The last time the Bulls started an NBA season so well, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were still donning the Chicago tunic every night. Twenty-five years later, the team’s engine pedigree has changed a lot. It is not Hall Of Famers but a nice bunch of All-Star players who are taking the Illinois franchise to the top today. Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan. They do not aspire to the same success as their glorious elders but, for now, they are prancing at the top of the Eastern Conference. With six victories in seven matches, the last of which, Monday night, on the floor of the Celtics (128-114). A success won in bosses by recovering a deficit of 14 points in the fourth quarter. Without panicking, at the instigation of the group’s executives.
This victory almost gives the impression that this team has been squatting the summits for several years. And yet, it’s all fresh. The fruit of the ambitions of a management who landed a few months ago with the intention of taking over the organization, which has been losing ground since the departure of Jimmy Butler in 2017. “This is also what prompted me to come to Chicago“, admits DeRozan. Everyone I have spoken to is on the same page, be it players, leaders or supporters. They all want to win now. It’s our mentality.”
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Rebuilding a team capable of winning a title takes time. It takes patience and a bit of luck in the draft. The Bulls tried after they broke their squad. Without succeeding. So Arturas Karnisovas, the new president, and his assistants opted for another path. By surrounding LaVine with other strong players. First Vucevic during last season. Then DeRozan and Lonzo Ball this summer. None of them are superstar. But they all know how to play basketball and impact their team’s results. And their presence is already felt at each meeting of the “Windy City.”
In particular that of DeRozan over the last two matches, concluded with 32 and 37 points on the clock for the All-Star back. His signature for $ 81 million over 3 years was named “the worst decision of the offseason“by a panel of ESPN journalists. And yet, for the moment, it is quite the opposite. The veteran starts very strong – 25 points on average – while asserting himself as a sure bet in the close endgame As evidenced by his 11 points in the money time during a victory against the Raptors for example. “That’s why the leaders made me come here. This is my job. ”But the success of the bulls is not limited to that.
DeMar DeRozan
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Defend more to earn more
It starts rather in defense. With the acquisitions of Ball and Alex Caruso. The two former leaders of the Lakers are pests for the opposing attackers. They are long, lively, determined and constantly active. They prevent the other team from setting up their game. And it pays off! Chicago has the sixth best defense in the championship with 101.1 points conceded out of 100 possessions. Caruso is also in the Top 5 for interceptions (2.6). There it is, the identity of the Bulls.
This is the main success factor so far. Illustration during the demonstration against Jazz. Billy Donovan’s players inflicted Utah their first loss of the season, limiting Donovan Mitchell and company to 99 points (up from 111 on average). The Jazz notably lost 20 balls in this match. “It was one of our best matches. This is how we want to play“, then declared the Chicago coach.
The complementarity between LaVine, Vucevic and DeRozan is not obvious in attack. At least on paper and from a purely basketball point of view. Everyone needs to have the ball. Everyone likes to attack the circle. And that’s also why many observers expressed doubts when recruiting the Bulls. But Donovan initially focused on defense, aiming to play as much of the counterattack as possible to allow his swift wingers to score more easily.
Problems related to individual profiles have in fact become a strength. By constantly encouraging his stars to attack the defense with the ball in hand. Ball taking care of him to limit as much as possible the number of lost balloons while spinning. In fact, the system is not yet fully mastered, despite the good results. And it makes sense. That is going to take time. But Chicago still scores 109.9 points out of 100 possessions (7th in the NBA).
Zach LaVine
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14 test matches for the new Bulls
The key, somewhere, is also living it together. Rather than playing it personal, the Bulls scorers rely on the altruism of each. Proof that they are aware that it can only work like that. The ball is spinning. “I have never had so much fun“, even says Zach LaVine.”We all get along very well.“They may not be perfectly complementary but they make up for it by remaining united. Something to make life easier for everyone. With open shots to the key. The Bulls are so far among the most skillful in the league with 47% success and even 39% at three points.In the Top 4 every time.
Paradoxically, it may also be a sign that this team is playing a little above its real level. DeRozan, LaVine and company won’t always put in that many shots. Even less behind the arch. And in those moments, it will be harder. It will then be necessary to rely on the defense, where the absence of Patrick Williams – unavailable for the season – will weigh. Franchises can almost never claim the trophy without having a superstar who can get them out of the most complicated situations.
The Bulls are still far from dreaming of a seventh ring. But the course of the Hawks, Conference finalists last year, shows that it is possible to go far while remaining competitive. And for Chicago, find the playoffs, thrill, win matches and then lose with honors, fighting to the end, it’s already a victory. Anyway, we will soon have a more precise idea of the true capabilities of this team. She will go on 14 matches in a row against opponents who qualified for the playoffs last season. She has already won 2 of the first 3 duels of this marathon. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday night, against the Sixers. If she still holds a place in the Top 3 in the East in a few weeks, we will have to start taking it really seriously.
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