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Chicago Bulls: Shaquille Harrison proves worth vs. Damian Lillard

By Andrew Miller

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: Shaquille Harrison #3 of the Chicago Bulls attempts a shot while being guarded by Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter at the United Center on March 27, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: Shaquille Harrison #3 of the Chicago Bulls attempts a shot while being guarded by Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter at the United Center on March 27, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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The ability of the Chicago Bulls to get some type of momentum heading into the off-season could now start with players like guard Shaquille Harrison.

At this point of the regular season, the Chicago Bulls are really starting to wrap things up for a crucial off-season. The Chicago Bulls ran into a difficult stretch of back-to-back games on March 26 and 27 against the Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers.

Facing two of the best 10 or 12 teams in the NBA on the road is never easy, let alone for a team in the position of the Chicago Bulls. As this team keeps drowning in the Eastern Conference standings, the Raptors and Blazers took full advantage with two convincing defeats. The Raptors didn’t even put that much effort in from its starting five when it needed the wins to stay in key playoff position in the East.

However, what the Chicago Bulls are getting out of some of the younger players on the roster at this point is an opportunity to see who could step up and become a pivotal part of this franchise’s future. Since there’s so many players coming up from the G-League affiliate Windy City Bulls for the remainder of the regular season, we’re going to get some good looks at players who could make waves during the final stretch run.

In the March 27 loss at the hands of the Trail Blazers, the Bulls did get some idea as to what the young point guard Shaquille Harrison could provide them against star guard Damian Lillard. Harrison actually posted a game-high 21 points, to top 20 from the Blazers Seth Curry, and 10 boards to have one of the best showings of his career.

Meanwhile, Lillard did get the start for the Blazers but didn’t contribute much shooting just 3-11 from the field for 10 points. He also added seven assists which was second on the team for the Blazers behind wing Evan Turner.

Moreover, even with center Robin Lopez present in the starting five for the Bulls, Harrison nearly notched the team-high in rebounds. Former Kansas Jayhawks shooting guard Wayne Selden actually came through with the team-high in rebounds against the Blazers with 12. Selden also added four assists and one steal. The shooting performance wasn’t great from Selden, though, going just 33 percent from the field on 15 attempts.

The theme emerging here for the Bulls is that there are some players that could prove themselves down the stretch and earn a roster spot beyond the summer. Selden and Harrison are two of the players right now that are showing out enough to win over the front office and Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen.

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What rotational players like Selden and Harrison need to keep doing is prove that they can be long-term spark plugs off the bench for the Bulls. These two are by no means long-term solutions for the Bulls in the core part of the rotation and the starting five, but they could add a ton of value for the next few years with what they’ve showed lately.

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