Chicago Bulls: Play-in loss to Heat should be final nail in Donovan’s coffin

The 2022-23 Chicago Bulls were outcoached by the Miami Heat and Erik Spoelstra in Friday night’s play-in loss, a recurring theme which should cost Billy Donovan his job.

Donovan was a welcome rebound relationship after the toxicity of Jim Boylen, but if the Bulls want to get serious about a ring, Billy is not the answer.

Under Head Coach Billy Donovan, the Chicago Bulls regressed by 12 games this season despite a healthier roster. The only thing consistent about the 2022-23 Bulls was their maddening inconsistency.

Friday night’s play-in loss to the Miami Heat was a perfect encapsulation of Billy Donovan’s shortcomings as a NBA Head Coach.

Chicago Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan performs well at press conferences, but his coaching deficiencies should be the final nail in his Chicago coaching coffin

I know I’m not alone, Bulls Nation. There is absolutely zero explanation that Billy Donovan can give to explain why Andre Drummond, a man who changed the complexion of the game immediately upon entering and finished with a +8, couldn’t get more minutes.

Coby White capped a career year with sensational play on Friday; yet, after hitting a 3-pointer to put the Chicago Bulls up by 3 with 3:47 remaining, Billy Donovan took him out. The Heat proceeded to end the game on a 15-1 run. White’s re-entry came too late, as usual.

Billy Donovan’s abysmal rotations and obsession with small ball have long been an issue for the Chicago Bulls. Kevin Durant was right, despite his antics and apology. Enough is enough.

Let’s rewind to the Chicago Bulls beating the Dallas Mavericks in the second-to-last game of the season. That game is a shining example of Billy Donovan’s season-long inability to control what happens on offense.

I understand that we have two of the best isolation players in basketball in LaVine and DeRozan, but they are coachable players. Coby White and Patrick Williams having career games with those players out is an indisputable indictment of Billy Donovan’s offensive philosophy, or lack thereof.

A real offense has the ability to feature everyone. Look no further than last night as an example. Max Strus was on fire and Erik Spoelstra noticed. They repeatedly got Strus open and let him cook.

Chicago Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan didn’t appear to notice. If he made adjustments to account for Strus, they were invisible to the observing eye as Strus carried on having the game of life.

The Chicago Bulls have far too much talent to be in this position. We should be looking forward to home playoff games in the Windy City. Instead, we’re primed for a long summer of self-reflection.

I’m not suggesting we’re ready to reel off six championships nor do we have the Greatest of All Time on our roster, but this feels like a Doug Collins-Phil Jackson situation.

We need a coach to take us to the next level. We have reached our ceiling with Donovan as the head coach and it’s not close to being good enough.

Billy is the bridesmaid; he will never be the bride.

We had some good times Billy Donovan, but this Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls thing isn’t working out. We need to break up, but let me be clear:

It’s not us. It’s you.