Remember to drink water. I just feel like reminding some folks of that today.
• Five games in seven days – that’s how the Chicago Bulls will begin the second half of the 2020-21 season. The tiring stretch will tip-off tomorrow against the Philadelphia 76ers, who will notably be without Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Then, the Heat, Raptors, Thunder, and Spurs will come to town throughout the next week. All things considered, that doesn’t feel like the most complicated stretch, especially when we factor in that Philly is missing its two stars, but we are still talking about four potential playoff teams. Not to mention, this rebuilding Thunder team also beat the Bulls in their first meeting. The five-game stretch should give us a solid idea of how competitive this Bulls team can actually be in the Eastern Conference playoff push. A concerning start here … and the trade deadline will be only a couple of days away.
• An odd stat that probably doesn’t mean much: The Bulls are 7-11 at home and 9-7 on the road. In other words, a five-game homestand feels preferable, but playing in the United Center hasn’t necessarily proven to be some kind of advantage for this Bulls squad (which is pretty unsurprising when we consider the lack of fans).
• We learned on Wednesday morning that Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter could both see the floor tomorrow for the first time since early February. Considering the Bulls are about to embark on the tough stretch we just talked about, it seems like this news couldn’t have come at a better time.
There is a “Very Strong Possibility” Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter Play on Thursdayhttps://t.co/jDylAULLO1
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) March 10, 2021
• The goal for the Bulls now is to squeeze these two back into the rotation without messing up any of the recent on-court chemistry. I know it sounds kind of silly to think the addition of two starting-caliber players could hurt the time, but sometimes there can be an adjustment curve. After all, the Bulls did go 8-5 without either of them in the lineup. I’m not trying to insinuate that they are a better unit without either on the floor, but rather that they figured out how to perform well despite their contributions. Now, it will be a team effort to make sure that both Markkanen and Porter can only build on that success and not briefly disrupt it.
• Markkanen, particularly, is a big part of the team’s gameplan when he is on the floor. His usage rating has dipped slightly this season, but he has still averaged the second-most made field goals per game. Finding a way to get him some open and easy looks from the jump should be a priority. The quicker he is playing like his pre-injured self the better (19.1 ppg, 6.1 reb). I’m also sure the front office will look for the same efficient and aggressive Markkanen right off the bat. The trade deadline is only a little over two weeks away, and while I don’t expect The Finnisher to go anywhere, it will be the last opportunity this front office has to deal him before either (1) letting him walk for nothing in the offseason or (2) having to give him a big pay raise. We talked more about this conundrum in the post below:
Lauri Markkanen Presents an Incredibly Difficult and Pressing Decision for the Bulls Front Officehttps://t.co/qwigwTVRIC
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) March 10, 2021
• We also shouldn’t forget that a Markkanen return means a move back to the wing for Patrick Williams. I wouldn’t necessarily say this is problematic, but the rookie has gotten into a rather nice groove at the four. He scored in double-figures and recorded at least one block in six of the team’s last eight games. With his knack for help defense and imposing frame, Williams looked more than comfortable and productive at the power forward position. In fact, he went from shooting 28 percent of his takes at the rim with a 65 percent success rate to shooting 38 percent on a 67 percent clip. With Markkanen’s absence, that increase makes total sense, but it was encouraging to see his shooting percentage increase alongside the frequency. My hope is that Markkanen’s presence doesn’t turn Williams away from driving to the lane or experimenting with a more aggressive offensive approach. The team should give him more opportunities on that end of the floor.
https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1369416573245665284?s=20
• So is Zion going to demand a trade to the Bulls now or at the end of the season? I’m cool with either, just wondering.
https://twitter.com/espn/status/1369347305598562304?s=20
• Do you guys agree with the Illinois selection?
Best of the best: NBA’s greatest players ever by their home state https://t.co/opq6x6yeNb
— The Athletic Chicago (@TheAthleticCHI) March 10, 2021