Game Night at the United Center. Preseason: Milwaukee at Bulls. 7PM CT.
TV: NBCSCH: Neil Funk and Stacey King 7PM
Radio: 670 The Score: Chuck Swirsky, Bill Wennington and David Schuster 6:45PM.
The Bulls will show different combinations tonight and the starting lineup you see on the floor may not resemble the one that Head Coach Jim Boylen parades out opening night October 23.
The Bulls feature potential All Stars in Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. Otto Porter Jr. will get the call at small forward. It remains to be seen if Wendell Carter Jr. is healthy enough (tailbone) to start tonight against the Bucks. The starting point guard position remains in flux and perhaps we will know more following the Bulls morning session.
As I have stated many times, no predictions from this corner, but I am cautiously optimistic and sincerely believe this team is better than a year ago based on the new additions. The key of course is staying healthy and players taking their game to the next level.
Milwaukee is coming off a banner season having won 60 games and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals only to blow a 2-0 series lead to Toronto. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the reigning MVP and at the age of 24, superstardom has arrived. Once Giannis masters the art of three point shooting, his game will be all world. The Bucks bolstered their bench with the addition of two former Bulls in Robin Lopez and Kyle Korver. Look for the Bucks and 76ers to battle it out for supremacy in the EC this season. Korver will go down as one of the greatest pure shooters in NBA history while " Rolo" brought skill, leadership and a dry sense of humor to the organization. Both Korver and Lopez are respected by everyone within the walls of the Bulls organization.
Enjoy the new United Center scoreboard and all the amenities what the UC has to offer. New Bulls gear is available at the Madhouse Team Store as well.
NBA News and Notes:
Boston 107, Charlotte 106: Former Hornet, Kemba Walker scored 12 points and dished out 4 assists. Former Celtic, Terry Rozier had 17 points and 9 assists. FYI...Celtics center Tacko Fall is officially listed at 7 foot 5 inches without shoes.
Memphis 123, Maccabi Haifa 88: Ja Morant played 18 minutes: 10 points 7 assists.
Los Angeles Clippers 127, Shanghai Sharks 87: Mo Harkless lead LAC in scoring with 16.
Woj (ESPN) is reporting the Raptors have given Kyle Lowry a one year 31-million dollar extension taking him off the 2020 free agent market.
Health issues have forced former Cavs coach David Blatt to step down as head coach at Olympiakos.
Thanks for reading CCI. Reach out: cswirsky@bulls.com or Twitter @ctsbulls
Always a pleasure.