NEWSLETTER
I know it’s a preseason game. I know it’s against a rebuilding Thunder team.
I don’t care.
The Chicago Bulls arguably looked the best they have in years in Wednesday night’s 124-103 win over the Thunder. After a back and forth few minutes to start the game, the Bulls flat-out forgot who they were. They forgot they were a team that just finished with 22 wins a season before. And they definitely forgot they were a squad that’s starting lineup had an average age of 21-years-old.
Coby White, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter Jr. started the game for Chicago, and each player had themselves a shining moment over the course of the night. Per usual, though, the backcourt bros stole the show. Zach LaVine came out and scored 20 points in the first two quarters, finishing the game with 24, along with 5 assists and 3 rebounds. It’s only the preseason, but the man is playing like he has a chip on his shoulder.
Meanwhile, Coby White had himself another strong night, scoring 27 points (11-17 FG, 5-8 3PT) with 5 rebounds and 3 assists. And while White’s assist numbers may have been a tad underwhelming, the second-year guard looked the part. Honestly, he should have finished the night with several more to his name, as Carter Jr., Markkanen, and LaVine all missed wide-open shots off a smart pass at one point or another.
As the preseason games go by, the concerns we have about White’s ability to play lead guard diminish in size. Sure, he’ll have to prove he can lead this high-pace, motion offense consistently in the regular season, but what we’ve seen thus far is certainly encouraging.
COBY WHITE IS A POINT GUARD.
(🎥 @chicagobulls)
pic.twitter.com/VHpJHJVELQ— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 17, 2020
Patrick Williams may not have made the most out of his first preseason start, but he also didn’t make Billy Donovan second guess his decision. The 19-year-old rookie finished with 13 points for the second-straight game and hauled in 7 rebounds with 2 blocks. Once again, the youngest NCAA prospect in the 2020 draft looked like one of the most comfortable players on the court. For those Bulls fans who didn’t know his name on draft night, they definitely do now.
Patrick Williams looks incredible pic.twitter.com/ga7X8j8vXw
— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) December 17, 2020
Only 19 but Pat is a GROWN MAN.@NBCSChicago | @patricklw4 pic.twitter.com/uqtxm6ghtC
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 17, 2020
The frontcourt may not have made as big of an impact as some had hoped, but this game still saw a fantastic all-around effort from start to finish. I mean, seriously, can you believe this is a preseason game!?
Hustle for Sriracha!@NBCSChicago | @CobyWhite pic.twitter.com/92W7U8G1EJ
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 17, 2020
Actually, I think that was my biggest takeaway from tonight’s domination. The Bulls didn’t play this game like it was a preseason matchup. Each player was giving their all and each player was locked-in. I haven’t seen a Bulls team this focused in quite some time, and I can’t help but think the Billy Donovan effect is already in play.
We’ll continue to talk more about all the fun tomorrow after I come down from this rare Bulls high. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before reality slaps me in the face once again. But if this team can just do what they did tonight (aka taking care of the teams you’re supposed to – something they didn’t do last season), we are going to be in for one hell of a fun 2020-21 campaign.
https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1339410836302016513?s=20
