NEWSLETTER
LATE-NIGHT HOOPS!
Things might get spicy, folks, especially with Chef Curry on the court.
Game Info
Chicago Bulls at Golden State Warriors – 9:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio), NBA TV (National TV)
Stream the game online here with your cable provider.
Projected Starters
Chicago Bulls
1. Lonzo Ball
2. Zach LaVine
3. Javonte Green
4. DeMar DeRozan
5. Nikola Vucevic
Injury report: Coby White OUT (shoulder), Patrick Williams OUT (wrist)
Golden State Warriors
1. Stephen Curry
2. Jordan Poole
3. Andrew Wiggins
4. Draymond Green
5. Kevon Looney
Injury report: James Wiseman OUT (knee), Klay Thompson OUT (knee), Damion Lee QUESTIONABLE (hip), Draymond Green QUESTIONABLE (thigh)
What to Watch For …
• The Golden State Warriors are not off to a good start this season … they are off to an utterly amazing one. The 10-1 Warriors have been arguably the best team on both ends of their floor. They by far hold the league’s top Net Rating, with their offensive and defensive efficiency ranking with the league’s top-3. And while it’s not too surprising to know a Steph Curry-led team is torching opponents on the offensive end, it’s actually their defensive play that has been arguably most impressive. Golden State has held teams to the second-fewest points in the paint and has averaged the 3rd-most steals per game.
• Fortunately, even with Nikola Vucevic on the sideline, the Bulls should have the offensive firepower to give this defense one of its stronger tests of the season. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are the league’s 6th and 7th leading scorers, respectively. The Bulls can also take advantage of this defense’s one weakness: fouling. The Warriors do have the 11th-most fouls per game and this has led to allowing opponents to shoot the 12th-most free-throw attempts per game. For reference, the Bulls have gotten to line 21.2 times a night, which makes them one of the better teams in this department at No. 9.
• Much like we saw against the Jazz and Mavericks, expect two very different offensive playstyles. I don’t need to tell you this, but the Warriors like to take their chances from downtown. The team is currently averaging the most 3-point makes per game (15.7) while the Bulls sit dead last (10.0). Now, one area where the Bulls and Warriors should look similar is in transition. These are two teams that like to push the pace when the opportunity presents itself, with Golden State being the league-leader in fastbreak points per game and the Bulls sitting just six spots below. So, yeah, expect a lot of running and a lot of defense.
• No one show this to Steph or else he’ll drop 60.
Interesting on @chicagobulls and @warriors … pic.twitter.com/zgNMwCWxyF
— Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) November 12, 2021
• If you want some more pre-game reading …
Filling a Vucevic-Sized Hole, the Warriors Are Dang Good, LaVine Loves Draymond, and Other Bulls Bulletshttps://t.co/70wOTdUzUB
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 12, 2021
More and More People Are Buying What the Bulls are Sellinghttps://t.co/QH8EzPKkWv
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 12, 2021
