Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers - GAME DAY PREVIEW
The Chicago Bulls (21-25) look to salvage a win on this dismal road trip out west when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers (13-32) on Monday at the Moda Center. The Bulls have lost two in a row, falling behind in their quest to reach the .500 mark after starting the season with a 5-14 record.
Spending time with Phil Jackson
The Bulls spent time with Chicago Bulls icon Phil Jackson on Friday, peppering him with questions at the team’s hotel. The event was memorable and insightful for a Bulls squad that needs to pick its play up to gain momentum before the All-Star break.
“It should inspire you,” Coby White said. “If you love the game of basketball, it should inspire you. He’s a legend, a Hall of Fame coach, if not the best coach of all time. So, for us, it should motivate us as a unit and a team to grow. And he gave us some insight on our team. I also asked if he watched our games, and he said yes."
Aside from the players, Jackson also spent time with Bulls coach Billy Donovan and his coaching staff, who soaked in plenty of information about the Xs and Os and team chemistry.
“I always enjoy talking to people like that,” Donovan said. “There’s certain things in the game that just don’t change. There’s certain things you have to do, whether it was 50 years ago or today. I think even besides getting into the X’s-and-O’s stuff, talking about the dynamics of team and the chemistry, all that stuff was great.”
Patrick Williams is out
The Bulls added another key player to the injured list: forward Patrick Williams. The young stud will miss the game versus Portland due to left midfoot soreness, joining Zach LaVine and Torrey Craig on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the Blazers have listed five players as questionable for the game against the Bulls: Scoot Henderson, Anfernee Simons, Jabari Walker, Jerami Grant, and Malcolm Brogdon.