Chicago Bulls vs. Golden State Warriors: Can the #TNTBulls knock off the Dubs?

Feb 8, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles past Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) in the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 8, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles past Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44) in the first quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Bulls can get to the line, and they should

Of the many things Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade excel at, perhaps the most important is their combined effort to draw fouls. Jimmy is an elite player in that regard, ranking fourth in free throw attempts per game.

Without Butler and Wade, the Bulls still managed to out-shoot the Warriors from the free throw line in their first matchup, thanks to Jerian Grant. Not that it’s as simple Bulls plus Jimmy and Dwyane equals victory, but it certainly helps to have your best two offensive players in the game, especially when they draw fouls at the rate that they do.

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Free throws double both as a means of easy scoring and a way to stop the clock and slow the pace of any given game. Golden State ranks second in the league in pace. They thrive in transition, taking advantage of discombobulated defenses and their deadly three point shooting.

If Butler, Wade and the Bulls can get to the line at a high clip, it’ll help a bad offensive team score efficiently.

And especially with Durant out, the Warriors don’t get to the line all that often. But, they make up for it with three pointers, leading the league in effective field goal percentage.