The Lakers turned their backs to the Bulls 101-90 (not so close) Saturday night at the United Center in what can best be described as a clinic. Streak win three game, imagine yourself locked.
Here’s what stood out:
The effects of Anthony Davis – and Wendell Carter Jr. – were felt.
The Bulls replaced Anthony Davis in the Jan. matchup duo. 8 in Los Angeles. They were less fortunate on Saturday.
To say that its impact was felt as a subconscious. Five minutes into the first quarter, Davis had 9 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 theft. Three minutes later (at the 4:01 mark), he was out on the Bulls 13-12. At the end of one, he had 15 on a 7-for-8 shot, the Lakers had 20 points in the paint and the Bulls trailed 29-17.
There was no response to it – and the Lakers’ overall leadership on the inside. Billy Donovan tried Cristiano Felício for the first non-wasted run of the season with little use. Halfway through the second quarter, Daniel Gafford had 4 fouls in five minutes of action.
At half time… Well. This was the situation:
There was a bit of a push-and-pull in the third quarter, but when the Bulls conceded with just under three minutes to play, the Lakers led by 19 points. Davis (37 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 leads, 1 block) and James (17 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals) stole the show.
The Bulls certainly missed Wendell Carter Jr., who missed his second straight game by quad contusion, on the defensive end. But it was admitted that they were more than his presence away from being competitive.
Another little point of controversy on the defensive end: The Bulls promised two 3-point shooters fashions – Dennis Schröder and Wesley Matthews – a problem area all season. As a team, they made 28 jokes and held 31 Lakers free throw attempts.
Crime stalls
The Lakers are defensive champions, and they own both the top defensive and net levels in the NBA. Their length and body are suffocating.
However, the Bulls’ offense matched the defense with hatred. Coby White looked out for early types, picking up two costs in the first half and finishing 5-for-13 off the floor (most do late). Lauri Markkanen’s strong play stopped; he lost a bit of a clean 3-point appearance on the way to a 12-point trip. His 0-for-5 night from 3 quietly brings his accuracy rating from depth down to 30 percent since returning from protocol.
T.it’s on the going list.
As a team, the Bulls lost their first 13 3-points before Patrick Williams broke the dry spell with just under six minutes to play in the third quarter. They fixed 18 assists one night after posting 33, along with 19 turns. Save for a mini-run in the third, it was moribund.
Saturday 90 breaks the seven-game franchise record just scoring 115 or more points. A bump in the road for a unit that had risen to 11 in offensive rankings.
Circulation tours
With Carter out and Otto Porter Jr. taking a load control night, Chandler Hutchison returned to the circuit after being DNPed in his first game back from a COVID-19 revival. He recorded 5 minutes of pre-white flag, 7 in total.
Felício, of course, also carves in. Tomáš Satoranský, in his second game back, played 12 minutes and hit a 3-run time. Donovan has said he handles the COVID-19 recoverees and protocol indoctrinates with sensitivity.
Fighting idea
To the Bulls’ credit, there was a momentary gloss where this looked like it might have been a game. After slowing down before 30 at half time, they cut their deficit to as little as 14 with 70 seconds left in the third quarter after three rebounds by Denzel Valentine and White.
But Davis ’two-pointers, which gave him 37 points on 21 hits through three, pushed the visitor’s lead back to 17. They then kicked the fourth on a 6-0 run and did not look back. .
The main events of the evening
Rim, meet Patrick Williams:
Apologies, but this LeBron measure was just too pretty:
With the loss, the Bulls will move to 7-9. Next up: Home for the Celtics Monday.
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