After a long and largely uneventful summer, fans are excited to get back into the United Center and cheer on their Chicago Bulls. They will soon have the opportunity to do just that, as the Bulls host the Pelicans in their preseason opener. With the positive update regarding Lonzo Ball’s injury, the dynamic duo of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan look to keep the ship afloat until Ball can return to the starting lineup. Even in Lonzo’s absence, there is a lot for Bulls fans to look forward to at tip-off.
Chicago Bulls fans should expect an exciting preseason opener.
Excitement. That is the first thing fans should expect to see from their Chicago Bulls. I truly believe that Billy Donovan emphasizes defense and pushing the ball on offense. Defensively, the Bulls have shown when they were healthy last year, they were one of the best teams in the league. I fully expect them to consistently be one of the top defensive teams in the league and wreak havoc whenever they are on the defensive side of the ball
Although Ball is not at the helm and running the point guard position due to injury, I fully expect Ayo Dosunmu to take initiative and push the tempo just as Lonzo did last year. With all the athleticism on this Bulls roster, they may turn into a modern-day Lob City. Just imagine Ayo pushing the ball down the court while he has LaVine on one side and Derrick Jones on the other; that is a highlight tape waiting to happen.
Then in the halfcourt, you have DeRozan who makes the game look so simple. With his fadeaways, tough shots, and his ability to manipulate the defense, it’s almost impossible to guard him. It’s evident that when he plays, you can tell he has a chip on his shoulder, and Bulls fans will be able to witness that chip again.
On J.J. Reddick’s, “The Old Man and The Three” podcast, DeRozan stated:
"“Going into the season, the quote I kept reading every single day was a quote from ‘The Godfather’: ‘Revenge is best served cold.’ And I stuck with that. That was my whole mentality every time I went out to play.”"
I fully expect to see DeRozan in Godfather mode against the Pelicans, regardless if it is a preseason game or not.
All in all, expect a very good game. I know that it is preseason and teams tend to not take them very seriously but I doubt that will be the case for this game. With the game being on national TV, the return of Pelicans star Zion Williamson, and the gritty Chicago Bulls. It will be nothing short of amazing, the energy may just feel like a regular season atmosphere.
So Bulls fans, get your popcorn ready and buckle up for the show because the Bulls are back.