Chicago Bulls Schedule: 5 compelling matchups over first half of season
By Ryan Heckman
4. Friday January 15th @ Oklahoma City Thunder
This season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be a shell of their former selves. Long ago are the days of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Even last year’s pipe dream of a season seems so far away after the team traded All Star point guard Chris Paul to the Phoenix Suns.
Oklahoma City is full-on rebuilding, and you have to hand it to Sam Presti for how he’s been able to stockpile draft picks over the past couple of seasons. But, this season, they’ll be far from competitive. Outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder don’t have anyone they could remotely call a budding star. Although, fast forward a few years and that will change.
Also. Bulls should bring back Joakim Noah in some fashion. light
The conversation in this one will be all about Billy Donovan coaching against his former and only previous NBA team. He and the Thunder agreed to mutually part ways at the end of this most recent season, which is curious. But, it was all for the Bulls’ gain as they were able to surprisingly land Donovan as their new guy in charge.
It may be weird to think of it this way, but the Bulls are all but certain to be favorites in this game. Not many recent matchups with the Thunder saw Chicago as an odds-on favorite to win, but this year will likely be different.
Will Donovan defeat his former team on this night?