The past few weeks have been a little rough for the Chicago Bulls, but on Wednesday night they got back on track with a 129-116 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. It was a historic victory, both at the team and individual levels.
Taking 25 out of 47 points beyond the arc, the Bulls set a franchise record of 3 points. In the process, Zach LaVine and Coby White combined to record their names in the record books, becoming the first pair of teammates to hit at least eight 3s in a game. LaVine finished with nine triples and 46 points, the best of the season, while White hit eight shots from the center on his way to 30 points of his own.
It may not have come as a surprise that the Bulls’ brilliant display of shots occurred against the Pelicans, who allow more attempts at 3 points (41.3) and 3 points (15.3) per game in the league. But Pelicans giving up many 3s don’t tell the whole story. Let’s take a closer look to see how LaVine and White made history.
Errors outside the ball
Unless your job is to analyze basketball, you’re probably not paying much attention to what’s going on outside the ball, but that’s where countless possessions are determined in each game. The Pelicans discovered this very well, as simple mistakes and poor communication resulted in a series of open looks for LaVine and White.
Here is an example from the end of the first quarter. The Bulls perform a handoff dribbling action on the left side of the court, while LaVine is in the corner on the weak side. Eventually, the ball finds its way to Thaddeus Young at the top of the brace, at which point LaVine swaps places with Denzel Valentine and jumps to the wing.
Actually, there isn’t even a screen here, but Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart don’t communicate properly. Ball wants an exchange and points for Hart to take LaVine, but Hart is not on the same page, which results in an open 3.
Later, in the first, the Bulls pick-and-roll at the top of the brace with Young’s display for Tomas Satoransky. When Satoransky starts driving, Patrick Williams sets an off-ball screen for LaVine, which appears on the side of the corner. Pelicans do not sail properly.
Zion Williamson is caught showing a lot of help on the ball and fails to recover for the pitcher, and Hart has no chance to get around the screen in time. As a result, it is another 3 open to LaVine.
Painting touches
A very simple truth about basketball is that if you can get the ball in the paint, good things will happen. The Bulls proved it again on Wednesday night, especially in the second half. The ability to place the ball inside the field collapsed the Pelicans’ defense, which in turn led to open kicks in the perimeter.
Basketball looks so simple when everything is working out that way.
Impressive individual shot
Obviously, your opponent has a big impact on how games evolve, but performances that make history are not just offered. LaVine and White made some really tough shots throughout the game.
Offensive rebounds
Despite all their failures, the Pelicans are an excellent rebound team and reach third place in the league in permitted rebounds and offensive rebounds. That did not change on Wednesday night, as the Bulls managed to pick up just seven offensive plates.
The problem for New Orleans was that Chicago made them worthwhile. Those seven rebounds turned into 16 second chance points, some of which had 3s open for LaVine and White. The fight to equalize in these situations is extremely difficult, and these clips are excellent examples of why rebounding is so important.
Sometimes teams will have difficult nights on the defensive, and sometimes players will feel it in the 3-point range. On Wednesday night, both happened in the same game, which was how LaVine and White made history at the expense of the Pelicans.