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3 Crucial things Bulls fans must keep an eye on in season opener vs. Pelicans

A new version of the Bulls means new things to look for.

By Andrew Hanlon

Sep 30, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) and guard Coby White (0) pose for photos during Chicago Bulls media day at the Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Sep 30, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) and guard Coby White (0) pose for photos during Chicago Bulls media day at the Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images / David Banks-Imagn Images
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The Chicago Bulls will unveil a new version of the franchise sans DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso in the team's 2024-25 NBA season opener tonight on the road against the New Orleans Pelicans.

With a younger and more athletic rotation, the Bulls will look to push in transition at every opportunity and launch more threes than at any point in the Billy Donovan era.

Here are three things fans should watch for in game number one of the new-look Bulls.

How up-tempo will the Bulls really go?

Chicago brought in Josh Giddey from Oklahoma City in the Caruso trade. Coby White broke out as a three-level scorer and combo guard.

The Bulls are also getting a healthy Zach LaVine to start the year.

Even rookie Matas Buzelis can grab and go in transition and, at 6-foot-10, is one of the team's most athletic and explosive finishers.

How much Chicago runs - and whether it can rebound enough to push the pace the way it wants - will be interesting to see against another small team like the Pelicans.

How does LaVine fit into the new offense?

LaVine has been saying all the right things, beginning with his speech at media day. He seems willing to move the ball, take fewer shots and work within Donovan's new system.

He's an intelligent player and a good passer, but will he play that way now that the games count? What about late in the fourth quarter of a close contest?

Or does he revert back to his natural tendencies as a high-usage (but high-level) scorer?

How many threes do the Bulls take?

Chicago hoisted 47.8 threes per game this preseason, second only to the Boston Celtics. Part of the team's new-look offense is spreading the floor to create open shots, especially from behind the arc.

White, LaVine, Lonzo Ball and Ayo Dosunmu are all proven 3-point shooters. Buzelis flashed a decent long-range shot in the preseason, as did Julian Phillips.

Will the Bulls really run and gun like they did in the preseason or does the offense sputter without DeRozan around to bail them out?

It's also worth keeping an eye on how efficient the team is on it's large amount of attempts. Chicago shot just 34.5 percent from deep during its five exhibition games.

That's a stat that could make a massive difference in wins versus losses this year.

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