GT - Indiana Pacers @ Chicago Bulls

[detlef_schrempf]

I predicted a loss against Portland on the Portland pregame thread and I’m afraid of the same thing today.

Each game is its own animal, but facing Sabonis and Turner down low on the back end of a back to back doesnt bode well. I expect a loss here. Hope I’m wrong though!

Either way it doesn’t speak much to the Bulls long term just as the Blazers game didn’t. Without Vooch it will be very tough to battle these guys.

[MalagaBulls]

Bulls 3rd in this week's NBA KIA power rankings:

3.

Chicago Bulls

Last Week: 2 ↓

Record: 12-5
Pace: 99.1 (14) OffRtg: 109.9 (7) DefRtg: 104.4 (7) NetRtg: +5.4 (5)
Zach LaVine gets the highlight dunks, his 1.48 points per possession in transition rank third among 88 players with at least 35 transition possessions, and his 6.2 points per game in transition rank second to only Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Synergy tracking. But seventh on that points-per-possession list is DeMar DeRozan (1.36), who’s also averaged a career-high 3.8 transition points per game. DeRozan’s free throw rate remains high, but he hasn’t been getting to the basket as much he did in San Antonio, so continuing to supplement his half-court, iso stylings with some easier buckets against an unset defense (fueled by the Bulls’ own defense) is important.
The Bulls suffered loss No. 5 when neither LaVine nor DeRozan could get to the basket in the fourth quarter in Portland on Wednesday. But the last four games have been the team’s best stretch of offense (114.8 points scored per 100 possessions) of the season. The Bulls’ new starting lineup, though neither Alex Caruso nor Tony Bradley have provided much scoring themselves, has scored almost 125 per 100 in its 68 minutes and has been even better defensively.
The Bulls just completed a stretch of 13 straight games against teams no worse than the 9-9 Lakers. They now play three games against the Pacers, Rockets and Magic before beginning another difficult stretch with a visit from the Heat on Saturday.
Week 6: vs. IND, @ HOU, @ ORL, vs. MIA

[Mr. Tibbs]

No Vooch and Caruso questionable. After a very physical, hard fought game last night, being shorthanded against Sabonis and Turner is less than ideal. This feels like a major yikes game to me.

[FriedRise]

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The spread has shrunk considerably since this morning. It was CHI -4.5 to start and CHI -1.5 now... and we have home court advantage!

Back to back and playing shorthanded obviously have a lot to do with it, but I expect shenanigans from the zebras again tonight with the Vegas prediction being this close.

[Rowland Garrett]

Keys for Bulls to win this one are:

1) Make our 3's at above 36%

2) Win the RB battle

3) Defend the Pacers 3's well

I'm getting Doug Buffone vibes from these posts of yours.

[sco]

Keys for Bulls to win this one are:

1) Make our 3's at above 36%

2) Win the RB battle

3) Defend the Pacers 3's well

I'm getting Doug Buffone vibes from these posts of yours.

They are what they are. No more, no less...well not much less, anyway.

[BullChit]

Won't be able to watch or join you guys at all as I will be on the road with the State Manager today but just wanted to swing by to say "Just Weeein"

[BullChit]

Keys for Bulls to win this one are:

1) Make our 3's at above 36%

2) Win the RB battle

3) Defend the Pacers 3's well

I'm getting Doug Buffone vibes from these posts of yours.

They are what they are. No more, no less...well not much less, anyway.

Somebody asked Stacey King what he expects from the Bulls tonight and he said "good possessions"

That's a key to the game also.

[Michael Jackson]

I'm getting Doug Buffone vibes from these posts of yours.

They are what they are. No more, no less...well not much less, anyway.

Somebody asked Stacey King what he expects from the Bulls tonight and he said "good possessions"

That's a key to the game also.

He said that last night during the game. He was asked what do you want to see this time down the court from the bulls. Answer a Good possession. Thanks buddy lol

[Michael Jackson]

I predicted a loss against Portland on the Portland pregame thread and I’m afraid of the same thing today.

Each game is its own animal, but facing Sabonis and Turner down low on the back end of a back to back doesnt bode well. I expect a loss here. Hope I’m wrong though!

Either way it doesn’t speak much to the Bulls long term just as the Blazers game didn’t. Without Vooch it will be very tough to battle these guys.

We had impetus to lose the Portland game though, for the good of the franchise. We do not have that going into this game.

[Mirotek]

Oh nice a b2b, what a treat. I'm fiending for more Bulls games..

[madvillian]

This feels like a loss. Hopefully Indiana plays flat because I have a feeling Chicago will struggle to score more than 100 tonight.

[Grodoboldo]

Per injury report, Vuc is out and Caruso is questionable (wrist).

"Injury Update: Nikola Vucevic Remains Out Tonight, Alex Caruso Listed as Questionable" https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2021/11/22/injury-update-nikola-vucevic-remains-out-tonight-alex-caruso-listed-as-questionable/

[WestsideResider]

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Guys getting rest tonight?

[FriedRise]

Sounds like a load management day.

[WindyCityBorn]

What’s the strategy for guarding both Turner and Sabonis? Caruso has been impressive, but doesn’t Sabonis seem well out of the length Caruso is comfortable defending? Maybe start DJJ?

Treat Sabonis like AD/Randle and ignore Turner and if he beats you, good for him.

I really hope we don’t have to watch Caruso and Ball guard Sabonis all night.

[WindyCityBorn]

Play Bradley 30 minutes tonight. He looked good yesterday.

[pduh01]

I might be the minority here but might be better time to try out playing both
Bradley and Johnson(at the four.) for a little bit when both Sabonis and Turner on the floor together

[VolumePoster]

Not a good match up for us. And an emotional trap game to be sure. Two semi OT points:

-- I'm looking forward to not watching Sabonis abuse Lauri. Oh, that was bad.
-- we still have a chance because we have two top-five scorers. Has that ever happened?

[ducler]

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