Another Fast-Paced Game, Turnover Troubles Galore, A Favorable Matchup for Vucevic? And Other Bulls Bullets

Hey, look on the bright side, the Chicago Bulls can’t hurt us tonight as much as the Chicago Bears did last night, right?

Right!?

SOMEONE SAY RIGHT!?

• After the two most opposite performances possible on Friday and Saturday night, the Chicago Bulls will continue their season with a trip to Memphis. The Grizzlies welcome back one of the highest-upside starting lineups in the league. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Marcus Smart have each returned from injury, while DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr. mans the frontcourt alongside ROY favorite Zach Edey. Their combination of perimeter scoring and interior physicality will be a particularly tough matchup for a Chicago Bulls team that lacks on-ball defense and strength.

• The Chicago Bulls better put some emphasis on the charity stripe tonight. Thanks in large part to the downhill athleticism of Ja Morant, Memphis has started the season averaging 30.7 free throw attempts per game, which is the fourth-most in the NBA. If the Bulls even want to think about walking away with a win, they’re going to have to play some clean defense, which we know is a lot easier said than done for this group. They’re also going to have to put their own head down and try to attack the basket. As good as Memphis has been at shooting freebies, they’ve given up a lot of their own. Opponents are averaging the third-most free throw attempts against the Grizzlies’ defense to begin the year.

• Fans at tonight’s game will be moving their heads like it’s a tennis match. Chicago (1) and Memphis (2) lead the league in PACE through the first three games of the season. They love to sprint up and down the floor and keep the ball moving from side to side. If the Bulls want to right some of the wrongs from their chaotic matchup with another fast-paced team on Saturday night, this is an immediate chance to do so. Hold onto the ball and slow it down when necessary.

• Speaking of holding on the ball, through three games this season, only the Toronto Raptors (66) have more turnovers than the Chicago Bulls (57). The Bulls’ 26 turnovers against OKC were their most since Feb. 22, 2020.

• I tip my cap to Zach LaVine for owning up to his sloppy play on Saturday night. No fingers were pointed by the two-time All-Star, who told The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry that he has “got to take responsibility” for his SEVEN turnovers against OKC. I highly recommend you give Mayberry’s article a read here .

• Putting aside those mistakes, can we say it’s been a strong start to the year for Zach LaVine? I believe so. While he may not have scored his first field goal on Saturday night until the third quarter, he still walked out of the United Center with 22 points and 9 rebounds. He has now scored at least 20 points in each of the first three games of the season, which is actually only the second time LaVine has done this during his Chicago tenure. Even more impressive, he’s shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 47.8 percent from long range (7.7 attempts per game!) to begin the year. Look, those numbers are going to drop eventually, but this is still a pretty encouraging return for the max player so far. Are the Lakers calling yet!?

• If I’m Nikola Vucevic, I’m salivating at a matchup with Zach Edey. As physically imposing as the seven-foot-four rookie is, he’s still a first-year player trying to find his footing. Vucevic remains one of the NBA’s few big men with above-average footwork and post skills, and the Bulls would be wise to feed him a few times against the inexperienced Edey down low. This is especially true when we consider Edey is averaging nearly FIVE fouls per game to begin his career.

• It appears one of Matas Buzelis’ rookie duties included singing happy birthday to Lonzo Ball on the team plane …

• The Chicago Bulls are part of history! Today marks the 31st sports equinox in history, per Joe Pompliano . In other words, all four major American sports leagues will play a game later this afternoon! The NHL has eight total games, the NBA has 11 (including the Bulls), the NFL has Monday Night Football, and MLB has Game 3 of the World Series. QUAD BOX TIME!

• Chuck Swirsky is dancing and bobbling for a cause! The money spent on his latest bobblehead will go directly to Chicago Bulls Charities.

• The Dwyane Wade statue feels like a physical representation of his one year in Chicago.

• The NBA is now available on Bleacher Nation Fantasy! While I likely won’t do it every day, I thought it couldn’t hurt to share some of my favorite Rivals matchups in bullets throughout the week. You probably think I was asked to do it, but I truly wasn’t. I simply enjoy playing the game and testing my basketball brain. In case you’re unfamiliar, rivals mode allows for you to win REAL money by selecting between pre-selected matchups in a 2v2, 3v3, or 4v4 format. Take Team A or Team B, make your entry, and wait to see if you’re a winner. Simple as that. You can download the app here . And, if fantasy games aren’t your thing, there are plenty of other features to explore (including the fastest breaking news notifications in the industry).

• One pick I like A LOT tonight is Ja Morant over Tyrese Haliburton in total points scored. Even with BNF giving Haliburton a 3-point cushion, the matchups couldn’t be more different. Haliburton is going up against one of the best defensive backcourts in Orlando, while Morant gets a Bulls defense that has allowed the third-most points in the paint to begin the year. Haliburton has also started the year averaging just 12.3 points over his first three games on 31.8 percent shooting. Yuck.

• The Chicago Bears have a lot of making up to do. What a disastrous loss.

• Who doesn’t love some prospect highlights!