Chicago Bulls send strong messages in Preseason Game 1

Fans came to see the duo, and they did not disappoint

Both LaVine and Parker are the pair of guys whom fans are turning to now that Markkanen is out. At first, the Bulls looked like they were going to have a mini version of a “Big Three,” with LaVine, Parker and Markkanen. Now that the second-year forward is out a while, it’s all on the two veterans.

In their first action as teammates, LaVine and Parker looked strong.

First of all, Parker looked nimble. He may have started the season as a power forward who is amidst a switch to the small forward position, but some of the moves he put out there Sunday night showed he might be more than capable of playing the three spot.

Chicago Bulls

Early in the second quarter, in transition, Parker showed a tremendous ability to pass the ball as well — something fans may not have thought he had in him. He and Justin Holiday worked back and forth down the floor and Parker made a swift dish to Holiday in the lane which he finished with a reverse slam. It was a great moment for both players, but more importantly, for the fans.

Parker can play, and he’s out to prove he can do more than we think he can — on both ends of the floor. He finished with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes on the night. He shot 5-of-14 from the floor, but it was everything else from Parker which made him look like everything the Bulls were hoping they were getting this summer.

Meanwhile, LaVine looked like a different guy. He was visibly slimmer, quicker and stronger. After all, he said this offseason that between his initial comeback last year and now, he’s dropped about 25 pounds. You could tell.

LaVine finished with an all-around stuffed stat line in 24 minutes: 21 points (8-of-13 shooting), four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. You could tell he heard the grumblings of whether or not he could be a two-way player in the NBA. LaVine is clearly out to show the world he can play both sides of the court.

The Bulls won by the score of 128-116 and the United Center was rocking. It was a fun start to the season, and hopefully fans were encouraged about the future of this team going forward.