Bulls Game No. 53: Five takeaways from Tuesday’s win against Sacramento
24. Final. 86. 84. 104
After a trio of consecutive losses on the road, the Chicago Bulls have now won three straight games after a 18-point drubbing of the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night. Is the red and black express back on track or just a pre-All-Star break tease?
There are plenty of other worthy candidates of this distinction, but the award for “Most Confusing Team in the NBA” may end up on a shelf inside the United Center on the west side of Chicago.
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During their recent six-game road trip, the Bulls defeated the Golden State Warriors and handed the Western Conference’s top team their first home loss since November and their first loss against an Eastern Conference squad.
After arguably the biggest win of the season for the Bulls, they laid a egg in three consecutive games against the Lakers (LOL), Suns (tough task after a double-overtime game) and Rockets (James Harden. ‘Nuff said.)
The wheels appeared to be falling off, then back-to-back victories against New Orleans and Orlando got the Bulls going again.
Throw in the return of Mike Dunleavy, Jr. and the Bulls seemed to be finding their early-season stride again heading into Tuesday’s meeting with the Kings.
Here’s five takeaways from Tuesday’s victory for the Bulls:
1. The Bulls are good when, you know, they’re healthy
After Tuesday’s win against the Kings, the Bulls’ record when their original starting five — Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah — starts a game, improved to 13-3 on the season.
Here’s the problem: The Bulls aren’t healthy.
The Bulls were healthy for about one half of basketball. Jimmy Butler took a hard shot on a screen from Sacramento’s Reggie Evans and aggravated his injured right shoulder. Butler originally injured the shoulder in the first half of Sunday’s win against Orlando.
Even with Butler shooting just 2-for-8 in his 22 minutes of action on Tuesday, the Bulls scored 57 first-half points and looked like the team most thought they would be at the start of the season.
2. #SummerLeagueSnell is back!
During this summer’s NBA Summer League action, Tony Snell was one of the best players in the circuit for the top-seeded Bulls.
In this three-game win streak for the Bulls, Snell appears to be channeling his inner Summer League and giving his team a much-needed spark.
Snell was unconscious on Tuesday, shooting 9-for-11 from the field, including 4-of-6 from long range, for a career-high of 24 points.
(And with Butler out for the final 24 minutes, Snell played 41(!) minutes on Tuesday.)
3. When Derrick Rose plays with control, he’s pretty awesome
Derrick Rose on Tuesday night: 23 points on 10-of-17 shooting, seven assists and get this — zero turnovers.
Rose looked comfortable all night long against the hapless Kings. Tuesday was the 15th straight game Rose has played. The youngest NBA MVP in history hasn’t missed a game since Jan. 10 against Milwaukee.
Nicely done, Derrick.
4. Pau Gasol’s “Fountain of Youth” season continues
Sure, the 13-year veteran from Spain is a glaring weakness away from the rim defensively, but Pau Gasol has been such an asset to this year’s Bulls roster.
Gasol chipped in 26 points on a blistering 11-of-15 shooting night and grabbed 16 rebounds in the win.
5. Doug? Nikola? Bueller?
Tom Thibodeau is one of the best coaches in the NBA today. What he’s done with so little at times in Chicago has been outstanding.
But, even with his success, his stubbornness and reluctant approach to changing up his rotation at times has been costly in the Bulls reaching the next step.
Need an example?
Why are rookies Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic only playing a combined 13 minutes in a game thoroughly dominated by the Bulls? These guys aren’t going to be the reason the Bulls win games, but their development is vital towards the Bulls reaching their ultimate goal.
Play ’em, Thibs.
Next up for the Bulls (33-20): 2/12, home vs. Cleveland, 7:00 PM CT, TNT doubleheader.
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