The Bulls’ first preseason game looked like the Bulls’ first preseason game.
Whether it be sloppy turnovers, defensive breakdowns, or mismanaged offensive sets, the Bulls showed that they still have a lot of room for improvement in their battle with the Pelicans. And we can only hope they show signs of that improvement tonight.
Game Info
Denver Nuggets (0-1) at Chicago Bulls (0-1) – 7:30 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV), and 670 The Score (Radio)
Chicago Bulls
1. Ayo Dosunmu
2. Zach LaVine
3. DeMar DeRozan
4. Javonte Green
5. Nikola Vučević
Injury Report: Lonzo Ball OUT (knee)
Denver Nuggets
1. Jamal Murray
2. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
3. Michael Porter Jr.
4. Aaron Gordon
5. Deandre Jordan
Injury Report: Nikola Jokic OUT (wrist)
What to Watch For …
It’s the preseason, so I couldn’t care less about the specific matchup. All I’m looking for tonight is a much more comfortable Bulls team. I want to see the starters move with purpose on the offensive end and limit their turnovers. I want to see Patrick Williams make his presence felt on defense. And I want to see the second unit provide an energetic spark off the bench. Tonight is about simply showing progress and shaking off the rust we saw in Game 1.
I’m hoping to see plenty more of Coby White tonight. Not only am I curious to see where he may have improved this summer, but his 3-point shooting is going to be pivotal on a bench that continues to lack high-volume shooters. The Bulls took just 27 attempts from long range in Game 1, which happened to be the second-fewest of any team in the preseason thus far.
Nikola Vucevic was one of two bright spots against the Pelicans. He recorded 4 blocks, 3 steals, and guarded the pick-and-roll surprisingly efficiently. The question now is whether or not this is a one-night thing or a sign of what’s to come. We’ll learn more tonight.
The other bright spot was rookie Dalen Terry, and I’ll direct your attention to this post for more on him …
And, if you haven’t had enough of me yet, here’s some more …