ORLANDO – These were the types of teams that would make the Bulls flinch in previous years.
In some instances, flat-out curl up in the fetal position and hide.
A Detroit squad that would rather play prison-yard ball with the guards on break, and an Orlando roster that was more comfortable in ground and pound in the octagon rather than finesse.
So when the schedule was revisited and then the Bulls found out last week that they would be without the services of Coby White (right calf) for the start of the regular season, it appeared to be a recipe for disaster right out of the gate.
It’s been that. Just not for the Bulls.
After surprising the Pistons on opening night at the United Center, the Bulls went on the road for Game 2 of the regular season, and again opened some eyes, beating the Magic 110-98 on Saturday night.
“It’s been a big point of emphasis coming into the season,” guard Tre Jones said of physicality and the two wins. “It’s been something we talked about a lot. We did a lot of things well last year offensively, but defensively one of the things (that needed to improve) was physicality. We’ve picked that up through these first couple of games and now we’ve got to make it consistent.”
Like they did in the fourth quarter against Orlando.
While there was a lot for coach Billy Donovan to like in the latest win, giving the home team a dose of its own medicine with a lockdown defensive effort in the final 12 minutes had to really stand out. While the Bulls (2-0) used a mix of role players and starters to pull away in the final stanza, they also held the Magic to just 18 points on 6-of-19 shooting (32%) and turned them over seven times.
And did so getting heavy minutes from Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter and Patrick Williams on a night in which starters Isaac Okoro and Matas Buzelis were battling with foul trouble.
“It wasn’t like that we didn’t talk about the physicality,” Donovan said, when discussing the issues from year’s past. “It was basically, ‘Listen, here’s what the numbers say, here’s where we’re at. I don’t care how hard you work, how much time you invest, if we do not do these things we will not be able to compete against the better teams in the league.’
“So we had to make a choice. I don’t think I’m asking anybody to do anything they’re not capable of. I think we have a group of guys that care. At least I’m watching them physically try and compete. For us to take another step this is what we have to do. It’s two games, so let’s just see what happens.”
What happened on Saturday was Tre Jones nabbing five steals, and the bench outscoring the Magic 58-35. A flexing of defense and depth all in one package.
That’s why Huerter finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and a plus-14 in plus/minus, while Williams had 12 and was a plus-12.
When the final horn sounded, the Bulls had seven players in double figures.
“I think a lot of that is withstanding the physicality, but we’re also playing with so much pace, playing in transition, playing in the full-court, and we’re not giving teams a chance to set-up,” Huerter said of his team’s latest showing. “If we continue to play at a good pace and continue moving guys in and out, I think we can wear teams down and then that physicality (from other teams) in the half-court becomes tough to sustain.”
