See Red Fred and Doug Thonus kick off the Big Red Bus with a burst of Chicago Bears excitement before quickly steering back toward Bulls country. Fred then unveils his “Lost in the Forest” fast-food survival game, prompting laughs, debate, and some very strong hunger-based opinions. He wraps it all by attempting—and mostly failing—to tie the game back to the Bulls fanbase’s growing excitement around Matas Buzelis, which only makes the segment more entertaining.

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In this latest episode of The Big Red Bus, See Red Fred and the Podfather Doug Thonus dive headfirst into the current disaster unfolding with the Chicago Bulls. With Coby White and Josh Giddey — the team’s two best players and starting backcourt — both sidelined with injuries, the Bulls find themselves staring into the abyss with no clear timeline for either player’s return.

Fred and Doug break down what this means for a team already walking a tightrope between relevance and collapse. They discuss how the loss of both guards exposes the roster’s lack of direction — and how it magnifies the front office’s long-standing failures in roster construction and long-term planning.

The conversation also explores what this moment means for the future:
• Tank or Try for Spots 4-6 1:00
• What are the next steps with Coby? 18:00
• Matas Struggles 24:00

With frustration, honesty, and a little gallows humor, Fred and Doug unpack the reality Bulls fans don’t want to face — but can no longer ignore.

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Recorded just before the Bulls’ win in Atlanta, See Red Fred and Podfather Doug Thonus break down a team that suddenly looks alive after a stunning two-game sweep of the Cavs. They dig into what’s driving the surge, then rewind to the seven-game losing streak to separate fact from frustration—who actually struggled, who quietly held the line, and what it all means going forward. A timely snapshot of a Bulls season that may have just pivoted.

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️ Big Red Bus — Episode 231 | Podcast Summary

In Episode 231 of the Big Red Bus, See Red Fred debuts the hit single “Bring Back Gar & Pax,” setting the tone with classic Bulls humor and satire. Fred also shares the unbelievable story of an incident involving Little People wrestlers that ultimately brought his music career to an end—an experience that became a memorable moment on the Waddle & Silvy Show.

The episode then rolls into Part Two of the interview with Joel Lorenzi, where the conversation turns to Bulls basketball in depth. Joel discusses some of his favorite players he has covered, along with a wide-ranging discussion on current and past Bulls topics, player development, and observations from his time covering the team.

A perfect blend of Bulls talk, storytelling, media moments, and Big Red Bus energy, Episode 231 delivers laughs, insight, and plenty for Bulls fans to chew on.

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See Red Fred and Doug Thonus rumble down the road in their trusty styrofoam Red Bus, coming to terms with the harsh reality that all hopes of glory died with the Okoro injury—and that this Bulls team, unfortunately, really sucks.

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Episode Notes — The Big Red Bus - Interview with Joel Lorenzi (Part 1)

1. Background & Chicago Roots
In Part 1, Joel takes listeners back to where it all began—growing up on the West Side of Chicago. .

2. Career Path & Early Success
Joel discusses his path toward winning the 2023 USBWA Rising Star Award, an honor that spotlighted him nationally as one of the most promising young journalists in the game. He breaks down what that recognition meant at this early stage and how it fueled his growth. We get into the realities of NBA reporting—what he thought the job would be versus what he’s learned on the ground

3. Covering the Oklahoma City Thunder
Before arriving at The Athletic, Joel spent two seasons on the Oklahoma City Thunder beat for The Oklahoman. He shares what surprised him most about covering OKC—whether it was the team’s culture, the city’s basketball intelligence, or the way the organization operates behind the scenes. Joel offers insight into what makes the Thunder one of the most intriguing franchises in the NBA.

4. Joel provides his insight on a potential AD trade..and provides reasons on why he is against the potential move.

Part 2 will dive deeper into the Bulls, the roster, the fanbase, and Joel’s early impressions of covering Chicago’s most beloved team.

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In this episode, See Red Fred and the Podfather tackle the growing debate in Bulls Nation surrounding the team’s frontcourt defense and the misconceptions fueling it. Fred breaks down why some defenders keep drawing the toughest scoring assignments—Banchero, Lauri Markkanen, and other oversized, high-usage forwards—and why blaming Billy Donovan for those matchups completely misses the real issue. The truth is simple: Matas is not physically ready to guard NBA power forwards, and Giddey can’t defend point guards or shooting guards, leaving others to absorb those brutal matchups.

Fred details the specific physical challenges Matas faces right now—getting bumped off spots, losing box-outs, and being displaced by contact—and explains why these are normal development hurdles for a young forward entering the league. He emphasizes that Matas’ talent is real and his offensive flashes are legitimate, but a couple of highlight blocks don’t erase the 20-plus possessions where strength becomes a glaring problem.

The episode also explores why the Bulls struggle to close games with a Giddey–Vooch–Matas trio, outlining how their combined defensive limitations create a structural disadvantage that no coach can scheme around.

Ultimately, Fred reframes the conversation: this is not a coaching-mistake problem. It’s a roster-composition problem and a physical-development reality. Until the Bulls add more frontcourt physicality or Matas grows into his NBA body, Okoro will keep being the one tasked with holding the defensive line, even when the matchups look strange on paper.

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In Episode 227, To Add AD or Not to Add AD, See Red Fred and Doug Thonus analyze the Bulls’ recent four-game losing streak and what’s driving the downturn. They also debate the case for pursuing Anthony Davis and outline what Chicago should—and shouldn’t—be willing to give up.

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