If the Chicago Bulls can stun the Boston Celtics for the second game in a row, they will win four in a row for the first time in over a year. This group last pulled that off between Nov. 30 and Dec. 8, 2023.
So what worked on Thursday night against the Celtics? Zach LaVine! The two-time All-Star put together a nice audition for the Boston Celtics, scoring 36 points on 11-19 shooting from the field. Boston had no answer for LaVine’s three-level scoring, and they sent him to the free throw line for an 8-9 showing. Staying in front of him tonight and limiting his downhill explosiveness will surely be a priority. And, if they are able to do exactly that, someone else on this team is going to have to step up offensively. The Bulls also won the battle behind the arc, which is crucial against this Celtics squad. Boston is the only team in the NBA that takes more threes than Chicago. They only finished 14-56 from downtown, however, making it only the third time this season they have failed to make more than 14 threes. The Bulls finished a much better 19-52 from long range. While LaVine was a big part of that with his six makes, Patrick Williams also had a strong night with a 4-9 performance. Something similar from him would be huge! (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) I’m also expecting the Bulls to lean on Nikola Vucevic even more tonight, especially if LaVine is struggling to put up similar numbers. The big man abused mismatches all night long, leading to 16 points on 7-9 shooting. With the Celtics constantly switching and scrambling, Chicago has to continue to keep their eyes peeled for advantages that the big man has underneath the basket. They also need to remember that he does have a size and strength edge against Al Horford and Kristaps Prozingis. The Bulls bench has provided some solid minutes over this winning streak. Julian Phillips has scored double-digit points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. Meanwhile, Talen Horton-Tucker has settled into a heat-check role and has averaged 10.4 points per game on 57.3 percent shooting over the last 11 games. Add in Jalen Smith’s reliable 15 minutes and Lonzo Ball’s high-IQ playmaking, and Chicago’s depth has been a big reason why they have been better than expected this season.Tonight: Round 2 vs. Boston ?⏰: 7:00 pm CT ?: t.co/dLgvAjfc2T ?: @670TheScore@BMO_US | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/CIuGt5Si4E
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 21, 2024 It sounds like the Chicago Bulls are playing some hardball. According to the Chicago Sports Network’s K.C. Johnson, the team has made it clear to Denver that they do not want to take back Zeke Nnaji in a deal for Zach LaVine. The 22-year-old forward signed a four-year, $32.0 million deal this offseason that is looking worse and worse by the day. With that in mind, I don’t blame them at all for not wanting to eat that deal, particularly when they are the team giving up the best asset in the trade. But can they find someone to take the money instead? If not, can they incentivize the Nuggets to give them something else in return for taking on the contract? Let’s just hope this isn’t the thing that makes the deal completely fall apart. As bad as that Nnaji contract looks, finding someone to take LaVine and moving on with this rebuild is the most important thing. I’m not saying the Bulls should just accept anything for their two-time All-Star, but they also haven’t been the savviest trade markers in the past. To say I worry about them navigating all of this properly would be an understatement!Said this on @CHSN__ pregame show last night but, at least as of now, Bulls have shown no interest in taking Zeke Nnaji contract in any talks surrounding Zach LaVine.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 21, 2024 While the Bulls may not be destined for greatness, Billy Donovan is having quite the end to 2024. He recently learned that Providence will retire his jersey AND that he is now officially eligible for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame! His former coach and long-time mentor, Rick Pitino, sure sounded proud when asked about Donovan’s accomplishments.“Billy is like a son to me,” Pitino told reporters on Friday (h/t Kevin McNamara). “He deserves to be up in the rafters, only two Final Fours in the history of the school. Billy carried our basketball team. Without Billy The Kid, those dreams can’t come true, so he deserves it. There are only eight coaches in the history of the game that have won back-to-back championships, and as a player, he played in the Final Four. So Naismith Hall of Fame is calling, and I couldn’t be any happier.”
Look, there is no guarantee that Donovan will sport an orange jacket, but I’d say he has a pretty good chance! The mere fact that the HOF nominated his eligibility feels like a good sign. Not to mention, as Pitino said, he is one of only eight coaches to ever win back-to-back titles at the college level. His time in the NBA hasn’t been before, but he is undoubtedly a college coaching legend. His winning percentage sits at an absurd 70.9 percent over a 20-year span! In a season with seemingly never-ending negatives, Caleb Williams is trying his best to stay positive. The Blackhawks are on the verge of welcoming back Seth Jones. How long will it take for him to readjust?ELSEWHERE AT BN: Check Out BN Fantasy | Subscribe to The BN Newsletter
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