Bulls Off To Slow Start

The Chicago Bulls are off the a slow start in the new season. There seems to be trouble in the locker room, they have a players only meeting after their first loss, and frustration is starting to mount. Other teams have their eyes on the Bulls to see if Chicago’s pending implosion will lead to the team selling off pieces. There is still talent in Chicago, their top three can get home and take down any team in the NBA, but they need to show it more consistently. In their last game, the Bulls almost beat Kevin Durant and the Suns in overtime, but lose by one despite a strong showing from Nikola Vucevic with 26 points.

Zach Lavine is leading the Bulls in scoring with 22.4 PPG on the season, and is their top threat from the outside 2.4 made threes per game. Lavine has scored 20 or more if back to back games, including a 22 point, eight rebound, eight assist game against Phoenix. DeMar DeRozan is not far behind Lavine in scoring, he averages 21.4 PPG and a team high 4.6 APG. Nikola Vucevic is averaging a double-double for Chicago with 16.3 PPG and 10.7 RPG. Coby White starts at the point and adds 11.9 PPG from the perimeter.

The final starting spot has been split between Patrick Williams and Torrey Craig. Craig has been starting lately, but he played 20 minutes in their last game and did not score a point. Alex Caruso brings energy off the bench, he is the top bench scorer with 7.8 PPG. The Bulls rank 25th in the NBA in offensive efficiency, and 14th in defensive efficiency according to dunksandthrees.com. Chicago plays slow on offense, their tempo ranks 28th in the league.

Bucks Drop Second Straight

Milwaukee comes into this matchup with Chicago off of two straight losses. Both losses came on the road, losing first in Indiana then taking another loss in Orlando. Giannis Antetokounmpo was excellent against Orlando with 35 points, ten rebounds and seven assists, but it wasn’t enough to overtake the Magic. Damian Lillard did not play with a calf injury, and their next highest scorer in the loss was Cameron Payne with just 14 points.

Giannis leads Milwaukee in scoring with 28.9 PPG, and also grabs the most rebounds with 9.4 per game. The Bucks need to help Giannis, as he has scored 35 and 54 in the last two games, and Milwaukee lost both. In the 54-point game against the Pacers, he shot 76% from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds. Lillard has missed two games, but scores 24.3 PPG when he is healthy, and averages over two made threes per game. Khris Middleton only plays 18 minutes per game, but is averaging 11.1 PPG in his time. Bobby Portis is the top scorer off the bench, he is averaging 11.7 PPG and 5.8 RPG.

Brook Lopez starts at center and adds 9.4 PPG, while Malik Beasley has started every game this season and adds 8.2 PPG from the wing. Jae Crowder and Cameron Payne have each started games for the Bucks due to injuries. The Bucks offense is ranked 6th in the league in efficiency, and their defense ranks 17th. Milwaukee plays at the 6th fastest tempo in the NBA, averaging 101.9 possessions per game.