The Chicago Bulls finally started to look like a team with playoff aspirations tonight. Here are some things I loved and some things I hated from the win.
Tonight was the night Chicago Bulls fans were waiting for. Their team finally played a good game. Granted, they played a seemingly sad Pistons team, but a win is a win!
Detroit was able to hang around in the first half, but in the second half, their shooting let them down. They only scored 34 points and got outscored by 16.
Here’s my love/hate list from the Bulls’ quality win over the Pistons.
Love – Wendell Carter Jr. outplaying Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond is a 2x All-Star entering the prime of his career and Wendell Carter Jr. is a 20-year-old kid trying to establish himself in the NBA. With that being said, though, I’m not surprised Carter outplayed Drummond tonight. Andre looked lethargic all night long, and Wendell has had an incredible start to his sophomore season.
Carter finished the game with 12 points, 15 boards and a +21 plus/minus. My only gripe: I want him taking more than seven shots.
Hate – Zach LaVine’s night
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Zach LaVine was atrocious tonight. He finished the game with five points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field. When scoring is the main thing you bring to the table, you can’t have nights like that. Luckily, Zach’s teammates were there to shoulder the load.
If the Bulls want to keep winning games going forward, LaVine can’t have any more five-point nights.
Love – Tomas Satoransky dropping the hammer
I’ve been begging Tomas Satoransky to be more aggressive, and tonight, he finally was. He finished the game with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point land. He also added seven assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Sato even had a thunderous jam to put the cherry on top of his nice night.
Czechmate pic.twitter.com/tP6ccsm5ui
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 21, 2019
Did anyone know Sato had that in him? I sure didn’t.
Hate – The fact that Derrick Rose isn’t in a Bulls uniform
Every time Derrick Rose plays the Bulls, my body fills with sadness. It’s too much for me.
Rose had a nice game tonight, scoring 18 points and getting to the free-throw line nine times. He seemed like the only competent Piston for most of the game.
I’m happy Rose is finding success in other cities, but I wish he was still in Chicago.
Love – Shaquille Harrison balling out
Take a bow, Shaquille Harrison!
Shaq got the start tonight with Otto Porter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison both sidelined, and he didn’t disappoint. He scored 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and added 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals. He also had a +29 plus/minus in 26 minutes of action.
The most surprising moment of Shaq’s during the game? He made a three!
If he can keep playing at half the level he played at tonight, he’ll have a spot in the rotation going forward.
Oh, and he threw down a gnarly reverse jam. That seems relevant.
Bonus love – Lauri Markkanen waking up
Whoever remembered to wake up Lauri Markkanen before the game tonight deserves some sort of compensation. Lauri finally played at the level Bulls fans know he’s capable of playing at.
He finished the game with a clean 24 points and six rebounds. He’s back!
Chicago will look to keep up the solid play Friday night against Miami.