Bulls Preseason Game No. 3: Extended Minutes for the Starters
The third preseason game for the Chicago Bulls saw head coach Tom Thibodeau make a minor tweak to the starting lineup. Small forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. sat out Saturday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks due to a knee injury suffered in last Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Pistons. The usual suspects started for the Bulls on Saturday, along with 11th-overall draft pick Doug McDermott.
Live Feed
Betsided
With “McBuckets” inserted into the starting five, the Bulls maintained a sharp and aggressive approach in a 91-85 victory over the Bucks. McDermott played 31 minutes, scored seven points on 3-for-6 shooting and pulled down eight rebounds in his first NBA start.
No starter played less than 22 minutes on Saturday night in Milwaukee and no starter had a plus-minus rating of +17.
Let’s break down each performance from the Bulls’ starting five, starting with the 22-minute performance of Derrick Rose.
Derrick Rose: 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists
Rose was in control during his time on the floor and showed those positive signs of getting his game back. Aside from three turnovers, Rose shot 50 percent from the field (5-for-10) and made three of his four free throw attempts.
A healthy Derrick Rose means a few times per game, he hits a gear that most players just don’t have.
An example?
Just click here. (Warning: Don’t blink.)
Jimmy Butler: The stat-sheet stuffer
The man of the hour for the Bulls on Saturday night was Jimmy Butler. In 36 minutes of action (which is rather confusing as to why Butler played that many minutes), Butler scored 18 points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished out four assists and logged three steals in his best preseason performance so far.
(Basically.)
Grit, toughness... Plantar fasciitis RT @KJ_NBA: Thibs played Jimmy Butler 36 mins in a preseason game.
— Jay Hochstetler (@JDHarness) October 12, 2014
Butler also finished off the flashiest play of the night in the second quarter. Doug McDermott came off a Pau Gasol screen and received a pass from Derrick Rose on the left wing. McDermott threw a wonderful lob to Butler for the finish to push the Bull lead to 13 before halftime.
Doug McDermott: Slowly, but surely cracking the Chicago rotation
In his first start as a pro, Doug McDermott didn’t wow anyone, but “McBuckets” is proving to everyone that he belongs in the NBA.
Last season’s National Player of the Year in college hoops came off screens, threw a nice lob and pulled down eight boards. The thing that is impressing the Bulls coaching staff is McDermott’s basketball IQ.
The game’s not moving overly fast for the rookie and as Comcast SportNet Chicago’s Stacey King has made very clear over the first three games: “This kid can shoot the basketball.”
More from Da Windy City
- Juan Soto appears headed to the Yankees which is not a big blow Chicago Cubs offseason
- 3 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks shootout loss to Nashville
- Chicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agency
- The Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei Ohtani
- Chicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidates
Pau Gasol: Game-high 20 points
Pau Gasol is a four-time NBA All-Star and a two-time NBA Champion. Through his first three games with the Bulls, it’s clear why the “Meal Ticket” has had such a successful career up to this point.
Gasol led the way for the Bulls with 20 points in 31 minutes on Saturday. Along with pulling down 11 rebounds and blocking three shots, Gasol was 10-for-12 from the free throw line.
The versatility of Pau Gasol offensively is becoming a wonderful addition to the Bulls roster and if Gasol maintains his health through the full season, nobody’s going to want to step up against the Chicago frontcourt.
Joakim Noah: What knee surgery?
For a guy who had offseason knee surgery in the summer, Joakim Noah doesn’t look like he missed a beat.
In 24 minutes of action, Noah scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists in the Bulls victory. After a short 14-minute performance earlier in the week against the Washington Wizards (where he also picked up a $15,000 fine), Noah sat out Tuesday’s game in Detroit as a precaution.
What’s next for the Bulls?
The fourth preseason game for the Bulls will be on Monday, October 13th at home against former Chicago point guard Nate Robinson and the Denver Nuggets. Monday’s game will mark the halfway point in the preseason for the Bulls with just 16 days left until the regular season opener. Tip-off between the Bulls and Nuggets is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT.