POSTGAME BULLETPOINTS PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS(6-12) @ CHICAGO BULLS (6-12) Monday, November 25, 2019 United Center Final Score: Trail Blazers 117, Bulls 94 TEAM NOTES: The Chicago Bulls fell to the Portland Trail Blazers, 117-94. The Bulls forced the Trail Blazers to commit 15 turnovers. Chicago opponents have committed 15-or-more turnovers in each of the first 18 games this season. The 18 such occurrences are the most in the NBA. The last time the Bulls accomplished this in 18 straight games was a 34-game streak from Oct. 9-Dec. 18, 1973, which was also the last time they began a season with such a streak. The last NBA team to open a season with such a streak of at least 18 games was Orlando in 19 consecutive contests from Oct. 31-Dec. 5, 2000 (Elias Sports Bureau). Chicago’s reserves outscored Portland’s, 40-29. It’s the sixth time in the last nine games that the Bulls’ bench outscored the opponent’s bench. Overall, Chicago has totaled 746 bench points, which are the fourth-most in the NBA, and the second-most in the Eastern Conference, coming into tonight. With eight steals, the Bulls have now recorded five-or-more steals in all 18 of their contests this season. The 18 instances are the most in the NBA. Coming into tonight, the Bulls led the NBA in steals per game with 9.7. PLAYER NOTES: WENDELL CARTER JR. (12 points, nine rebounds) brought down a team-high three offensive boards, bringing his season total to 66, the second-most in the league. In the first quarter, COBY WHITE made the 38th 3-pointer of his career. He has made at least one 3-pointer in 15 games, the most occurrences by a rookie this season and tied for the most by any player coming off the bench. With two steals, COBY WHITE recorded his fifth game of two-or-more steals. Among rookies in reserve roles, White is tied with Matisse Thybulle for the most such occurrences this season. Tonight was ZACH LAVINE’S 13th game with 15-plus points, tied for the sixth-most among Eastern Conference players. Eight different Bulls made at least one 3-pointer tonight; Shaquille Harrison (one), Chandler Hutchison (one), Zach LaVine (one), Lauri Markkanen (two), Tomas Satoransky (one), Denzel Valentine (one), Coby White (one) and Thaddeus Young (one). This ties Chicago’s season high for most players to make a 3-pointer in a single game this season. They also accomplished this vs. DET (11/1) and vs. TOR (10/26). Portland’s CARMELO ANTHONY dropped 25 points, good for his 509th career 25-point performance. The 509 occurrences are third-most among active players behind LeBron James (761) and Kevin Durant (547).
Terry Stotts – Trail Blazers Head Coach On Carmelo Anthony: “I was glad to see him get it going. This was his fourth game and he had a lot of the same looks that he had against Cleveland. We know he is capable of making those. He needed a night like this. Like I said, the first three games he had a lot of the same looks and he had his rhythm. More than anything else, I think it’s a boost for him obviously, but moving forward, I think that gives everybody confidence.” On Carmelo Anthony’s impact to the team: “I think all of his teammates have a lot of respect for what he has done in his career. I think they are really proud to have him as a teammate. All our teammates like to see when someone gets on a roll, everyone enjoys that, whether it’s Carmelo or whoever it is. It was a special night for him. To pass Alex English [on the all-time scoring list], nobody knew about that, but still, that was an accomplishment. Right now, I think him on the team and what he did tonight, brings a new perspective.” On Hassan Whiteside: “His presence in the paint at both ends was something that we had been missing. He was blocking shots, he was getting rebounds and finishing around the basket. He had a [Dirk] Nowitzki step back. He had the whole package tonight.”
Damian Lillard On seeing “vintage” Carmelo Anthony: “I think it was just a fun game. We did a lot of things well. They are a good offensive rebounding team, and we limited that. We got deflections, we communicated. We just had great energy on both ends of the floor. The ball was moving around, we executed our adjustments based on how much attention there was put on the ball. It was just a good night, and then on top of us playing well, seeing Melo out there in his bag like that in a good rhythm … To see him like that it was fun to watch. Just happy to come in and win. Our whole bench was just excited to get it going with him being here, and it’s been fun. We all welcome seeing his bounce back happen and it’s going to be fun to watch.” On seeing Hassan Whiteside’s contribution: “He came with good energy. He played really well in the paint on both ends of the floor, and this type of effort is what we are going to need. Especially if we can get it from so many different guys, I think we can end up on the winning side just like tonight.” On an exchange with Zach LaVine: “A lot of our games this season, teams get offensive rebounds, 50/50 balls, and have beaten us to it, they transition. Sometimes it comes down to just competing and having that desire of wanting it more than the other team. As soon as I threw the turnover, I didn’t think about the turnover. I thought about the play is over, sprint back and make a play on the ball and try to make something happen and show them everything they get tonight is going to be hard. I just happened to get a hand on it, and he bobbled it. I went to the next guy and hand on it and bobbled it again, just came up with the ball. I think in those situations we have to come up with more of those, and that was just a situation where we did.” On reminders for Hassan Whiteside before the game: “Even yesterday while watching film we talked about it, about holding each other more accountable. That was what it is. We communicated what we needed from each other, and I think because of that there was an emphasis on us doing our job tonight. I think it showed.” On getting the big win: “It felt good, especially after missing a few games dealing with some stiffness and in my back and not being able to play in the fourth quarter, and being able to sustain that level is really good. That’s all we’ve been talking about the whole quarter: no let downs. It’s either what we are now, or we have to turn it up. I was proud of how we were able to make that carry over from quarter to quarter.”
Jim Boylen – Bulls Head Coach On the game: “Throughout the game, I felt like we just left some points out there. We left some points that I think we could have and [that] hurt our spirit a little bit. We have to fight through those moments and keep playing. They made a lot of tough shots, you got to give them credit for that. It was just one of those nights where the ball didn’t go in for us and we didn’t respond very well to it, that is where we got to grow.” On Chicago’s defensive rebounding: “’Labissiere’ [Skal Labissiere] got going a little bit. We’re expending so much energy to try and keep those two guys [Skal Labissiere and Hassan Whiteside] in front of us, and I think sometimes we were also standing and watching when they were iso-ing…13 [rebounds] is not good enough for us.” On Chicago’s three-point shooting tonight: “We made 22 Saturday night, tonight we make nine. It would be great if we could count on 14 or 15 made threes a game with the number we shoot. We’ve been inconsistent that way. I like my group, they’re disappointed that we didn’t play better.” On Carmelo Anthony: “Obviously, he’s a monster in the post, but when he makes threes it’s a whole other issue. I think he likes playing in this building.” On Denzel Valentine: “Zach [Lavine] got three [fouls], we were struggling to shoot the ball and I put Denzel in. He came in he made a three, he made a two. He’s talking, he’s communicating, I was happy with that. He came off against Miami and played well. I think where we struggled a little bit too is we had an offensive lineup on the floor that didn’t guard well, then we had a defensive lineup that didn’t shoot real well. So, we were stuck in the middle tonight a little bit, which happens.”
Zach LaVine On tonight’s game: “You got to try to take over, I tried to play it the right way the first and second half. They were doubling me off all pick and rolls, but I kept finding the open man. I missed a couple easy shots, I missed a dunk and two free throws, but I always try to bring something in this game to get us going, tonight just wasn't it. We played against a good half-court team. We needed to get out in transition more, but they killed us on the other end of the court. We couldn't keep up. You got to get stops, first, though because if you keep taking it out [of the basket] it’s not going to be fun. So, you got to get stops first, but we didn’t get that. Every time we tried to get out and run it seemed like we were taking the ball out. " On Carmelo Anthony: “I always advocated for him to be in the NBA. He might not be the old Melo [Carmelo Anthony] but he’s pretty damn good. He’s better than a lot of people in the NBA. He’s still getting it down, but I think it was bigger than that…I’m glad to see him back here.”
