Chicago Bulls at Portland Trail Blazers: Four Takeaways, Butler Shines
The Jerian Grant Game
Second year point guard Jerian Grant had arguably the best game of his NBA career Tuesday night.
New to the Bulls this season, Grant has received limited playing time thus far after excelling for the championship winning Summer Bulls (still waiting on that banner). But Grant took full advantage of the opportunity before him with Rondo out due to a left ankle sprain.
Grant scored 16 points (3 shy of a career high) on 6-for-13 shooting and recorded an impressive five steals. A few of those came right out of Damian Lillard’s hands, and nearly all of them led to transition layups.
K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune was high on Grant’s performance.
These may be Jerian Grant's best minutes as a Bull---including summer league.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 16, 2016
Johnson wasn’t alone in his thoughts either; several other voices chimed in with similar remarks. Matt Moore of CBS Sports came at it from a slightly different angle.
Phil Jackson shade aside, this much is true: Grant’s performance on Tuesday was a great sign for the Bulls’ point guard situation, which has looked shaky so far as both Rondo and Michael Carter-Williams battle injuries off the court and shooting the ball efficiently on the court.