No star players left in Chicago means more ball movement and faster play. The Bulls dominated the Pacers in a 121-103 win.
The Bulls are a different team since the trade deadline. They run after made baskets and use their youth and speed to their advantage.
Zach Lavine’s trade has provided a new game style for the team. Once an iso-dependent team, the Bulls now run the floor.
The Bulls came into the game 0-3 this year against the Pacers, who currently sits fifth place in the east. The Pacers, without their star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, had no way of guarding the fastbreaks and no way of matching baskets.
Coby White and Josh Giddey both finished with 29 points to lead the team.
“When [Giddey] gets a head of steam, you know, with his size, he’s got a really good burst he’s hard to catch up to,” head coach Billy Donovan said.
Giddey also grabbed 10 rebounds but left the game in the fourth quarter and didn’t return due to a right ankle sprain. He sprained the same ankle in the Olympics. The severity of the injury has yet to be determined.
The Bulls exploded in the second quarter, scoring 40 points, with White and Giddey combining for 25 points.
However, the difference in the game was the physicality and rebounding. The Bulls finished with 56 rebounds to the Pacers 39. They also finished with 68 points in the paint to the Pacers 48.
The team relied on Coby White who has more opportunities with Lavine now gone. White played 34 minutes and shot 55% from the field, along with seven rebounds and four assists. White also hit 6,000 career points. He joined Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, Reggie Theus, Luol Deng, and Ben Gordon as the only Bulls players to reach this milestone at age 25 or younger.
Donovan is also still working on incorporating new additions Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter. Jones finished with eight points and Huerter with 13.
Jones was a reliable ball distributor and showed his expertise being a savvy veteran against the Pacers. Huerter struggled, but he’s still looking for his shot after being traded from the Kings at the deadline.
The team is also down a key player after Ayo Dosunmu received shoulder surgery for a fracture. Dosunmu needs four to six months to recover and is expected to be ready for training camp.
The Bulls are slated to face the Nets on March 13, giving the team a chance to start a winning streak. The Nets are currently 11th in the east and another team rebuilding, looking for a superstar’s guidance.