Why the Chicago Bulls can upset the Philadelphia 76ers opening night
By Ryan Heckman
Key no. 1: Push the pace
The Sixers, like the Bulls, are a relatively young team with a similar mindset. Head coach Fred Hoiberg wants the Bulls to play fast and push the pace, and that’s exactly what the Sixers love to do as well.
Philadelphia has several players at all positions who can run the floor well, so the Bulls are going to have to be ready for that, defensively.
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On the flip side, though, the Bulls must come out and show they are not backing down from a playoff team that likes to play quick and efficient. Chicago has young, athletic guys who can push the pace as well.
As I noted a week or so ago, the Bulls actually led the NBA in distance traveled per player in 2017-2018 (per NBA.com). Running is nothing foreign to them. Moving is not foreign to them. Chicago has similar pieces in place, but they just have to do what they do better than the Sixers.
Creating turnovers and translating them into quick points is an enormous key against a team that can also score quickly. The Bulls will depend on guys like Carter and Bobby Portis to come up big on the boards, and immediately sling the ball to an outlet. Holding the ball, waiting to make decisions — these are the things which will kill the Bulls against a team like the Sixers.