Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks: Game Outlook

Mar 24, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Robin Lopez (8) watches Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) grab a looses ball during first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks center Robin Lopez (8) watches Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) grab a looses ball during first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rajon Rondo, PG, Chicago Bulls
Jan 23, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) guards Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo (9) during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Bulls defeated the Mavericks 102-98. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Projected starting lineups for each team

Barring an injury in shootaround, the Bulls should start Friday’s game with the same lineup they’ve been rolling with since the regular season started last week.

The starting lineup of Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez for the Bulls has been one of the more effective five-man units in the first four games.

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Gibson has filled the starting power forward role as well as anyone could’ve imagined through the first four games, while Lopez has been a rock in the middle.

This unit’s plus-minus of +3.8 is the sixth-best of any five-man unit for the Bulls. (There is a unit that’s +4, but that Rondo/Wade/Butler/McDermott/Mirotic small-ball unit has only been used in one game this season.)

As for the Knicks, Bulls fans are going to see the returnees early and often on Friday night. Derrick Rose is playing almost 31 minutes a game (30.8) for the Knicks as their starting point guard, while Noah is seeing 22.5 minutes a game on average in the front court with Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony, a former Bulls free agent target.

Projected starting fives:

Bulls – Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler, Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez

Knicks – Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee, Carmelo Anthony, Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah