The Chicago Bulls (38-21) are hoping to pick up where they left off when they face the Altlanta Hawks (28-30) to open their post-All-Star break campaign. Equipped with a five-game winning streak, the Bulls will look to solidify their place at the upper echelon of the East standings.
What’s going on with the Bulls?
With DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine at the forefront, the Bulls have emerged as top contenders in the East. Despite the injuries that they continue to battle with, they have been on a tear as of late, currently tied in first place with the Miami Heat
DeRozan, in particular, has been on a record-breaking scoring spree. He became the first NBA player to score 35 points on at least 50 percent shooting in seven straight games. He also became the first player in Chicago’s history to score 30-plus points in eight straight games since the legendary Michael Jordan accomplished the feat in 1996.
Zach LaVine missed the last three games before the break to rest and have his left knee treated but he’s ready to come back for the closing stretch of the regular seaosn.
“I‘ve been obviously battling the knee soreness for a little bit and not playing at 100% but you know, I just want to continue to go out there and try to help us win,” he told reporters during the All-Star Weekend in Cleveland. “I just had to really take it upon myself to make sure I was okay for the second half of the season, and I feel way better.”
What’s going on with the Hawks?
While the Bulls have exceeded expectations, the Hawks are on the exact opposite end of the spectrum. After their stunning run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, they were pegged as playoff favorites this year.
Unfortunately, things have not panned out for the Hawks. They are even in danger of dropping out of the Play-In bracket, currently holding on to 10th place, just a game ahead of the Washington Wizards. They went on a mini-run in late January but have since struggled to stay consistent, especially on the defensive end.
With averages of 27.8 points, 9.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds, Trae Young has been doing his best to lift his team. He’s had a couple of 40-plus games in their last eight games. Bogdan Bogdanovic has also picked up the pace, providing the needed spark for the Hawks’ bench unit.
Atlanta coach Nate McMillan understands that his team needs to have a sense of urgency in the next few weeks: "We understand exactly where we are and what we need to do. We're still in the race, but we have to be better to finish the season and play ourselves into it," he said.
Bulls-Hawks matchup
The Bulls are 2-0 in their head-to-head this season, and the Hawks will surely try their best to get a win this time around.
The Hawks’ John Collins is doubtful to play, while the Bulls’ Alex Caruso, Lonzo Ball, and Patrick Williams remain out.
It will be exciting to watch how All-Star guards DeRozan and Young – both capable of dropping a ton of buckets – will lead their respective teams in this matchup.
Can DeRozan sustain his scoring streak and steer the Bulls to their sixth consecutive victory? Or will the Hawks find a way to limit the Bulls’ elite offense?
