Quick news: Bulls will not score 46 points in a quarter very often.
In fact, given that production marked the highest scoring quarter of the season and tied for the fifth highest in the franchise’s history, Monday’s third quarter, which occurred during a methodical 120-100 explosion by the Rockets, is valid.
It is also for the cinema – and emblematic of the way this Bulls team is playing. Selfless mentality. Strong and purposeful cut. Intoxicating passage. Sizzling shot.
“One of the best neighborhoods I’ve been a part of in my career”Said Thad Young.
Remember that this is Young’s 14th season.
The Bulls hit 19 out of 25 in the period, including 7 out of 9 from beyond the arc. They posted 10 assists. All seven players who recorded minutes scored and all but Wendell Carter Jr. posted at least one assist.
Here’s everything you need to know about Bulls’ scoring depth and balance: Coby White, who led the Bulls with 24 points and also had 10 rebounds, scored just two points in the period and played less than Tomáš Satoranský. That’s because White went into the locker room to treat a bloody nose – he also hit his head on the basket holder, but then he said he was fine – and coach Billy Donovan rolled over with the hot unit.
“Your Crazy. I think Zach (LaVine) had, like, (seven) points in the middle and I came back for about two or three minutes and when I came back, I see that Zach turned 20, ”said White, laughing. “So I asked Wendell, ‘What happened?’ He said, ‘Bruh, he went on a 14-0 run.’ And I said, like, ‘Damn’.
“I’ve been saying this since the beginning of the year: everyone has a common goal: to win. That’s all we really care about as a team. We don’t really care who goes out. We know, like, Zach is going to go out and get his 30. That’s just who he is. But other than that, we don’t really care, man, as long as we win the games. It’s fun to play with everyone. “
LaVine did not run a 14-0 run. But he scored 11 points in 1 minute, 29 seconds and 14 in the 5-in-5 pitch, including three 3-pointers.
LaVine, obviously, has this ability to mark in curls. But his approach at night – a start of reading the defense that characterized him by preparing teammates, followed by an explosion of goals – is further evidence of his growth and the potential of this attack.
For example, coach Billy Donovan always talks about cutting to create better shots for his teammates. When a rare possession was jammed, LaVine cut hard on the edge and Young, who was a revelation this season, hit him with a jumping pass without looking at a tray.
“You have a team that wants to play for each other,” said Young. “It’s more or less the same when I was in Indy. We played for each other. We always tried to have more than 30 assists per game and everyone played for each other. It kind of gives me the same vibration and the same feeling. Guys are locked up and we’re all playing for each other.
“We understand who our main guys are, but we also understand that there are four other guys out there who are close to the guy with the basketball. So we all try to move, cut and read each other and try to make the game as easy as possible. And I think that has been it. Coaches have insisted that we continue to have open pitches and play basketball very well, and we have done that ”.
The Bulls also benefited from better ball security this month. They only committed 12 turnovers against Houston. And like any good coach, Donovan emphasized that even that low number could have been less.
Donovan also jokingly said that he didn’t want to talk too much about improving the safety of the Bulls’ ball, a big problem at the beginning of the season, so as not to be unlucky. But this is it: if those numbers remain low, an attack that is well oiled will be even smoother.
So no, 46 point quarters are not going to happen all the time. But the Bulls, who finished with 24 assists, narrowly missed their 20º game with at least 25. They placed six double-digit scorers, which they have done consistently.
There is a lot to like.
“Our group is making progress,” said Donovan. “I think we are trying to play it right. This is a very altruistic team and an extra passing team and a group that is willing to pass the ball. “
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