Golden State Warriors Take On Stingy, Up-and-Down Bulls Team
By Eric He
You always know two things when you play a team coached by Tom Thibodeau: 1) You will be in for a dogfight, and 2) Their dogs may not be as talented as yours, but they will scrap and claw to the very end.
The NBA-best Golden State Warriors will play these stingy Bulls on Tuesday night at Oracle Arena as Chicago kicks off a six-game road trip that starts in Oakland and ends in Orlando.
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This year’s Bulls are reinvigorated by the return of Derrick Rose and the addition of Pau Gasol, who has found new life in Chicago. Jimmy Buttler, their athletic, young winger, is having a career year, averaging 20.1 points per game.
In a weakened Eastern Conference — one that features teams such as the Hawks, Wizards and Raptors at the top and a Cavaliers squad trying to find its rhythm — it would be expected for the Bulls to be a favorite to come out of the pack. But their record of 29-17 and ranking of fourth in the East could be much better.
Chicago has been erratic recently, going 4-6 in its last 10 games and falling to the Heat at home on Sunday after beating the Spurs and Mavericks in back-to-back games last Thursday and Friday.
Their defense, which is typically among the league’s best, is faltering: the Bulls rank 26th in opponents’ field goal percentage since Jan. 1 at 46.4 percent. Joakim Noah, coming off offseason surgery, is having a down year. The additions of Rose and Gasol and the rise of Butler has changed their identity to more of a skilled, finesse team than a gritty one. Off the court, there have been rumors about Thibodeau’s job security.
But to their core, the Bulls are still scrappy, stingy and will find a way to stay in the game at all costs. The Warriors should be ready for a dogfight tonight.
Key Matchups
Stephen Curry vs. Derrick Rose: Former MVP vs. current favorite for MVP. Rose is not the player he once was, but this is the marquee matchup nonetheless. It will be interesting to see if Curry can stop Rose and maintain the stellar defensive play he has been showing this season.
Klay Thompson vs. Jimmy Butler: Both are having career years. Thompson is more a shooter and Butler is more of a slasher, but they are both among the best two-way guards the league has to offer. Should be fun to see them battle it out.
Andrew Bogut vs. Joakim Noah: Another matchup of similarities — both Bogut and Noah are premier defensive centers. Noah is more nimble, but Bogut can stand his ground down low.
Keys to the Game
1. Play your pace
It’s no secret the Warriors do their best in the open court, playing an up-and-down pace, while the Bulls are more of a half court team and want to slow it down. With contrasting paces, it will be pivotal for the Warriors to establish their game and get out and run.
2. Don’t get “bored”
One issue that was prevalent in the win over the Celtics was that the Warriors somewhat coasted to a victory and ended up barely escaping with a three-point win. It has become the norm to expect a win with this Warriors team, especially at home, but they cannot become complacent and expect to go through the motions and win — especially not against this Bulls team.