Don’t be fooled by the result: The Phoenix Suns won the Bulls in Chicago with more force and more authority than the short distance in the final score reflects (124-127) of the United Center. The Arizona franchise dominated the duel from the second quarter, with a stellar Devin Booker: signed 38 points with an outstanding 14/23 shooting, including 5 triples in 10 attempts. At the break he already had 22 goals (8/10, 3 triples). Nothing bad.
It was (another, the umpteenth) blow of authority of the Suns, who do not look back and they have 43 wins in 53 games, with 13 wins in the last 14 games. Only the Atlanta Hawks have been able to get their hands on this streak against a team that stretched after a combative first period to go up 19 (37-58) after a 5-21 run. He came to win by 27 and in the absence of 3 minutes he was 15 up. Apart from those from Georgia, one by one, they have all fallen against Monty Williams’ machinery: Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors… large, medium and small teams have surrendered in front of one of the main contenders for the ring.
Chris-Paul
“It’s a good win. I see the Bulls a lot because of the League Pass, I like them a lot. They compete. They play hard,” said Chris Paul. The Phoenix base controlled the duel at will, with a lot of pace at the beginning. With a lot of pause when the Suns took off. He fed everyone (11 assists) and he fed himself (19 points), but without forcing. The rest came on its own, with McGee doing a formidable sapper exercise on both ends of the floor (16 goals in 23 minutes) against Vucevic, who was always outmatched.
DeMar DeRozan
The Bulls never freaked out, despite another superhuman performance from DeMar DeRozan. The guard, 38 points, is in the second step in the fight for the MVP. It seems little, but it is a lot for a player who went under the radar during his time at the San Antonio Spurs and who in a so-called big market (Chicago) has resurfaced a reality: he is good, very good. One of the great stars of the League.
His intervention was not enough for a Bulls that live in spasms at this stage of the season. They win two games, lose one. They win one, fall in two. Up and down like on a seesaw. An inconsistency that stems from the lack of their two best outside line defenders, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso.. With them out, Donovan can’t find the formula to balance the back of him… especially with two stilettos in DeRozan and LaVine who don’t have among their best skills getting off their asses and putting a lot of decibels on defense.