vs TORONTO RAPTORS (23-11) @ CHICAGO BULLS (18-18) Game 37, Home Game 19 Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 – 7:00 PM CT United Center WGN-TV / WLS-AM 890 / WRTO-AM 1200 BULLS/RAPTORS STREAKS CURRENT STREAK………… ....... 9 Wins HOME STREAK ....... ……………...4 Wins ROAD STREAK ............................. 6 Wins BULLS VS. RAPTORS Jan. 7 @ Chicago – Feb. 4 @ Chicago – March 21 @ Toronto – Game Notes Chicago Bulls (18-18) Home 11-7 Road 7-11 Bulls Preseason Averages: PPG: 101.0 (Opp: 100.9) RPG: 47.5 (Opp: 42.9) APG: 21.0 (Opp: 24.2) SPG: 7.74 (Opp: 7.43) BPG: 5.43 (Opp: 5.20) FG%: .435 (Opp: .455) FT%: .804 (Opp: .751) 3p%: .307 (Opp: .364) Probable Bulls starters Michael Carter-Williams - PG - Jimmy Butler - SG - Dwyane Wade - SF - Taj Gibson - PF - Robin Lopez - C - Bulls Regular Season Stats Leaders Points: Butler 25.3, Wade 18.8 Rebounds: Lopez 7.3, Gibson 6.9 Assists: Rondo 7.1, Butler 4.4 Steals: Butler 1.74, Wade 1.44 Blocks: Lopez 1.74, Gibson 1.06 FG%: Gibson .521, Felicio .500 FT%: Grant 1.000, Butler .882 3FG%: Portis .429, McDermott .348 Regular Season Player Highs 2016 Points: Butler 52 Field Goals Made: Butler 15 Field Goals Attempts: Butler 29 Free Throws Made: Butler 21 Free Throws Attempts: Butler 22 3-Point FGM: McDermott & Wade 5 3-Point FGA: Mirotic 11 Rebounds: Mirotic 15 Off. Rebounds: Lopez & Butler 7 Def. Rebounds: Mirotic 13 Assists: Rondo 14 Blocks: Lopez 8 Steals: Butler 6 Minutes: Butler 43 Double-Double: Gibson 8 Triple-Double: Rondo 1 Injury report Denzel Valentine (left ankle sprain) is OUT. For a full report and the latest on Bulls' injuries, check out the AthletiCo Injury Report. Toronto Raptors (24-11) Home 12-5 Road 12-6 Probable Raptors starters K. Lowry - PG D. DeRozan - SG D. Carroll - SF L. Noguiera - PF J. Valanciunas - C Injury report Patrick Patterson - Questionable - Strained left knee Jared Sullinger - Out - Left foot surgery Delon Wright - Out - Right shoulder surgery --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Butler scores 42, Bulls rally to beat Raptors 123-118 in OT Jimmy Butler wasn't sure what to make of the "MVP! MVP!" chants. He insisted he's not worrying about any trade rumors. He's just trying to focus on the job at hand, and is he ever locked in at the moment. Butler scored 42 points, and the Chicago Bulls overcame a 19-point deficit to beat the Toronto Raptors 123-118 in overtime Saturday night. Read more http://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400899975
So, I think the team has quietly undergone quality improvements at the top and bottom of its roster, which is the reason why it's been playing so much better the last 2 weeks. Jimmy's lifted himself from role-player, to borderline-star, to star, and now he's knocking on the door of being a superstar. That makes everything a lot easier. And our crappy bench has solidified itself by getting rid of all the mush defenders. We've actually outscored the opposing team's bench 4 out of the last 5 games, and it's much easier to play lineups that absorb the defensive inadequacies of M&M, which makes it much easier to play lineups that give Jimmy good spacing. So we might have a bit of a flywheel going on here, but we'll have to wait and see how long it can continue.
