I’ll be tweeting live from the United Center tonight, so if the Bulls lose, you can blame me. If they win … you can send me an edible arrangement.
Game Info
New Orleans Pelicans at Chicago Bulls – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio)
Stream the game online here with your cable provider.
Projected Starters
Chicago Bulls
1. Lonzo Ball
2. Zach LaVine
3. DeMar DeRozan
4. Patrick Williams
5. Nikola Vucevic
Inactive: Coby White (shoulder)
New Orleans Pelicans:
1. Devonte’ Graham
2. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
3. Garrett Temple
4. Brandon Ingram
5. Jonas Valanciunas
Inactive: Zion Williamson (foot), Josh Hart (knee)
What to Watch For …
• Does Billy Donovan run the same rotation? I’m curious to see if Tony Bradley gets any clock tonight after seeing no action in the season opener. Alize Johnson took over back up center duties, and while he certainly earned those minutes during the preseason, it definitely seemed like more size could be used. Not to mention, if DeRozan is the one running the offense in the second unit, I wouldn’t mind if he had a bigger body to run the PnR.
• Meanwhile, the other name to keep an eye on will he Troy Brown Jr. Billy Donovan sat him after only 4 minutes in favor of rookie Ayo Dosunmu. Apparently there were some concerns about how he was dealing with a mouth injury, but the two-way wing told reporters Thursday he is 100 percent ready to go tonight. So will Donovan turn back to the more experienced player or give Dosunmu a shot after a solid NBA debut?
• The Bulls need a better game out of Nikola Vucevic, especially against another bully big in Jonas Valanciunas. The Bulls All-Star struggled to find his shot, missing 10 pretty easy looks within 10ft of the basket. Valanciunas may have struggled in his own right during the Pelicans opening night (3-19), but there is no question he will make Vooch’s life that much harder with his physical presence at the rim on both ends of the court.
• Does Patrick Williams look 100 percent? The second year forward is playing two games after suffering a shoulder strain. He told reporters on Friday that he feels good to guy, but things could be different the moment he gets hit on a hard screen.
Injury Update: Patrick Williams and Troy Brown Jr. Should Both be Good to Go for Home Openerhttps://t.co/ozwPqDJZrf
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) October 22, 2021