The Chicago Bulls (24-27) are back in action at the United Center, this time meeting the Portland Trail Blazers (26-26) for the first of two this season. Last year, the teams split the series, with each winning at home.
The Blazers come to town on the heels of an exciting 124-116 comeback victory in Washington last night. They’re also looking to sweep a three-game road swing that took them first to Memphis, then DC and tonight to the Windy City. Thanks to last night’s victory, the Blazers have won five of their last six games.
Chicago hits the hardwood having won two of its last three and five of its last eight, including a 114-98 win over Charlotte at the UC this past Thursday. Ayo Dosunmu led the Bulls with 22 points on nine-of-10 shooting, and Coby White added 20 points off the bench while Nikola Vucevic tallied 17 points with 12 rebounds and six assists. As a team, the Bulls shot 51 percent from the field and went 11-of-28 from the 3-point line. The game was tightly-contested during the first half, but the Bulls went on a 19-9 run in the third quarter to pull away and hold on the rest of the way to win comfortably.
As for tonight, here are a couple of things to keep in mind as Chicago attempts to cool off the hot Blazers, and send them home on a sour note (7:00 pm CST tipoff – NBC Sports Chicago):
POWER BULL
The Bulls are 10th in the East, two behind Atlanta for 8th and four back of Miami for 6th. Chicago comes in averaging 114.3 points (15th) while allowing 114.1 (17th) and shooting 48.9% (5th) from the field and 36.9% (9th) from three. Six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan leads the way with a team best 26.0 points per game average on 50.9% shooting. Two-time All-Star Zach LaVine is next at 23.4 points, while center Nikola Vučević rounds out the Bulls’ Big 3, averaging a double-double of 17.6 points and 11.2 rebounds.
For the most part, at least two of the Big 3 need to play at a high level to give Chicago a chance to win. But the other night against Charlotte, neither DeRozan nor LaVine had a particularly strong scoring night (15 points and 10 points, respectively), but point guard Ayo Dosunmu (22 points), and reserves Coby White (20 points) and Andre Drummond (15 points, 11 rebounds) delivered big time efforts in concert with Vučević’s 30th double-double (17 points, 12 rebounds) to drive the Bulls over the finish line first.
It’s not a coincidence when Chicago hits the glass, good things happen. Coming into tonight the Bulls are 19-13 when Vučević grabs 10+ rebounds and 17-13 when he records a double-double. When the Bulls collectively work the boards and outrebound opponents, their record jumps to 16-3.
As hot as Portland has been, tonight they’re missing their biggest player under the hoop in center Jusuf Nurkic, who’s out until after the All-Star break with a leg injury. In his place will be a combination of power forwards Drew Eubanks, and rookie Trenton Waterford. Both are talented, but neither should be able to handle a heavy dose of Vučević and Andre Drummond off the bench. The other night, Drummond became the first player since 1978-79 (Darryl Dawkins) to record 15 points and 11 rebounds in under 15 minutes. The veteran big man flat out dominated in the limited minutes he was in the game. With no Nurkic, Portland will have to go “small,” and thus Chicago would be wise to exploit its size advantage near and under the basket.
SHARING = WINNING
Another major key for Chicago every night, is to play fast, aggressive, and unselfish. At no time can the Bulls afford to coast, even for just a minute.
Defensively, Chicago has to be hardnosed and physical. They have to fight through and over screens and not duck under. They have to body-up opponents and make them realize they’re going to get knock around for the next couple of hours.
Offensively, the ball must freely jump between all five players. There must be continuous movement in and out of the paint and all around the perimeter. Chicago can’t end up standing still and watching the ball. They have to dictate action, freeing themselves from defenders for easy scores and open looks at the basket. Isolation, one-on-one play must be kicked to the curb for good. The Bulls are 14-6 this season when they record more assists than their opponents.
Collectively, Chicago needs to constantly be on the attack, driving the ball deep into the paint, drawing contact in order to get to the free throw line. They also need to finish strong at the rim. As a team, the Bulls need to welcome physicality, and not shy away from the contact. They have to force Portland’s defense onto its heels, making them scramble, confused and scattered.
For all 48 minutes, the Bulls need to sport an intense, blue-collar persona.
Lastly, whomever is on the floor for Chicago, must keep their poise when the Blazers pressure and/or double-team/trap a ballhandler. The Bulls need to dig deep and find a way to do a better job of fighting through adversity. Too often they have not met the challenge when an opponent turns up the heat, and that has to stop.
DAME! HE’S GOOD
Whenever the subject of the Portland Trail Blazers comes up, the first person anyone thinks of is Damian Lillard. And rightfully so. The veteran guard was just named an All-Star for the seventh time in his career. He ranks 6th in the NBA in scoring at 30.7 per game. Last night in DC, he recorded 29 points and six assists in 40 minutes of action. Against Memphis the game before, he dropped 42 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and blocked a shot, also in 40 minutes. Guess what? He’s probably going to play at least 40 more minutes tonight.
Lillard is the only player in NBA history to record three 60-plus point, five-plus rebound and five-plus assist games. In fact his third such game occurred only 10 days ago against Utah. He’s also had a 50-point game this season and has posted 40+ nine times this year.
Needless to say, Chicago has to do whatever it can to slow Lillard down tonight.