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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Rajon Rondo, PG, Chicago Bulls
Feb 8, 2017; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) talks to teammates during a break in the action against the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bulls 123-92. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Avoid “the run”

In the NBA, every team makes a run. It’s just how it is.

But, when it comes to Curry, Thompson, Green and the Warriors, it’s a massacre when their runs get going. You could go from up six to down 20 in the blink of an eye.

For the Bulls to extend their win streak on TNT Thursdays at home to 18, they have to avoid the big runs from the Warriors offense. Curry and Thompson can hit from anywhere in the gym and if the Bulls aren’t hitting shots and the Dubs are running, this game can get ugly in a hurry.

The Bulls seem to turn it up a notch on national television (and not in the middle of a West Coast road trip like they were in the last meeting), but this is an underrated factor of this game. If you don’t stop the Warriors from getting into their rhythm offensively, which helps them lock in defensively, you have absolutely no chance of beating them.

Durant or no Durant, this is still the NBA’s best team and the Bulls would be playing with fire if they let Curry shoot his way out of his recent 3-point shooting slump (which feels just weird to say).

Next: #TNTBulls vs. Warriors: Live steam, how to watch/listen

Getting stops defensively, slowing the game down by getting to the lane through their stars and hitting outside shots like they did against Cleveland last weekend will be key in the #TNTBulls moving to 18-0 since 2012-13 at home on TNT.