Bulls vs. Pelicans: Can CJ Keep Up With DeRozan?

Both the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans look to bounce back into the win column in Lonzo Ball’s return to the Smoothie King Center.

Chris Dodson | Mar 24, 2022

Bulls vs. Pelicans: Can CJ Keep Up With DeRozan? /

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Both the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans look to bounce back into the win column in Lonzo Ball’s return to the Smoothie King Center. A win would push New Orleans into a tie for 9th while the Bulls can stay three games clear of falling into an NBA Playoff Play-in game.

Chicago Bulls vs. New Orleans Pelicans

When: March 24, 2022 @ 7:00 PM CT
Where: Smoothie King Center New Orleans, LA
How To Watch/Listen: Bally Sports NO, ESPN 100.3FM New Orleans

Mar 21, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) dribbles the ball during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Expected Starting Lineups:

New Orleans Pelicans: Devonte’ Graham, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Jaxson Hayes, Jonas Valanciunas

Chicago Bulls: Alex Caruso, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Javonte Green, Nikola Vucevic

The New Orleans Pelicans (30-42, 10th Western Conference) return to the Smoothie King Center after a three-game road trip to face the Chicago Bulls (42-30, 5th Eastern). Both the Bulls and Pelicans look to bounce back into the win column in Lonzo Ball’s return to the Smoothie King Center. A win would push New Orleans into a tie with the Los Angeles Lakers for 9th while the Bulls can stay three games clear of falling into an NBA Playoff Play-in game.

These aren’t the same Bulls that ran out to first place in the Eastern Conference at the turn of the year. Chicago has lost four of their last five while battling through injuries. Zach LaVine is day-to-day but probable to play against the Pelicans. DeRozan is also day-to-day but questionable due to a strained left adductor. Lonzo Ball is out due to a knee. The former Pelican is in the middle of a 10-day break from running after his surgically repaired left knee flared up during rehab.

Still, New Orleans will need Herb Jones to stay focused on shutting down DeRozan if he plays. DeRozan is the 7th best scorer in the NBA and on the fringes of the MVP conversation, but his three-point accuracy has taken a dip to 27% in the last 10 games. The Bulls are 3-7 in those 10 games and averaging just 108.3 points while allowing 115.9.

CJ McCollum can score with anyone, and the Pelicans will have Larry Nance, Jr. for the first time all year but Brandon Ingram (Right Hamstring Soreness) is doubtful to play. A shoot-out with a possible scoring champ is not a recipe for success. New Orleans is missing too many All-Stars.

Willie Green has shown faith Devonte Graham will find his form with the starting unit. That is unlikely to change this late in the season until Brandon Ingram returns though Jose Alvarado will close games instead of Graham. Though Nance is available, look for the Pelicans to stick with Jaxson Hayes and Jonas Valancuinas as the starting bigs until Zion Williamson returns.

Valancuinas versus Nikola Vucevic is the heavyweight bought of the night. McCollum and LaVine will be more of a shooting gallery mixed with a half-court chess match. Hayes has the mismatch of the night going against Javonte Green.

Green is a short but stocky power forward in a poor man's Draymond Green mold. Hayes should be able to exploit the size difference while stretching the floor on offense. Hayes should be able to outrun Green in transition. Furthermore, Green is an after-thought in the Bulls’ offense, averaging only 6.5 points per game. Hayes being able to hedge and help on defense will go a long way in deciding this game. It will also help Hayes in his upcoming contract negotiations.

New Orleans is the 7th-best rebounding team. The Bulls are (28th) second-to-last. However, Chicago is second-best in field-goal and three-pointers made. There is no need to rebound a made shot, so Chicago is usually tracking back to defense. The Bulls do not gamble for steals (22nd) or commit turnovers (4th-best). New Orleans grabs the 7th- most steals but 11th worst in protecting the basketball.

Two second-round picks will be the most intriguing intangibles to the game. Call them overlooked but Ayo Dosunmu and Herb Jones have really stepped up in big ways to help their teams make a playoff run. The last spot on All-Defense and All-Rookie teams might come down to Dosunmu and Jones. Whoever prevails tonight will have the upper hand in the head-to-head comparisons.

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Published Mar 24, 2022

CHRIS DODSON