The Bulls (2-2) return to the United Center after an exciting blowout 120-102 victory over Boston on Monday to close the book on an early three-game homestand against Central Division rival Indiana in the first of four this season. Indy comes to town with a 1-3 mark on the new season after a being on the short end of a 120-106 drubbing in Philadelphia on Monday. Third-year guard Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 19 points and 10 assists, Buddy Hield added 18 points with six assists while Jalen Smith and rookie Bennedict Mathurin each scored 17. As a team, the Pacers shot just 42 percent from the field and 12 of 44 (.273) from the 3-point line as they struggled to keep up with the 76ers right from the start.
After tonight, the Bulls head to San Antonio to take on the Spurs Friday, then immediately fly home to meet the aforementioned Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday at the UC.
As for this evening’s contest with the Pacers, here are a couple of things to keep an eye on (7 pm CST tipoff – NBC Sports Chicago):
INSIDE & OUT
For the Bulls to succeed offensively, Chicago must aggressively get the ball into the paint and attack the rim in any number of ways. Bulls center Nikola Vučević enjoyed a monster game against Boston the last time out, finishing with 18 points and 23 rebounds. The Bulls did a good job of recognizing when a smaller defender switched onto Vučević and quickly got him the ball. And Vučević didn’t just rely on teammates feeding him, as he forcefully went and got the ball himself off the rim (10 offensive rebounds) and ended up making five trips to the free throw line, hitting on four.
Although there is a chance veteran center Myles Turner could make his season debut tonight, the Pacers still come in undermanned in the middle, as 20-year-old, 6’10, 215-pound, second-year pivot, Isaiah Jackson, is likely to draw the starting assignment. The former Kentucky Wildcat is averaging 8.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks over 17.9 minutes. He shows plenty of promise, but in all honesty, Jackson shouldn’t pose too serious a challenge for Vučević, who last season averaged 22 points and 16 rebounds while shooting .617 against Indiana. The Bulls will need more of the same from Vučević tonight.
Another important key on offense for the Bulls is that the ball must freely jump from player-to-player, skipping inside and out as well as from one side of the 3-point arc to the other. The ball can’t stick in anyone’s hands for too long while everyone else stands and watches. Swift passing, continuous player movement in and out of the lane and all around the 3-point arc is absolutely vital. Although the Bulls are blessed with two outstanding one-on-one players in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, the team will be best served if everyone gets involved in the action. DeRozan and LaVine simply need to trust that the ball will eventually find them plenty of times each game.
NOTHING EASY
Defensively, Chicago must come out of the gates breathing fire, hitting the hardwood sporting a physical mindset by locking down the paint, denying easy scores at the rim and wide-open looks from the 3-point arc.
Heading into the Boston game the other night, Bulls opponents shot a ridiculous .514 from the floor and .469 from behind the arc. Chicago had also been outscored in the paint 150-108. But the Bulls successfully turned the tables against the Cs on Monday, holding Boston to .370 from the field (37-of-100), and .375 from deep (18-of-48), while also outscoring them 46-34 in the paint.
Indiana is far from Boston’s level, although the Pacers come in tonight averaging 117.8 points (7th in the NBA). However they also rank 20th from behind the arc (.331) and 24th (.439) from the field. Offensively, the Pacers are led by a talented trio of Tyrese Haliburton, rookie Bennedict Mathurin and veteran wing, Buddy Hield. Haliburton leads Indiana in scoring at 24.0 points and ranks third in the NBA with 9.8 assists. Mathurin, who was drafted sixth overall, is also enjoying a great start, averaging 22.3 points over his first four games as a pro, while Hield, who claims he’s open the moment he steps off the team bus, is delivering 13.3 points while shooting a solid .364 on 8.3 attempts from long distance.
The Bulls cannot afford a letdown this evening. In truth, they’re not good enough to survive a halfhearted effort. Chicago has to treat every opponent as if they’re the defending NBA Champs and be aggressive from start to finish.