Kevin Huerter played hero with a corner three-pointer, giving the Bulls their fourth win in a row. But there might be some tough decisions coming with the starting lineup.<\/b>
\nA tough conversation is coming.
Maybe not Monday, when the Bulls host the Lakers, or even Wednesday, when they visit the Pacers, but very soon.
The Bulls\u2019 114-111 triumph Saturday against the Celtics on Derrick Rose Night was just the latest reminder of that. Guard Kevin Huerter made a three-pointer from the corner with a second left to break a tie and deliver the Bulls\u2019 fourth victory in a row.
The Bulls (23-22) have been good lately. And good always seems to be enough when it comes to their front office.
A big reason for the uptick has been the emergence of forward Jalen Smith, specifically since coach Billy Donovan inserted him into the starting lineup because of injuries to guards Coby White and Josh Giddey.
Both players since have returned, although Giddey is still on a 24-minute restriction and hasn\u2019t started the last two games. That means Smith\u2019s tandem with center Nikola Vucevic has been able to continue cooking.
Donovan said before the game that Giddey was getting closer to returning to his starting spot, so who will be the odd player out? It won\u2019t be White, who arguably is the Bulls\u2019 best scorer. It can\u2019t be Vucevic, the team\u2019s best big man. Forward Isaac Okoro is the only wing defender the starting unit has, and the Bulls aren\u2019t looking to stunt the development of forward Matas Buzelis.
So whom, then?
\u2018\u2018Those are going to be decisions that are going to have to happen,\u2019\u2019 Donovan said. \u2018\u2018That\u2019s a hard look, and we have to take a look at that because the metrics of Vooch and Jalen together have been really, really good. It\u2019s helped us from a rebounding standpoint both offensively and defensively. It\u2019s given us rim protection and size. I think Jalen has played really well.\u2019\u2019
Donovan began using the two-big-man look in November, but he used it off the bench with Smith and backup center Zach Collins. When Collins went down with a toe injury, Donovan tried to stagger Smith and Vucevic to keep size on the floor at all times.
The injuries piled up, however, and he had no choice but to start Smith alongside Vucevic. It has more than clicked, with the two developing a good chemistry.
\u2018\u2018Before Zach went down, the combination was more Zach and Jalen,\u2019\u2019 Donovan said. \u2018\u2018But Jalen and Vooch have done really well. I think we have to look to play big.\u2019\u2019
The Bulls are 6-2 when Smith starts.
As for Huerter, he said the victory was just another step forward for a team still competing for more than play-in status.
\u2018\u2018Hopefully it means we\u2019re building, starting to do the right things,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u2018\u2018We\u2019re just finding a rhythm, finding a consistency.\u2019\u2019
Jones update
The news Friday that guard Tre Jones would be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a strained left hamstring wasn\u2019t great, but Donovan painted a brighter picture a day later.
\u2018\u2018I think when [Giddey] first had [the same injury], he felt a real tightness,\u2019\u2019 Donovan said. \u2018\u2018I don\u2019t think [Jones] feels bad. He hasn\u2019t run or done anything like that. They\u2019ll start to do that just to see where he\u2019s at. There is some hope and optimism that after these two weeks, he\u2019ll be able to get a few games in [before the All-Star break].\u2019\u2019
More Mr. Smith
With his 14-point performance against the Celtics, Smith has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games. That tied the longest such streak of his career, last accomplished with the Suns.<\/p>\n