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Chicago Bulls at Los Angeles Lakers Game Outlook

By Daniel Coughlin

November 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) moves the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
November 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) moves the ball against the defense of Los Angeles Clippers forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 15, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) and guard Dwyane Wade (3) and forward Jimmy Butler (21) and guard Jerian Grant (2) react after a dunk by Wade against the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) and guard Dwyane Wade (3) and forward Jimmy Butler (21) and guard Jerian Grant (2) react after a dunk by Wade against the Portland Trail Blazers during the third quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Predictions

The easiest prediction is that it will be nice to see Luol Deng again. Though it will also be a bit strange and say a lot about the current state of the Bulls, considering that Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson will be the only two players that really spent much time as teammates with Deng while he was in Chicago.

As for the game, the Bulls are the more experienced team with the better players. Dwyane Wade is, by far, the most accomplished player on either team; Butler is playing better basketball than anyone else involved in this game. However, Luke Walton might be a better coach than Hoiberg and LA should be quite scrappy.

The confidence and homecourt advantage should be enough to keep the Lakers applying pressure. They might be 7-6, but that doesn’t mean they are incapable of playing great basketball. If you look at the teams they’ve been this season, it’s much more impressive than what the Bulls have done this year.

D’Angelo Russell and Jordan Clarkson will present challenges to Rajon Rondo and Jerian Grant. Rondo clearly doesn’t intend to play a great deal of defense and Clarkson scored 20 points off the bench on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs.

Player of the Game: D’Angelo Russell

Score: 104-96

Winner: Los Angeles Lakers

It’s hard to pick either way. These two teams are probably more similar than different. I hope that Chicago can avoid a second loss in as many nights, but their history of being streaky and playing on the road favors the Lakers. If the game stays close and the Lakers can’t get any outside shooting from their bigs, the Bulls can win this game. The longer Hoiberg can confidently put Lopez on the floor and keep Portis on the bench in the fourth quarter, the greater the odds that Chicago pulls off the win.

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