Chicago Bulls: 3 red hot players who can help beat the Lakers

Hot Chicago Bulls players that can help beat the Lakers: Alex Caruso

Few Bulls’ players should have a bigger chip on their shoulder coming into this meeting with the Lakers on Nov. 15 than the former LA point guard Alex Caruso. This defensive standout is currently playing his first season with a team that is not the Lakers. The Bulls signed Caruso away from the Lakers during the offseason on a four-year contract worth around $37 million in total.

It’s the idea that the Lakers didn’t actually counter any offers last offseason to try and bring Caruso back that should be his main motivating factor in this game. There’s this prevalent feeling that he was very undervalued with the Lakers and that Rob Pelinka was going to be able to replace his production on both ends of the floor with no problem.

That is definitely not the case, and Caruso is proving the true value that he can bring to the table this season with the Bulls.

While Caruso’s offensive production isn’t the best it ever was of late, the way he’s playing on defense is truly stellar. Caruso is averaging some season highs over any three-game stretch thus far in his last three outings for the Bulls. He’s averaged around nine points per game, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and 0.5 blocks in the last three games.

The Bulls have two former Lakers point guards that should be waiting for their opportunity to shine against their former team on this night. Caruso and fellow two-way point guard Lonzo Ball should have a huge chip on their shoulders against the Lakers, which should be fun to watch if you’re a Bulls fan.

If the Bulls slot Caruso in the starting unit for the second straight game, he should be able to make life very difficult for the likes of either Kent Bazemore or Avery Bradley. A lot of that depends on who the Lakers start in the backcourt unit in this game.