASTERN CONFERENCE                        WESTERN CONFERENCE
        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W            Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
ORL(2)| 33 | 29 | 28 | 19 | -- | 109 (2) | SAC(4)| 24 | 35 | 32 | 21 | -- | 112 (2)
CHI(1)| 30 | 33 | 16 | 34 | -- | 113 (3) | NOP(2)| 26 | 31 | 20 | 30 | -- | 107 (3)

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[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE FINALS (GAME 6)

No surprises here...and we head back to Chicago for a series deciding game seven.

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           EASTERN CONFERENCE                        WESTERN CONFERENCE
        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W            Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
CHI(1)| 31 | 38 | 26 | 16 | -- | 111 (3) | NOP(2)| 28 | 28 | 24 | 26 | -- | 106 (4)
ORL(2)| 39 | 27 | 39 | 31 | -- | 136 (2) | SAC(4)| 21 | 21 | 26 | 27 | -- |  95 (2)

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[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE FINALS (GAME 7)

Eastern Conference Champs! P.J. Washington poured in 31 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the Bulls 119-114 victory. The Bulls will now face off against the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately we will do so without the services of Brandon Ingram, who injured his back and will likely miss the entire series. That leaves us with Justin Shin as our only small forward. Shin and power forward Jermaine Baker will share the small forward duties, but Ingram's absence leaves a very large hole in the Bulls starting lineup.

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           EASTERN CONFERENCE                        WESTERN CONFERENCE
        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W            Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
ORL(2)| 29 | 35 | 29 | 21 | -- | 114 (2) | SAC(4)| -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --- (2)
CHI(1)| 29 | 22 | 35 | 33 | -- | 119 (3) | NOP(2)| -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | --- (4)

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[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - NBA FINALS (GAME 1)

EPIC! In a word, that's how I would describe game one. One of the greatest games I've ever had the pleasure of being apart of. It was a tremendous battle that saw twenty lead changes, seventeen ties and required overtime to determine a victor. The Player of the Game, Chicago's Marcus Donovan, led all scorers with 35 points and added 12 assists. I must admit, when P.J. Washington fouled out with 5:37 remaining in regulation, I thought we were doomed. However, we kept it close and were tied 116-116 with 0:26 remaining. Unfortunately we didn't have the ball and everybody in the building knew who was going to get the ball. Sure enough, Charles Wallace, another former Bulls player, found Zion Williamson in the post. He bricked his initial shot, but somehow got the rebound and hit the bucket.

The play-by-play announcer shouted "How in the world did he get that one to fall!" and we called a quick timeout. We inbounded the ball with only 0:11 remaining on the clock and Donovan found Steven Adams in the paint, but he was quickly fouled by Wallace. Adam's went to the line and missed the free throw, grabbed his own rebound, missed the shot, grabbed the rebound again and then hit a jumper with 0:03 on the clock, sending the game to overtime.

In overtime the two teams traded buckets, then with the Bulls up 135-134 with 0:29 remaining, Donovan drove to the basket and was fouled. He hit the first free throw, missed the second, but got his own rebound and was fouled again. This time Donovan made both free throws and the Bulls are now up by four with 0:24 left in overtime. The Pelicans Jrue Holiday got a good look, but missed the shot and then immediately picked up his sixth foul when the Bulls grabbed the rebound. Donovan made both subsequent free throws, securing game one for the Bulls. What game! It was terrifically tense and a thrill to pull off the win, but it's a seven game series, so we can enjoy the victory for now, but there is much basketball yet to be played.

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        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
NOP(2)| 31 | 24 | 26 | 37 | 16 | 134 (0)
CHI(1)| 28 | 27 | 26 | 37 | 22 | 140 (1)

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[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - NBA FINALS (GAME 2)

Unlike game one, there was no tug-of-war battle in game three. The Bulls got off to a slow start, trailing by eight at the end of the first quarter, but managed to battle back and tie the game by the end of the first half. The game was a series of runs in the second half, but the Bulls eventually pulled away and held on to win by nine. Player of the Game, P.J. Washington, led all scorers with 35 and grabbed 11 rebounds. So, we win both home games against the Zion led Pelicans and we do so without the services of Brandon Ingram. Before the series began, I don't think many would have predicted that outcome. Of note, Justin Shin has played well in Ingram's absence. Shin played twenty-nine minutes, was 5-8 from the field, 3-5 from three and 3-6 from the free throw line. Not exactly stellar numbers, but he did finish the game with a plus/minus +24. Now we head to New Orleans for games three and four. It will be a difficult task, but it would be great if we could steal a game on the road.

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        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
NOP(2)| 27 | 27 | 23 | 29 | -- | 106 (0)
CHI(1)| 19 | 35 | 33 | 28 | -- | 115 (2)

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[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - NBA FINALS (GAME 3)

The Smoothie King Center was rocking and Zion Williamson gave the crowd their monies worth. Williamson was simply a one man wrecking crew, scoring 37 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Alas, it takes five players to make up a team and Zion did not get much help from his teammates. Ultimately Pelican fans would go home defeated, knowing that they would now have to sweep the Chicago Bulls to win their first ever NBA Title. A tall task when you consider the Bulls are 50-3 at home this year. From the Bulls perspective, this an unexpected surprise and as the saying goes, "Their loss is our gain." We are now poised to win a ninth NBA Championship, the third of which has occurred during my tenure as GM. Not bad considering I was nearly fired at the end of last season and my current job security is at a lowly 20%. Off to game four...could we possibly sweep?!?

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        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
CHI(1)| 25 | 32 | 27 | 31 | -- | 115 (3)
NOP(2)| 26 | 27 | 20 | 33 | -- | 106 (0)

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[daltontr]

2025-2026 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - NBA FINALS (GAME 4)

The Bulls P.J. Washington may have led all scorers with 38 points, but it was Player of the Game, Dejounte Murray, who stole the show. Murray had 29 points, 13 assists, 7 rebounds and 7 steals to lead the Pelicans to victory and stave off elimination. The series now shifts back to Chicago for game five, where the Bulls are certain to be the favorites. Obviously, I'd like to end the series in game five, but in the event that the Pelicans are able to come away with the victory, I've been assured that Brandon Ingram will be able to return to the lineup in a matter of days. Let's hope we don't need him.

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        Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F   W
CHI(1)| 26 | 34 | 27 | 23 | -- | 110 (3)
NOP(2)| 33 | 25 | 34 | 34 | -- | 126 (1)

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