Bulls at Lakers: 3 Takeaways to Settling the Score

Feb 21, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Louis Williams (23) goes to the basket between Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) and forward Taj Gibson (22) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Louis Williams (23) goes to the basket between Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) and forward Taj Gibson (22) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
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Oct 31, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) steals the ball during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 31, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) steals the ball during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports

Nikola Mirotic

Hoiberg called on Mirotic to start the game Sunday.

Surprised?

I think not.

Still, it was a first for the third-year wingman to this point in the regular season.

Long before this year, Hoiberg showed an affinity to Mirotic’s ability to space the floor.

Why?

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When Mirotic is successful, he is surely deemed as one of the most likely Bulls to create matchup problems for opponents.

As for his weaknesses, Mirotic showed that he continues to struggle when opponents look to post him up. Luckily for the Bulls, team defense tightened up down the stretch and they got stops when needed.

Mirotic didn’t let adversity take him out of the game for the entirety of the contest. He helped Chicago to outwork the Lakers on the glass by grabbing 15 rebounds and pairing them with 15 points.

Next to Mirotic, another Chicago Bull shined on Sunday night.

Who?