Both on a bad dynamic, Hornets and Bulls challenged each other this night in North Carolina. On arrival, it was the less “sick” of the two teams, in other words Chicago, which managed to dominate the other (121-109). And, without doubting for a moment.
Driven by his trio DeMar DeRozan (36 points, 5 rebounds) – Zach LaVine (27 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) – Nikola Vucevic (18 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks), the Illinois franchise n actually had no trouble getting rid of Charlotte. In reality, it took him only one boost, in the second quarter, to not be caught up afterwards. And thus reconnect with success, after two setbacks in a row.
On the other hand, for the teammates of LaMelo Ball (33 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals), the galley continues, they who have not tasted victory for six games now, current series. The disappointments are linked without there being any reaction for the men of James Borrego, probably impatient to arrive at the All-Star break…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— DeRozan/LaVine, unstoppable “one-two punch”. This season, it is so far very difficult to find a better duo than the Bulls. Even less in the Eastern Conference. Currently in a rush, Zach LaVine and especially DeMar DeRozan have once again undermined a defense unable to resist them over time. Both behind the 3-pt line and in the paint or halfway. A real clinical offered by the Chicago All-Stars, constantly present to help their team hold firm against the onslaught of the Hornets or to give them a fatal boost (19-2), just before the break.
— Strawberry Charlotte. It’s still not getting better for the Hornets. Both in terms of accounting, since they are now just in balance (28-28), and in terms of play, because the attack remains seized up (43% on shots, 30% at 3-pts) and that the defense is true to itself, that is to say non-existent and not able to succeed stops [voir plus bas]. In the end, James Borrego’s men only lasted a good quarter of an hour last night, before taking on water from all sides in front of this weakened Bulls team. What pushes the leaders of the franchise not to be inactive in the coming hours?
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Nikola Vucevic. League interiors have become accustomed to shining against the Hornets racquet, and the Bulls center was no exception. Irreproachable in each compartment of the game, whether in scoring, defense, rebounding or passing, the Montenegrin was the perfect complement to his All-Star duo. Very clean (9/13 on shots), despite bullet losses (4) which tarnished his score and weighed down Chicago at the start of the game, “Vooch” confirms this rise in power interviewed for more than ten games. . A real metronome, as well at the high post as at the low post or in the paint.
✅ LaMelo Ball. His brother Lonzo was certainly not present in the ranks of the Bulls, but the leader of the Hornets still took the opportunity to achieve one of his best games of the season. Very quickly in tune with his outside shot, as evidenced by his three award-winning baskets in the first act, “Melo” then continued on his momentum throughout the evening, in scoring. Especially when he returned from the locker room, when he scored 14 points in the third quarter alone, to try to bring his people up. Except that Chicago was a cut above and the neo-All-Star could not save Charlotte from its sixth defeat in a row…
⛔ Charlotte’s Defense. When a team struggles to exist on the offensive level, it must at least be able to exist on the defensive level to limit the breakage. Problem: these Hornets could not count on one or the other. In the game for a quarter and a half, “thanks” only to the approximations of the players of the Bulls, expensive, the locals were overwhelmed as soon as they could no longer exploit the numerous losses of opposing balls in transition. It must be said that Chicago shot 56% on shots and 49% at 3-pts, always managing to find the flaw in the “defense” of its opponents…
THE FOLLOWING
Charlotte (28-28) : trip to Detroit, on the night of Friday to Saturday (01:00).
Chicago (34-21) : reception of Minnesota, on the night of Friday to Saturday (02:00).
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