Chicago Bulls dud from bounce-back win over the Clippers: Derrick Jones Jr.
In wins like this one for the Bulls on the road over the Clippers to round out the weekend, it’s going to be very challenging to find one dud. I can say that almost every single time the Bulls get a double-digit win over a true postseason contender like the Clippers.
But we had to go with someone, and in perfect honesty, for me, it came down to small forward Derrick Jones Jr. and point guard Lonzo Ball.
This was not as much of a statistical decision from this game as it was situational for the Bulls. Lonzo had another tremendous defensive game which was key to close this one out. He had another poor shooting night, going 4-of-14 from the field and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc, with just three assists and two turnovers.
Jones was more efficient and productive in this game on paper compared with Lonzo. But he just didn’t do what the Bulls needed him to on this night. While Jones did go 1-of-2 from the field (good for just two points), with one assist, one rebound, one steal, and one block, he just didn’t make much of a positive impact for the Bulls.
He was often left open around the free-throw line when the Clippers were doubling the Bulls’ top initiators, but couldn’t do much with it. That resulted in Jones posting a -6 on the floor in this win over the Clippers along with two turnovers. Another turnover in the second half was also the result of a miscommunication off-ball from Jones.
The good news here is that Jones should still play a key role for the Bulls off the bench. There’s just no way that opposing teams will always be able to double the Bulls’ top initiators upon the return of Vooch and once third-year point guard Coby White makes his season debut on Nov. 15. against the Los Angeles Lakers.