The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks face off Wednesday night in a game that both teams should be considering must win. The Bulls are trying to chase down the Washington Wizards for a play-in tournament spot while the Knicks are in a tight race that could see them land anywhere from third to seventh in the Eastern Conference.
The Bulls should be playing with a sense of urgency, but that has proven elusive even as the season winds down. They will be hoping to carry the momentum from a bounce-back win against the Miami Heat into this game.
The Knicks are coming off a loss to the Phoenix Suns. That is their only loss in the last ten games they have played. A much better stretch than the Bulls have had over that time going 4-6.
Former head coach Tom Thibodeau leads the Knicks into the third matchup between the two teams with the season series tied one game apiece. Thibs has had the Bulls number since he left Chicago, a trend the Bulls desperately need to end with the importance of this game.
Zach LaVine will remain out for Chicago, continuing his extended absence at the worst possible time. The Bulls have so far been unable to find a consistent rhythm without their star player despite having one remaining all-star active in Nikola Vucevic.
Things don’t get much easier for the Bulls as they face the hot Knicks. The motivation of the Knicks trying to overtake the Bucks for third in the East leads one to believe they will not be slowing down anytime soon.
In a very important game for both teams, there a few players on both rosters that fans should keep an eye on in this one.
Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks: Knicks Players to Watch
- Julius Randle, PF
- Derrick Rose, PG
- Nerlens Noel, C
The motor that keeps the Knicks going is forward Julius Randle, who made his all-star debut this season and should be a lock to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He has been consistently great all season but somehow taken his game to another level in the recent stretch of games.
Over his last ten, Randle is averaging 28.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6 assists per game. He is also shooting a red hot 45.7 percent from three in that stretch on seven attempts per game. The Knicks go as Randle goes, a trend that will continue moving forward.
He could be a matchup nightmare for the Bulls depending on who is ready to step up in defending him. Randle does a lot of ball-handling for New York and at his size and strength generates mismatches on a consistent basis.
Former Bulls MVP point guard Derrick Rose will be another player to watch closely on the Knicks. Not only is he vital to the success of the team, but he just so happens to play a position of need for the Bulls this upcoming offseason. Rose will be a free agent at the time.
Slowing Rose and containing Randle are the two points of emphasis for the Bulls defensively in this one. On the other end, they need to be aware of Nerlens Noel and where he is at all times.
Over their last ten games, Noel is blocking 2.7 shots per game in the absence of Mitchell Robinson. Noel will also be tasked with defending the Bulls best and most important offensive player right now, Nikola Vucevic.
Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks: Bulls Players to Watch
- Coby White, PG
- Thaddeus Young, PF
- Daniel Theis, PF/C
The Chicago Bulls rely heavily on big man Nikola Vucevic offensively, and rightfully so. With LaVine out, Coby White is also expected to provide a lot more and becomes crucial in the team’s success. So far, White has done a pretty good job of stepping up for his team.
Over the seven games since LaVine entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols White is scoring 19.1 points per game. That is second to only Vooch on the Bulls. Potentially most important for White is his ability to limit his turnovers lately. He is turning it over just 2.3 times per game over the last seven.
That is great to see for the Bulls and will need to continue as he remains a primary contributor on the offensive end.
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Forward Thaddeus Young will have a key role on both ends of the floor. Not only is he someone who can matchup up with Randle for stretches of play but he is the team’s primary playmaker off the bench at the moment.
When the Bulls win, he tends to have one of his do it all games. Young needs to be active and involved on both ends of the floor to help Chicago play 48 minutes of good basketball.
Finally, big man Daniel Theis makes the list. In his last game, he was literally a can’t miss player on the floor each and every possession. Not only did he have a huge statistical night against the Heat, but he was also all over the floor and making all of the effort plays.
That needs to be a trend from Theis the rest of the season. He can be the Bulls X-factor in chasing a playoff spot and showed how he could do that last time out.
As a starter currently, he will naturally be asked to slow down Randle. Theis must avoid foul trouble while playing physical against the all-star forward. He is more than capable of doing the job adequately and that will be vital in the Bulls picking up a victory.