Top 5 things Chicago Bulls fans can be thankful for in 2021

4. Chicago Bulls fans can be thankful for Billy Donovan’s coaching and philosophy

The Bulls’ start to this season can be attributed to players buying into Billy Donovan’s philosophy and system. There were plenty of critics before the season when it came to a few key players on this roster, and they’re all proving those critics wrong thanks to Donovan.

Derrick Jones Jr. couldn’t crack Portland’s rotation last year, and now he’s become an invaluable part of this Bulls team. Believe it or not, Jones is the team leader in blocks and averaging one per game so far while playing just 18 minutes per game. He’s also averaging four rebounds per game in that time. Jones has been an enormous lift off the bench.

Jones is a perfect example of Donovan having to switch up his rotations constantly, whether it be based on matchups or being short-handed. At times, he’s had to start Javonte Green and Alex Caruso at the four due to Patrick Williams being out for the year — and those guys have made it work.

The aforementioned Dosunmu has become an invaluable part of this lineup, too, which continues to further the notion that Donovan very well could be on his way to the NBA Coach of the Year award this season.

Donovan has taken very talented players and helped them work together when people said they couldn’t. He’s also taken role players and made their roles that much more significant. Very few coaches could do what he’s doing — and he deserves a ton of credit.