Bulls To Avoid “Trap” Game at 8 vs. Lakers

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

I’m going to begin and end this preview the same way, with paying homage to Mr. King. Happy Birthday sir. I would not be doing what I am doing now without your sacrifice and vision. May you continue to rest in peace knowing that this world is a better place because of your hard work in helping all of us learn to live and love one another as equals. Thank you!

Now, on to tonight’s game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers at 8:00. The Bulls have an opportunity to make it to .500 for the first time since I started with the Pippen Ain’t Easy staff. Pippen definitely Ain’t Easy, and neither is this game. The Lakers are riding a two game winning streak on this seven game road trip. Let’s go through the basics. The Lakers have no Kobe Bryant, no Steve Nash, no Steve Blake, No Shaquille O’Neal…oops he’s not there anymore. You get the point. However, the Lakers have Nick Young. I’m not going to recognize this dude’s nickname because he gave it to himself. Kind of like Kobe Bryant with that Black Mamba thing. Anyway let’s move on before I get on my soap box about nicknames. The Lakers are coming off an impressive win against the Toronto Raptors last night winning 112-106. Nick Young went nuts scoring 29 points which included 15 in the fourth. Ryan Kelly, a guy that barely made it out of training camp to get a roster spot, finished with 17 points. The Lakers have been ravaged with injuries at the point guard position, but they might have found one with Kendall Marshall. Marshall, who found himself out of the league for a minute after being traded from Phoenix to Washington then getting immediately waived, has really done well over the last few games. With a Mike D’Antoni squad, you know they are going to score. That’s his system and he will stick to it. Win or lose. The Bulls are going to have to do what they do on defense because the Lakers are a good offensive squad that wants to run.

With a Mike D’Antoni squad, you know they are going to score, and his team spells defense with one D and carries a fence around. They have no clue. The Bulls should be able to win this game easily if they stay disciplined and don’t fall in love with shooting three pointers which leads to long rebounds. The Lakers will try to bait the Bulls into their type of game which is speeding up the tempo. The Bulls have the advantage inside. Taj Gibson, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah should have a field day against the frontline of the Lakers. All they have on the frontline is Pau Gasol who hasn’t been comfortable since Mike D’Antoni came to LA. He is not going to be nearly enough, to stop the Bulls frontline. DJ Augustin should continue his great play of late because this type of game’s style of play is right up his alley.

I recently picked the Bulls to win this game easily, but now I’m not so sure. I don’t like trap games and this is definitely one. The Lakers started playing better after Nick Young, got into it with Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns. He threw a punch and got suspended. As mad as he was at the Suns, he was more upset that his teammates did not come to his aid. He let them know on the bench before he got kicked out and again in a team meeting. Since then, there has been more urgency with this squad. However, if the Bulls handle business on the defensive end, they win.

Finally, again Happy Birthday Mr. King!