The Chicago Bulls misplaced to the Memphis Grizzlies 124-121 in a preseason sport Saturday night time on the United Heart.
The sport featured heavy turnover from each groups, with the Grizzlies excluding Marcus Sensible, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant. The Bulls led by 21 factors within the third quarter however allowed a comeback after eliminating their starters. Talen Horton-Tucker scored 5 factors within the remaining 56 seconds of regulation, however the effort wasn’t sufficient to keep away from a loss.
Listed below are six takeaways from the sport.
1. Zach LaVine appears the identical (once more)
The Bulls’ fundamental concern this preseason was whether or not Zach LaVine may regain its former explosiveness. On Saturday, the max contract star reintroduced himself emphatically to the United Heart crowd, recording 28 factors and 4 assists.
LaVine regarded snug all around the court docket, scoring the sport’s first 9 factors and incomes cheers for an explosive dunk within the opening minutes. He completed an ideal 6 of 6 on 3-pointers and shot 9 of 12 general in 22 minutes, 26 seconds.
2. Ayo Dosunmu enters the beginning lineup
Coby White didn’t play Saturday after lacking apply Friday with groin tightness. Coach Billy Donovan stated the choice to carry White out was “precautionary.”
The absence made room within the lineup for guard Ayo Dosunmuwho remains to be preventing for a possible beginning function. Dosunmu did not make his strongest case, going 1-for-2 from 3-point vary and coughing up three turnovers.
Dosunmu, 24, didn’t play within the second half after injuring his left shoulder.
3. Get smaller (and smaller)
The Bulls additionally performed with out Jalen Smith, who was dominated out preventatively with knee soreness. With out the backup heart, Donovan used the sport to cobble collectively a collection of smaller lineups, which included enjoying Patrick Williams at 5.
Donovan shortly debuted with a type of small-ball lineups with Williams at heart and first-round decide Matas Buzelis at energy ahead, rounding out a younger, quick group with Julian Phillips, Dalen Terry and Dosunmu. The group generated an excellent quantity of 3-point photographs whereas grabbing offensive rebounds — albeit in opposition to a smaller Grizzlies rotation that additionally included 5-foot-8 guard Yuki Kawamura — however youth inexperience additionally hampered results in a predictable quantity of neglect.
4. Julian Phillips improves his 3-point capturing
Phillips used his elevated minutes within the smaller rotations to spotlight a key space of enchancment: his 3-point capturing.
When the Bulls drafted Phillips Within the second spherical of the 2023 draft, the entrance workplace was fast to level out that his capturing could be a serious focus. As a rookie, he shot 31.6% from behind the arc averaging one try per sport, though his capturing elevated steadily because the season progressed.
On Saturday, Phillips confirmed his potential to turn out to be a real menace within the corners, flattening 5 of his eight 3-point makes an attempt and ending with 21 factors. It is a small pattern measurement, however the prospect of Phillips balancing his rim safety and rebound manufacturing with correct capturing is a optimistic signal for the Bulls.
5. Patrick Williams struggles to seek out his place
Whereas different younger gamers fulfilled their guarantees, Williams exhibited the identical drained considerations that plagued his tenure with the Bulls.
Rotating between the 4 and 5 positions, Williams did not file a single defensive rebound whereas grabbing a pair of offensive boards. He struggled to create across the rim, going 1-of-5 within the restricted space and repeatedly fading out of the put up.
After main the Bulls in 3-point effectivity final season, Williams’ 0-of-4 capturing from 3-point vary on Saturday may be thought-about a fluke. However his lack of aggressiveness across the rim — even when paired with a mismatch as dangerous as Kawamura — suggests the Bulls may face the identical Williams shortcomings once more.
6. Lonzo Ball prepares his return
The Bulls nonetheless have not cleared Lonzo ball for his first minutes of preseason motion – however a return to the court docket could possibly be imminent for the purpose guard, who hasn’t performed since January 2022 when he initially injured his left knee.
In an episode of his “What an Expertise” podcast this week, Ball stated the workforce would maintain him in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers and Grizzlies with the plan to play him in two of the ultimate three preseason video games. Which means he’ll doubtless make his return with the Bulls on Monday in Milwaukee or in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Ball was dominated out Saturday on account of knee soreness after taking part in touch drills throughout the first 10 days of coaching camp. Donovan stated this was not thought-about a setback for Ball’s restoration, however that sustained ache would maintain him from enjoying in opposition to the Bucks.
“For our medical employees, it’s form of a brand new journey,” Donovan stated. “He did very well. He is been on the market and he is performed and he is been efficient in enjoying. I feel his timing is coming again. I feel he is a extremely, actually good participant with a excessive IQ, however…it’ll be a studying curve for all of us.
