Chicago Bulls: Game-by-game predictions for month of January
Game 1: Utah Jazz (Jan. 2)
The start of the month comes against the Jazz. If the Chicago Bulls can get a win over the team that sits in fifth place in the Western Conference standings, it would go a long way to boosting their confidence for the rest of this month’s difficult schedule. This won’t be easy either since Jazz are one of the NBA’s hottest teams.
Utah comes into this game having won three in a row and eight of their last nine. The good news for the Bulls is that some of the closest games the Jazz played in during that stretch came against subpar opponents from the East on the road.
Nonetheless, the “Stifle Tower” Rudy Gobert will make it hard for the Bulls to get their frontcourt going. And with the Jazz starting backcourt rolling, especially shooting guard Donovan Mitchell, the Bulls fall short in their 2020 opener.
Score Prediction: Jazz 110, Bulls 105 (Record 13-22)
Game 2: Boston Celtics (Jan. 4)
Next up for the Bulls after falling short against the Jazz is the Boston Celtics. Yet another team that is rolling in playoff position in their respective conference is squaring up against the Bulls at the United Center. The Celtics come into the month of January sporting a record of 23-8.
Small forward Jayson Tatum will give the Bulls a tough test on the wing since they’re lacking depth there at the moment. Let’s say that Boylen gets second-year small forward Chandler Hutchison back, and they at least have a defender that can stay with Tatum.
A big game from shooting guard Zach LaVine, as he tries to push for his first-career All-Star selection, doesn’t get the win.