Andre Drummond believes he nonetheless must be an NBA starter. On Tuesday towards the Atlanta Hawks, he received his first alternative to make that case in Chicago.
In 113 video games since signing with the Bulls, Drummond had solely come off the bench. That’s as a result of beginning middle Nikola Vučević had performed each sport in that span — till Tuesday, when Vučević missed his first sport since April 2022 with a groin damage. Drummond began in his place, his first begin as a Bull.
It was a essential second for Drummond, who has been open about his want to play extra minutes.
“I’m doing what I can with the minutes I get,” Drummond instructed the Tribune earlier this month. “I’m simply making the most effective of it. For me it’s by no means straightforward. However on the finish of the day, I’ve received to take a look at the larger image. Coach sees one thing that he believes will work for the staff to assist us win. I’m all for it. My job is to be as supportive as doable for these guys who’re within the sport.”
Drummond entered Tuesday’s sport averaging 13.5 minutes, the third-fewest within the common rotation forward of solely Julian Phillips and Dalen Terry. Regardless of the sparse court docket time, he was averaging 6.8 rebounds, 6.2 factors and 0.4 blocks.
He made the beginning place his personal Tuesday, main the staff with 24 factors and 25 rebounds — his forty fifth profession sport with 20-plus factors and rebounds. Drummond’s efficiency lifted the Bulls on either side of the court docket as they got here again from a 12-point deficit to safe a 118-113 win.
Listed below are three different takeaways from the sport.
The Bulls aren’t used to taking part in with out Vučević. Within the practically three years since he joined the Bulls, Vučević has missed solely 13 video games, together with Tuesday’s. Seven of these absences have been because of a COVID-19 prognosis in 2021. The final time he sat out earlier than Tuesday was April 10, 2022, when coach Billy Donovan sat a lot of the starters for the final regular-season sport to arrange for the primary spherical of the playoffs.
Forward of his 82nd sport final season, Vučević famous that being obtainable for each sport has been a degree of satisfaction all through his profession. It additionally has been a key issue for the Bulls, who’ve benefited from the fixed availability of veteran stars resembling Vučević and DeMar DeRozan.
However Vučević’s absence Tuesday was a mirrored image of a wider — and extra regarding — theme for the Bulls.
Donovan mentioned an MRI confirmed a strained left groin for Vučević. The damage occurred Saturday towards the Cleveland Cavaliers when he contested a dunk by Max Strus, whose knee swung into Vučević’s groin.
Donovan mentioned Vučević went to the staff services Tuesday for therapy, and an estimated return date is unclear.
“Quite a lot of it’ll be how he responds to rehab,” Donovan mentioned.
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The Bulls have absorbed accidents all through this season, enhancing steadily after Zach LaVine was sidelined and persevering with to select up wins after Torrey Craig joined the damage listing. However they’ve performed so by leaning closely on three starters: Vučević, DeRozan and Coby White.
White (1,081), DeRozan (1,058) and Vučević (1,054) have been first, third and fourth within the league, respectively, in whole minutes performed coming into Tuesday. All three are hardy and identified for his or her willingness to play by ache and discomfort. However this excessive quantity of minutes is an invite for damage — one which has claimed Vučević a minimum of within the quick time period.
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The Bulls reversed a sample that plagued them by the primary 20 video games of the season, taking an early lead within the first quarter earlier than digging themselves right into a gap within the second quarter.
After main by 11 on the finish of the primary, the Bulls struggled to keep up their scoring. The Hawks outscored them 39-22 within the second quarter, together with a 13-2 run.
The Bulls went 0-for-5 behind the 3-point arc and logged solely two assists within the quarter. That was a part of a wider pattern for the Bulls, who logged solely eight assists on 18 made baskets within the first half.
Breaking out of this sluggish begin was key for the Bulls, who practically doubled their assists within the second half to reinvigorate the offense. They completed with 23 assists on 42 made baskets.
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Sizzling taking pictures has helped to energy the Bulls by this 9-4 streak over the previous month. However after taking pictures 40% or higher behind the arc in seven of 9 video games, issues have begun to even out the final three video games.
The Bulls completed 7-for-25 (28%) behind the arc Tuesday. White went 0-for-7 and hasn’t made a 3-pointer in two video games.
Regardless of the off night time from lengthy vary, the Bulls shot 45.7% from the sphere as they went 35-for-67 (52.2%) contained in the arc. DeRozan buoyed the offense, scoring 11 of his 25 factors within the fourth quarter.
