Nikola Vucevic says the team has some things to fix

If you ask Vooch the Bulls have some issues to work on.

© Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

It didn’t take long for the Chicago Bulls to encounter some issues. Not only did they lose their season opener in lopsided fashion, but the team also made headlines when players conducted a players-only meeting one game into the brand-new season.

For starting center Nikola Vucevic, it was a welcome opportunity to get everyone on the same page. No NBA team works flawlessly, but clearly, the Bulls were not operating as smoothly as desired, especially in the second half of their match against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Fix it before it worsens

While some quarters are getting a good laugh out of how early the Bulls had to have a players-only meeting, Vucevic sees it as a sign that his teammates are receptive to making the changes necessary to ensure a successful season. 

And that’s why he was one of the leaders of the meeting, advocating for the team to take ownership of its own destiny and fix it before it worsens.

“Every issue is fixable,” said Vucevic. “We talked about it and are aware of it, and now we just have to fix it; it’s been addressed. Now it’s on us to fix it and find ways to play good basketball.”

Game was completely winnable at 81-78 ... then Vucevic got his tech.

Below were the Bulls' next four shots. Two contested drives and two missed open 3s. OKC proceeded to go on a 10-0 run.

This team has a tendency to hang their head. Even looked dejected after AC missed 3. pic.twitter.com/WcERE6b6Zv

— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) October 26, 2023

Play better

Vucevic explained his source of frustration during their game against the Thunder, which led to a heated conversation with Bulls coach Billy Donovan. With the Bulls having success against the Thunder’s interior defense, Vooch felt that the Bulls needed to continue to attack the rim and make plays, but they strayed away from it.

“It wasn’t so much my touches as things we were running that have been better for us in the moment; some was touches,” said Vooch.

“We talked about things we could have done better and nothing much to it. Not sure why it happened the way it happened. We just didn’t do the stuff we needed to. We have to be better in approach and eventually get to a place where we play better basketball.”

Nikola Vucevic and Zach LaVine working the two-man game to PERFECTION 😮pic.twitter.com/tqh9msh88n

— Bulls Nation (@BullsNationCP) October 18, 2023

DeMar DeRozan says he understood where Nikola Vucevic was coming from