NEWSLETTER
The Utah Jazz are the last remaining undefeated team in the NBA … for two more hours.
LET’S GOO BULLSSS! WIN IT FOR PAT!
Game Info
Utah Jazz 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
Injury report: Coby White OUT (shoulder), Patrick Williams OUT (wrist)
Utah Jazz:
1. Donovan Mitchell
2. Joe Ingles
3. Bojan Bogdanovic
4. Royce O’Neal
5. Rudy Gober
Injury report: Mike Conley OUT (knee), Rudy Gay OUT (foot)
What to Watch For …
• In terms of finding an identity, the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz are complete opposites. Chicago is still trying to make their halfcourt offense flow and build chemistry; meanwhile, Utah holds the top-ranked Net Rating in the league as they try to reclaim the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Sheer experience and familiarity could simply get the best of the Bulls tonight, but it also doesn’t help that the Jazz thrive in an area where the Bulls have struggled most. Utah hauls in the 4th-most rebounds per game compared to the Bulls’ last-place ranking. They also happen to score the 3rd-most 2nd-chance points a night. While they may not be as physically taxing as the Knicks, they have the size and discipline to take this game away from the Bulls on the glass.
• One way we could see the Bulls help themselves tonight is by keeping Utah off the free-throw line. Gobert and Co. have averaged the most free-throw attempts per game so far this season while also forcing their opponents into the 6th-most personal fouls per game. With that said, Chicago has actually done a pretty good job limiting their foul trouble (commit 2nd-fewest a game) and have so far held teams to the third-fewest free-throw attempts per game. Now, some of that is thanks to the team’s first few matchups coming against struggling offenses, but it’s also thanks to their surprisingly good defensive start.
• More Tony Bradley? The Bulls have embraced playing small to start the season, and while that will surely continue with the absence of Patrick Williams, it feels a bit risky against centers like Gobert and Whiteside. Bradley gave the team a solid five minutes in his first real taste of action against New York, grabbing five pretty important offensive boards. Alize Johnson has been brought strong energy off the bench, but I expect to see Bradley get increasing opportunities over the next few games.
• Zach LaVine looked just fine on his bum thumb in Thursday’s matchup, but he didn’t shy away from talking about how unpleasant the experience was after the game.
Zach LaVine May Have Looked Fine Playing Through His Thumb Injury, But “It Wasn’t Pleasant”https://t.co/GV6BhRtaFE pic.twitter.com/ZXYmPPksdM
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) October 29, 2021
• More in here …
Shaking Off a Loss, More Tony Bradley? Utah is Scary Good, And Other Bulls Bulletshttps://t.co/UzDdY8btYA
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) October 30, 2021
