All predictions in the NBA for the new season were that Detroit, Orlando and Atlanta would be better placed in the East than Chicago.
However, the field and the first three games showed something else - the Bulls won each one and thus made the best start in the last four years.
Billy Donovan didn't make many changes during the summer, replacing Lonzo Ball with Isaac Okoro, but his team looks much better than in all previous seasons.
The expert from New York announced a year ago that he wanted a faster game, a strong pace and a better three-point shot, and our Nikola Vučević also wanted to improve his performance from outside the line by 7,24.
He succeeded in that, as last season the Montenegrin center made 40 percent of his three-point shots, and he is at a similar pace this season. However, he did not improve only that segment of his game.
Ricky O'Donnell from "SB Nation" writes that Vučević has even been reborn in the Bulls' new offensive system.
"Vučević is now a top-notch shooter among centers, hitting a lot of threes last season and entering the new season in great form again," O'Donnell writes, adding:
"He is also extremely dangerous on counterattacks when he arrives as a second-wave player and hits open shots."
Not so long ago, the most anticipated trio at the United Center was Vučević - Zach LaVine - DeMar DeRozan.
"His floater now seems almost automatic since he's been freed from playing with LaVine and DeRozan," the aforementioned journalist believes.
Vučević played an average of 32 minutes in the first three games, scored 20 points (shooting 54,5 percent of three-pointers), had 10 rebounds and 4,3 assists, and O'Donnell also praised his way of playing with his teammates.
"His ability to act as a playmaker as a center is invaluable."
Defense is where more was expected of Vučević during his 15-year career.
"Although his slower defense and lack of power make it difficult for him to protect the rim, Vuč is still quite good at going out on blocks and causing turnovers. The fact that Vučević and Josh Giddy are so good at defensive rebounding unlocks the team's running game," concluded O'Donnell.
His article was dedicated to the Bulls' great start, with the question of whether the team from the "United Center" will continue to be good throughout the season. It seems that this question is difficult to answer, but for now, everything about Chicago's game looks great.
And that's without two super important players who are currently injured - Kobe White and Zach Collins.
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