© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
What we learned from the Chicago Bulls lopsided win over the Los Angeles Lakers
The Chicago Bulls were rude hosts to LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, taking a commanding lead in the fourth and never looking back in their convincing 124-108 victory. Here are some key takeaways from the Bulls' dominant performance:
Through the fire
Many had counted the Bulls out this season after they started with a 5-14 record. Since then, Chicago has won seven of its last ten games—a stretch that includes victories over Eastern Conference powerhouses Milwaukee, Miami, and Philadelphia. The miserable start appears to have galvanized the team, as they are playing with a newfound confidence and energy.
“We was going through it,” DeRozan said.
“Sometimes you’ve got to go through it so you can find a different type of motivation that you can come together with. The best relationships come out of that.”
The team remains without two key players. All-Star guard Zach LaVine is expected to be out until January due to a right foot inflammation, while “3-and-D” forward Torrey Craig will be sidelined for two months because of a right plantar fascia injury. Despite these absences, the team has shown a heightened commitment to playing faster, which has been a difference-maker in their recent stretch of form.
Caruso’s well-rounded game
Alex Caruso has made a career out of playing relentless defense and doing whatever is necessary to help his team come away victorious. While much has been said about his improved three-point shot, another underrated aspect of his game is his knack for getting to the rim.
On one play early in the second quarter, Alex dropped Lakers wingman Cam Reddish with a vicious right-to-left crossover before getting to the rim for a two-handed flush. If Caruso continues to find different ways of scoring the basketball outside of spotting up for threes, the Bulls' offense will have another layer that opponents must be wary of.
