The Chicago Bulls walked away victorious in their first preseason game. Chicago defeated Phoenix 124-117.
Although it's only preseason, and the first preseason game at that, fans are left with valuable early insights about the team.
Here are three takeaways from the individual performances.
Caleb Wilson's Aggressiveness
Caleb Wilson finished the game with 15 points. He shot 6-for-15 from the field and 0-for-4 from beyond the arc.
It was nice seeing the rookie be aggressive in his first preseason game. He showed a strong level of confidence. This aggressiveness is a good start to the preseason.
The preseason presents an opportunity to adjust to the NBA. Taking 15 shots was a great way for Wilson to do so. Getting lots of reps shooting the ball in preseason should help him when the actual season starts.
While he didn't knock down a 3-pointer, one preseason game is nowhere near enough of a sample size to judge his 3-point shooting for the start of the season.
Matas Buzelis looked great attacking the rim
Matas Buzelis may have shot 0-for-6 from 3-point range against the Suns. However, Buzelis did excel in one area: attacking the rim.
This seems like it can be a reliable look for Buzelis during the regular season, as he looked good when going downhill and getting in the paint.
If he constantly attacks the rim during the regular season, this can be how he gets a good portion of his points each night.
Tobe Awaka, Dailyn Swain show promise
In 21 minutes, Tobe Awaka scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. He shot 6-for-8 from the field.
Awaka was productive off the bench. He showed what he can bring to the Bulls: scoring and rebounding. If he keeps this up, it's hard to imagine him not getting consistent minutes in the regular season.
Awaka also had one block and one steal in the game.
It will be interesting to see if he and Josh Giddey can establish good chemistry. Awaka could be a great reserve to put on the floor with Giddey, as he could be a good option for Giddey to feed the ball to inside.
As for Dailyn Swain, he scored 10 points, shooting 3-for-3 from the field. He also dished out six assists and had two steals, despite his three turnovers.
Although the turnovers will need to be better in the future, Swain showed upside in the game. This is a solid starting point for the rookie as he continues preseason and begins the regular season.
Norman Powell's offense
Norman Powell shot 3-for-4 from deep (75%). He finished the game with 14 points in 14 minutes.
Powell seems like a great veteran player to have with this group. If he can be the anchor for the team on the offensive end - especially from 3-point range - that will be big for this young team. His scoring will be valuable alongside what Buzelis and Wilson contribute.
Add us as a preferred source on Google