Bulls vs. Mavs 11/10/21
Bulls vs. Mavs
11/10/21
In their sharpest all-around game yet, the Bulls defeated the Mavs in resolute fashion, 117-107. After a back-and-forth series of runs through much of the first half, the Bulls gained control with a strong close to the second quarter and maintained the lead the rest of the game. In a balanced attack for the Bulls, 5 guys scored at least 16, including Lavine (23), Ball (21), Vucevic (18), DeRozan (17), and Caruso (16). DeRozan's 17-point outing marks the end of Lavine and DeRozan's 7-game run of 20+ point games together, which tied Chicago's all-time record set by...exactly who you thought... Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
This game provided all the remaining confirmation I needed to say definitively that the Bulls are a real contender for a deep playoff run this year. The Bulls move to 3-2 in their 13-games-from-hell stretch, and 8-3 overall, good for first in the East. They also hold one of the best point-differentials in the league at +7.2, and remain on pace to finish +.500 in this 13-game slate. If they do finish that way, it will tell you all you need to know about this year's Bulls, if you haven't figured it out already!
Three Thoughts From Today's Game
1. New Bulls are fun to watch, Easy to root for
This Bulls team plays hard on defense, shares the ball, AND has talent. When is the last time we could say that? The 60-win, pre-injury, Derrick Rose-led team, perhaps. And even that team lacked scoring talent and relied far too heavily on one man. This Bulls squad is balanced! No game showed off that balance better than tonight's. Even if not everyone shot well, everyone at least played the way they needed to, and they stayed consistent throughout the entire 48 minutes. They are a real joy to watch!
2. Not So Passive Role Players
Caruso and company were aggressive on both ends all game long. When the bench is playing like that, rather than standing around and waiting for Lavine or DeRozan to do something, the Bulls are at their best. Caruso finished with a career high-tying 6 steals and a season high 16 points on 6-7 shooting. He didn't pass up any looks and made several aggressive drives to the hoop that either ended up in points or the start of good ball movement in almost every case. Getting out in transition following strong defense led to several of those drives and getting out in transition is what really turned the tide against the Mavs. Ayo stayed aggressive too, though he only shot 3-9 in this one -- completely forgivable considering he made the right decisions and continued his tough play on defense. Vucevic also looked to get his own in the post far more often in this game, true to his non-hesitant all-star form. It was a truly complete and balanced attack tonight.
3. Vucevic, of course
The Bulls were able to withstand a bit of an off night from DeRozan, thanks in part to Vucevic's Vooch-like play. It's the first time we've really seen it this year as he finished with 18, 12, and 4, along with what I would consider his strongest defense of the year. It may not show up in the stat sheet but he played really solid position defense, helped well on the pick-and-rolls, and made it tough for big men and driving guards all night long. He also secured a number of rebounds that weren't just the gimme-stat-stuffer variety. Plus, he could have had a few more assists if guys had converted more open threes and finishes at the basket. It was a strong game, and Vucevic looked as though the mental vice he had been in was a thing of the past. I always thought he just needed a few shots in a row to drop in for him to break out of the slump altogether, and based on his play (not just the fact that he made the shots but the confidence he had about him all game long), it looks as though that 4th quarter against the Nets did the trick. The Bulls are a very dangerous team as they are now 8-3 with the best record in the East, despite still not getting a strong showing from all 3 of their big 3 in the same game. Expect some blowouts once that happens, and I believe it will start to happen soon, in spite of the competition level, now that Vooch is back!
Nikola Vucevic has tested positive for Covid today. He was guarding Joel Embiid the day before Embiid tested positive. Now he will enter NBA Covid protocol, which means he will be out for 10 days or until he tests negative twice within 24 apart. This is not good news as Vucevic FINALLY looked himself against the Mavs, and now the Bulls begin their most difficult road trip without their All-star center. Looking for a silver lining here? We will get a longer look at Tony Bradley, Derrick Jones, Jr., and Alize Johnson, all of whom have been productive and provided energy when given the chance. But they are going to miss Vucevic in this next stretch. What to look for: Will Zach Lavine and DeMar DeRozan (but especially Lavine) press too much to carry the scoring load in his absence? Or will they trust their teammates? And will the role players rise to the occasion on offense? A Coby White return suddenly feels more important now to help with the scoring burden.
ReplyDelete