We’ve all had those days where we decided to do the bare minimum at work (don’t tell Brett), but rarely does the entire office choose to have that day at the same time. This is exactly what we saw from the Chicago Bulls during Sunday’s battle with the Denver Nuggets.
They couldn’t have looked more lifeless as the Nuggets picked them apart with constant off-ball movement and unselfish playmaking. For a team that has otherwise played with strong energy against some of the league’s better squads this season, it was an extremely discouraging performance. And it’s now up to them to quickly prove that those kinds of showings aren’t here to stay.
Game Info
Chicago Bulls (6-8) at New Orleans Pelicans – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago, and 670 The Score (Radio)
Projected Starters
Chicago Bulls
1. Ayo Dosunmu
2. Zach LaVine
3. DeMar DeRozan
4. Patrick Williams
5. Nikola Vucevic
Injury Report: Lonzo Ball OUT (knee), Coby White OUT (quad)
New Orleans Pelicans
1. CJ McCollum
2. Herb Jones
3. Brandon Ingram
4. Trey Murphy
5. Jonas Valaciunas
Injury Report: Zion Williamson OUT (foot)
Odds
The Bulls walk into tonight as +1.5 underdogs against the Pelicans at PointsBet Illinois Sportsbook and at the FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook. Click on either link to sign up and pick the Bulls to cover (… or pick the opposite …)!
What to Watch For …
The Chicago Bulls saw firsthand just how well-rounded this Pelicans team is two games ago. Four of their five starters cracked double digits, as the team went on to shoot 50 percent from the field. They also finished with victories in the rebounding and points in the paint battle thanks to their elite size, which is something the Bulls better have a solution for tonight.
The good news for Chicago is that Zion Williamson will be off the floor. Without the highly efficient big man in the lineup, their defense will be able to focus that much more on Brandon Ingram. The All-Star forward single-handedly handed this team a loss with his 16 points in the 4th quarter last week. It served as a reminder that prioritizing him on the defensive end for a full 48 is crucial.
Patrick Williams has played well over the past handful of games, and there is another chance for him to make a real impact tonight. Not only do I expect him to spend his fair share of time guarding Ingram, but the Bulls will need him to bring some extra energy to the glass.
Speaking of which, a big Andre Drummond performance would be great tonight. He only played 12 minutes against the Pelicans last week in his first game back from injury. I expect to see plenty more of him this time around.
A reminder to watch out for Grand Theft Alvarado …
More in here …
And in here …
NEWSLETTER
