With four victories for six defeats, the Bulls are managing this start of the season rather well, especially since in the East, such a record allows them to be 6th! This night, Billy Donovan's men overthrew a direct opponent in the race for the play-in, or even the playoffs, since they disposed of the Hawks (125-113) after being up to 18 points behind. Something to delight Zach LaVinewho was making his return.
“I didn’t feel like I was forcing too much”, he explained about his 7 of 12 shooting for 18 points. “I did what I could. They started to take me by two in the 4th quarter but I felt like I made the right choices. And when I had to take a few shots, I took them too. I’m glad we got through it.”
LaVine showed his sense of teamwork by taking care of Trae Young late in the game, and he is rather proud to lead by example within a team with eight players at 10 points or more. “Every match will be different this year,” he continues. “I see that the style of play will be different. There will be matches where I will be needed to score, and others where I will be needed to defend or facilitate things. I understood it when I came back. I just try to be as efficient as possible. That’s the mentality I try to adopt.”
Caruso is no longer there to take care of the best opponent outside
Enough to receive congratulations from his coach. “He has merit”believes Donovan. “Because Alex (Caruso) was our first defender and even when Lonzo [Ball] was healthy, he was next. Zach did his best in every duel, and he did a very, very good job. He did everything he was asked to do.”
Enough to forget the transfer rumors which will only really stop in February, after the “trade deadline”. “He said everything during media day” reminds his coach. “I felt that in September, when he came back, he was at full strength. I felt like at the start of training camp he was all in, committed to playing the way we needed him to. As for his attitude, about anything that can be said, I haven't had a conversation with him about it. All we talked about was the season, the team and what we expect from him, how he can be the leader. »
