Chicago Bulls vs. Utah Jazz: 3 Takeaways from Fourth Straight Victory
1. Robin Lopez played one of his best games of the season
The performance of Robin Lopez runs much deeper than him shooting 5-for-16 from the field on Thursday night.
Lopez grabbed 12 rebounds to go along with his 10 points and a couple of blocks in the win for the Bulls. The impact of Lopez’ performance against the Jazz can’t really be seen in a simple box score other than his seven (!) offensive rebounds. He protected the rim as well as he has in any game all season.
More from Pippen Ain't Easy
- The dream starting 5 for the Chicago Bulls 5 years from now
- Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu inspires the future with new school program
- Chicago Bulls NBA 2K24 full roster ratings, risers, and fallers
- Bulls sign a pair of promising guards to Exhibit 10 contracts
- When does NBA Training Camp start? Dates Bulls fans need to know
In a matchup with Rudy Gobert — who is easily one of the NBA’s best centers — Lopez held his own against the “Stifle Tower”, specifically on the glass on both ends of the floor.
Nothing about Lopez’ game is going to be flashy or worthy of countless Vine loops. But, he’s such a versatile big guy in the fact that he protects the basket, he can provide offense (within the flow of said offense), and he’s the best screener on the Bulls roster.
Early in the game when the Bulls were struggling to put the ball in the basket, it was Lopez setting a majority of the screens for the Bulls’ ball-handlers to create.
The Bulls don’t win this game without him.