How the LaVine-less Bulls are changing styles yet again originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Bulls improved to 2-1 since Zach LaVine entered the league’s health and safety protocols for a minimum 10-day stay, holding their second straight opponent under 100 points for the first time since December 2018.
What’s the biggest takeaway from the two-game win streak?
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“That defense can win games,” Garrett Temple said after the Bulls snapped the Celtics’ six-game win streak with a grimy, 102-96 effort.
After acquiring Nikola Vučević at the trade deadline to pair him with a fellow All-Star in LaVine, the Bulls already changed their play style once. Over the last two games, it looks like they are again.
Throw the ball to Vučević. Take advantage of his elite shooting and willing passing. And then at the other end, guard, deflect passes, dive for loose balls.
“Obviously, we lost a big piece in Zach, 28 (points) a game. But if we’re able to guard like we’re capable of -- like (Monday) -- we have enough on the other end to score,” Temple said. “Vooch did a great job for us keeping us in the game in the first half offensively. And then it opens up shots for Coby (White), myself. But I think the biggest thing is if we defend, we grind, we guard like we’re capable of, then we can win any game we play.”
Temple, who said he’s finally fully healthy and off a minutes restriction after battling ankle and hamstring issues, did his part. Though Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum posted his first triple double with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, Temple hounded him at most every opportunity.
Tatum shot 3-for-17.
“When guys are that talented, a guy who can score from three different levels like him, just make it tough,” Temple said. “Push him into the shot that you want him to take.”
Temple sank all three of his 3-point attempts, his first game with at least three triples since Jan. 30. It was all part of a balanced effort that nudged the Bulls to 9-6 overall when Temple starts.
Those aren’t quite Keith Bogans-like numbers -- a nod to discerning Bulls fans who recall that unheralded shooting guard’s impact on the 2010-11 Eastern Conference finalists. But it speaks to Temple’s defense-first mindset and overall intensity, leadership and professionalism.
“Hopefully, guys are understanding how important these games are,” the veteran wing said. “Every detail, every play matters. Guys are playing really hard. And I like that.”
The Bulls also defended without fouling, a problem area all season. The Celtics took just 15 free throws off 15 Bulls’ fouls in a very physical game.
Head coach Billy Donovan called Temple’s work on Tatum “incredible” but also pointed to a larger point when asked about a team meeting that Vučević referenced in his postgame TV interview with NBC Sports Chicago’s Adam Amin and Stacey King.
“I don’t mean this maybe how it’s going to come out, but the trade kind of really messed up our team a little,” Donovan said. “What I mean by that is everybody kind of got out of their normal rotation, how they were being used. I think we lost a little bit of our competitiveness not because we didn’t want to compete and play hard, but it was really more guys had to figure out their roles. And when you are thinking a lot, it takes away that edge.
“I really think it took a toll on us. I give our guys a lot of credit for staying the course and trying to show the resolve to keep sticking with it to try to figure things out even though we had some very disappointing and heartbreaking losses. I do think they are starting to understand how to play with each other.”
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