Chicago Bulls: Paul George will dominate this team’s lacking wing depth
What will be in store for the Chicago Bulls as they take on Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers at the United Center on Dec. 14?
The Los Angeles Clippers are set to come to town to face the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Dec. 14. This is the second leg of back-to-back games for the Bulls in the Windy City. But nothing went well for the Bulls in the first leg of these back-to-back games. They fell short against the lowly Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 13, by the calamitous final score of 83-73.
The very fact that the Bulls only managed 73 points against a lacking Hornets defense (ranked 25th in the NBA in defensive rating heading into the game) shows how much trouble this team could be in facing the Clippers.
Not only are the Clippers one of the best, if not the best, defensive teams in the NBA, they’re good at the Bulls weakest spot. The Clippers might have the best defensive wing duo in the NBA this season, between Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. And the Bulls don’t have really any depth on the wing at the moment, with both Chandler Hutchison and Otto Porter Jr. out with various injuries.
The Clippers rank sixth in the NBA in defensive rating and are in the top half in points allowed per game (108). But they also have a tougher schedule than the Bulls do, playing in the Western Conference against teams like the Los Angeles Lakers in the same division. And the Clippers are without Kawhi in one game for each back-to-back they have.
At least the Clippers are in the midst of back-to-back games too. They knocked off the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road on Dec. 13 in the first leg of their back-to-back games. The Timberwolves should be the more difficult of the two teams the Clippers face to begin the weekend.
While Kawhi is likely to be sitting out, due to the Clippers load management philosophy, PG should be ready to go. George is averaging around 25 points per game, six rebounds, and four assists this season. He also already has about two win shares on the season, and a 22.7 player efficiency rating.
Moreover, the Clippers can really matchup whoever they want to with PG. It might be Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanen or shooting guard Zach LaVine. Either way, two of the more potent Bulls offensive options will be drastically limited. Or, if head coach Jim Boylen was to finally give way and start shooting guard Denzel Valentine at the three, then he might be guarded by PG.
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All in all, this is a spot where the Bulls would really liked to have OPJ and Hutch back in the mix. The lacking wing depth keeps coming back to bite the Bulls. They need to find answers, but likely won’t be able to against a title contender on Saturday night in the Clippers.