Bulls vs. Nets 11/08/21

The Bulls made a huge run in the 4th quarter to blow the game open after what had been a back-and-forth affair through 3-quarters.  DeMar DeRozan led the way with 28 points on 10-20 shooting from the field, and Lavine netted 24 on 10-17 shooting.  Durant was a one-man show in the second half for the Nets, finishing with 38.

4th quarter runs are nothing new to the Bulls, except this time they only trailed by 2 to start the period.  They rattled off a 13-0 run in the first 4 minutes or so of the 4th, and kept the gas on, eventually outscoring the Nets 42-17 in the period to stop Brooklyn's 5-game winning streak.  The momentum shift was generated once again by the bench and their tenacious defense.  Caruso and Ayo were especially impactful during the run with steals, dives for loose balls, and straight up hard-nosed defense.  Meanwhile DeRozan and Lavine carried the offensive load, though Ayo chipped in with 14 on 6-10 shooting, most of which came during that crucial juncture.

Three Thoughts From Today's Game

1. Role Players Too Passive

The supporting cast, and Caruso in particular, was too passive through most of this game.  It has been a developing problem as role players become to reliant on DeRozan and Lavine to generate all the offense while Vucevic continues to struggle.  Caruso won't even look at the basket and pretend to be a threat from three point range most of the time, never mind to drive and dish.  This hurts the Bulls and it's not what we saw in their dominant preseason or early regular season games.  When role players make themselves threats by playing aggressively, the whole team is better for it.  Thankfully, Caruso made up for it in the 4th quarter by igniting the run and hitting a nice 3.  Ayo was also guilty of playing too passively, and he sure turned things around in hyper aggressive fashion by the final buzzer as well.  They need to keep playing with that tenacity for the Bulls to play at their best. 

But Ayo's big night (or -- another of his big nights) also begs the question: how will the rotation work when Coby White comes back, which he is apparently quite close to doing?  Do we really want to see Ayo get replaced?  If not Ayo, then I imagine it would have to be Caruso's minutes who get severely reduced... and is that what we want?  It's a good problem to have -- having too many good options -- but it's still a problem, and one I'm sure Bulls fans will be debating heavily in the coming games.  

As it stands, I wouldn't mind seeing White get traded for a quality big man, if possible.  We need more size more than we need another pg/sg type.  Of course, this wouldn't happen until near the trade deadline if it were to happen, and I'd like to see how Coby looks with this team first, anyway.

2. More Iso Ball

Perhaps as a direct result of Vucevic's struggles, the Bulls relapsed into more iso ball today.  Thankfully, DeRozan and Lavine are really good, and they made their shots with great efficiency.  But this can be a trap, and one that the Nets get stung by every now and then.  The Bulls should be able to get good looks just about every time down the floor when they have strong player and ball movement.  DeRozan and Lavine put up a lot of tough shots tonight...and they made them.  They are capable of that, but it's a recipe for losses in the future when they don't go down like they did tonight.

3. Vucevic (again)

Seems like Vooch makes this list every game.  But why not?  He's been one of the biggest story lines along with the Bulls winning and DeRozan's impact.  I felt this was an important game for Vucevic and the Bulls.  Vucevic struggled against Embiid, but his match-ups against Brooklyn's front line favored him and his style of play.  If he could just get 2 or 3 of those early shots to go down then he would get right.  But they didn't go down, and he didn't get right.  Until the 4th quarter, that is!  That's when he finally drained 2 shots in a row!  And eventually that streak ballooned to 3 shots in a row, including a 3!  I don't know the last time he made 3 straight shots, but I know it wasn't in the previous 2 games when I don't think he made 3 shots TOTAL. Okay, somehow he did, BUT, the last time he's made more than 5 shots in a game is October 28th, 6 games ago!  Yeesh!  

In the first 3 quarters of this one he was once again operating at a ridiculously bad level that can only be explained by a complete loss of confidence.  He needs to steal just a little bit of Steph Curry's swagger...I'm sure Steph wouldn't even notice if he took some.  But anyway, Vucevic was not even close on a series of chip shots and open mid-ranged looks; he even blew a dunk!  No touch.  Overthinking.  Aiming instead of feeling.  All the hallmarks of a broken basketball player.  Then, finally, he saw the ball go through the net.  Hitting that 3 in the 4th quarter felt like he ripped the seal off the rim.  He swished a couple mid-range jump shots after that, and now we at least have SOME hope that Vooch can be the Vooch we traded for when they play the Mavs Wednesday night.