Chicago (13 - 6)

Expert Pick
50% ··········>< 0%

Miami (9 - 11)

Big Eastern Clash!


It’s week 5 people and the rookies can now be traded! But, for now we are getting a good scope on the way the league is going to play out this year and the perfect way to do that is to highlight the match up between two of the Eastern Conference risers thus far this year, in the Miami Heat hosting the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls: The Bulls have opened the year 10-6 which is a great start considering the down year they had last year with LaMelo out for just about all of it, and given he’s already missed some games this year too. They’ve also done it all without their massive drafting win in GG Jackson, who went down during the pre-season and might not make it back this year. They’ve built a winning formula it would seem through drafting some guys they liked that had high upside, like Jackson, and the currently jury out guys of Buzelis and Kolek, but also targeting guys they like and wanted to fit a role through trade. They moved off Anthony Davis early, but got LaMelo and Bridges, who they have now turned into Siakam. Claxton they held fast on. They brought in Suggs, Sexton and Goga and still filled In holes with pieces they like that have worked out well, like Jerome and Ingles. They team looks rounded, plays both ends and is all set to roll as far as LaMelo can carry them while on the court. Cause, while they’re good, they need him to be great. A match up with the heavy defensive Heat is a good test! The Heat: The Heat finally moved off of Ben Simmons over the offseason and it was a move that had been called for, for years, but never eventuated. The price he got was surprisingly good given the history Ben has had and how up in the air him even having a spot in the NBA is in the coming free agency, but the inevitable move finally happened years late, and the team has responded by looking much better. Not to mention they also made another trade (yes, 2 in an offseason!) which brought in Derrick White, who has been simply phenomenal. He’s the #16 NSL ranked player currently and has even helped relegate CJ to the bench. Pete has chosen to build by drafting guys he thinks look like 2k guys and guys with length, so we’ve seen Duren and Bilal head into town. He’s clung onto LaRavia when many wouldn’t have and the latest draft has seen Ware and Dillingham join those ranks, to mixed reviews. He’s also rode the Jonathan Isaac injury wave, and is finally seeing some court time from the defensive stud to repay the good faith shown. Isaac is out this week, alongside Vanderbilt who is yet to play and Kevin Love, but the team’s main guys otherwise are fit, able and ready to go, to try push into a +.500 record and head into playoff realm. The Bulls, might be a stopper to this? The Projected Match-Ups: C: Nicolas Claxton Vs Jalen Duren Claxton is the Bulls man in the middle now and into the future fresh off signing a new 4 year deal. He’s been a solid pillar in the middle in the games he’s played so far averaging a 11/11 double double with 2 assists, 2.5 blocks and a steal per game too, which is really helping deter other teams at the rim. He’ll have to face a young man mountain here though in Jalen Duren who is also basically a double double guy with 11 and 14 as a starter, adding 2 assists a steal and a block. He’s terrible from the line though which gives the Bulls an out if they think he’s too much to handle down low. This is a match up of opposite types of bid men, really. It’ll be interesting. PF: Pascal Siakam Vs Kel el Ware Pascal was the big inclusion late in the offseason via Sign and Trade for the Bulls and he’s done all they wanted so far dropping 20 a night with 8 rebounds and 3 assists. He’s spacing the floor next to Claxton and allowing the slashers inside shooting 40% from deep and he defends well at his position too. He’s got a on paper favourable match up in this one, too, facing the rookie Kel el Ware who has shown little to nothing from his bench role to warrant a bump to the starting line up this week. 3 points and 2 rebounds off the bench to date, Pete I looking to test teams with size and length, but is the rookie ready for that yet? SF: Haywood Highsmith Vs Bilal Coulibaly Highsmith is the role player who won’t demand the ball in this line up. He’s started half the games he has played (all 16) this year and been solid with 6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists as a starter. He’ll play that defensive role, probably on Porter, and his impact will be determined from slowing him down and not by his own numbers. Coulibaly who is the opposing SF tonight has been starting at SG all year so far, using his 6’8 size there. He’s been mostly pedestrian there though through 17 games so maybe utilising his athleticism and size in a different role my break him out? He probably won’t face Highsmith up front, but who ever he faces he’ll probably have a chance to gain some momentum against. SG: Jalen Suggs Vs Kevin Porter Jr. Suggs has been locked into this starting SG role all year, even with Melo missing, so you know he knows his role. 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists with nearly 2 steals a game as he is used to lock down opposing ball handlers. My guess is he goes to White here and that might cause issues for White, but might also limit his effect going back the other way on the broken plays. The opposing SG in this one is Kevin Porter Jr who hasn’t started yet this year, but has put up 16 points a game off the bench in 18 minutes a game at the guard spots, so will look to use that extra opportunity to push into the 20ppg region. I imagine he gets Highsmith on him while he probably go to Highsmith himself on D, too. PG: LaMelo Ball Vs Derrick White LaMelo is back and what a luxury it is to have a 6’7 stud PG lining up at PG. 29 points a game with 5 rebounds and 5 assists and 1.6 steals a game to boot, and he tears up opposing defences. He’s going to get the #1 defender you imagine, which is probably White, whom is also the opposing PG. White in his own right is destroying defences this year for 30 points a game, 3 rebounds and 4 assists and he’s been that good and efficient that he’s forced CJ to the bench. I imagine Suggs goes to him and that will be quite the match up! Bench V Bench: Collin Sexton, Ty Jerome, Joe Ingles, Larry Nance Jr, Goga Bitadze Vs Nikola Vucevic, Keon Ellis, Jake LaRavia, CJ McCollum, Kyle Lowry Both benches are actually quite deep. The luxury of having elite scorers like Sexton and McCollum on the bench, with nice offensive big men in Vuc and Goga, and solid 2way PGs like Jerome and Lowry. The size advantage goes to the Bulls though, and that might end up being part of the difference with that rebounding.

It’s week 5 people and the rookies can now be traded! But, for now we are getting a good scope on the way the league is going to play out this year and the perfect way to do that is to highlight the match up between two of the Eastern Conference risers thus far this year, in the Miami Heat hosting the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls:

The Bulls have opened the year 10-6 which is a great start considering the down year they had last year with LaMelo out for just about all of it, and given he’s already missed some games this year too. They’ve also done it all without their massive drafting win in GG Jackson, who went down during the pre-season and might not make it back this year. They’ve built a winning formula it would seem through drafting some guys they liked that had high upside, like Jackson, and the currently jury out guys of Buzelis and Kolek, but also targeting guys they like and wanted to fit a role through trade. They moved off Anthony Davis early, but got LaMelo and Bridges, who they have now turned into Siakam. Claxton they held fast on. They brought in Suggs, Sexton and Goga and still filled In holes with pieces they like that have worked out well, like Jerome and Ingles. They team looks rounded, plays both ends and is all set to roll as far as LaMelo can carry them while on the court. Cause, while they’re good, they need him to be great. A match up with the heavy defensive Heat is a good test!

The Heat:

The Heat finally moved off of Ben Simmons over the offseason and it was a move that had been called for, for years, but never eventuated. The price he got was surprisingly good given the history Ben has had and how up in the air him even having a spot in the NBA is in the coming free agency, but the inevitable move finally happened years late, and the team has responded by looking much better. Not to mention they also made another trade (yes, 2 in an offseason!) which brought in Derrick White, who has been simply phenomenal. He’s the #16 NSL ranked player currently and has even helped relegate CJ to the bench. Pete has chosen to build by drafting guys he thinks look like 2k guys and guys with length, so we’ve seen Duren and Bilal head into town. He’s clung onto LaRavia when many wouldn’t have and the latest draft has seen Ware and Dillingham join those ranks, to mixed reviews. He’s also rode the Jonathan Isaac injury wave, and is finally seeing some court time from the defensive stud to repay the good faith shown. Isaac is out this week, alongside Vanderbilt who is yet to play and Kevin Love, but the team’s main guys otherwise are fit, able and ready to go, to try push into a +.500 record and head into playoff realm. The Bulls, might be a stopper to this?

The Projected Match-Ups:

C: Nicolas Claxton Vs Jalen Duren

Claxton is the Bulls man in the middle now and into the future fresh off signing a new 4 year deal. He’s been a solid pillar in the middle in the games he’s played so far averaging a 11/11 double double with 2 assists, 2.5 blocks and a steal per game too, which is really helping deter other teams at the rim. He’ll have to face a young man mountain here though in Jalen Duren who is also basically a double double guy with 11 and 14 as a starter, adding 2 assists a steal and a block. He’s terrible from the line though which gives the Bulls an out if they think he’s too much to handle down low. This is a match up of opposite types of bid men, really. It’ll be interesting.

PF: Pascal Siakam Vs Kel el Ware

Pascal was the big inclusion late in the offseason via Sign and Trade for the Bulls and he’s done all they wanted so far dropping 20 a night with 8 rebounds and 3 assists. He’s spacing the floor next to Claxton and allowing the slashers inside shooting 40% from deep and he defends well at his position too. He’s got a on paper favourable match up in this one, too, facing the rookie Kel el Ware who has shown little to nothing from his bench role to warrant a bump to the starting line up this week. 3 points and 2 rebounds off the bench to date, Pete I looking to test teams with size and length, but is the rookie ready for that yet?

SF: Haywood Highsmith Vs Bilal Coulibaly

Highsmith is the role player who won’t demand the ball in this line up. He’s started half the games he has played (all 16) this year and been solid with 6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists as a starter. He’ll play that defensive role, probably on Porter, and his impact will be determined from slowing him down and not by his own numbers. Coulibaly who is the opposing SF tonight has been starting at SG all year so far, using his 6’8 size there. He’s been mostly pedestrian there though through 17 games so maybe utilising his athleticism and size in a different role my break him out? He probably won’t face Highsmith up front, but who ever he faces he’ll probably have a chance to gain some momentum against.

SG: Jalen Suggs Vs Kevin Porter Jr.

Suggs has been locked into this starting SG role all year, even with Melo missing, so you know he knows his role. 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists with nearly 2 steals a game as he is used to lock down opposing ball handlers. My guess is he goes to White here and that might cause issues for White, but might also limit his effect going back the other way on the broken plays. The opposing SG in this one is Kevin Porter Jr who hasn’t started yet this year, but has put up 16 points a game off the bench in 18 minutes a game at the guard spots, so will look to use that extra opportunity to push into the 20ppg region. I imagine he gets Highsmith on him while he probably go to Highsmith himself on D, too.

PG: LaMelo Ball Vs Derrick White

LaMelo is back and what a luxury it is to have a 6’7 stud PG lining up at PG. 29 points a game with 5 rebounds and 5 assists and 1.6 steals a game to boot, and he tears up opposing defences. He’s going to get the #1 defender you imagine, which is probably White, whom is also the opposing PG. White in his own right is destroying defences this year for 30 points a game, 3 rebounds and 4 assists and he’s been that good and efficient that he’s forced CJ to the bench. I imagine Suggs goes to him and that will be quite the match up!

Bench V Bench:

Collin Sexton, Ty Jerome, Joe Ingles, Larry Nance Jr, Goga Bitadze
Vs
Nikola Vucevic, Keon Ellis, Jake LaRavia, CJ McCollum, Kyle Lowry

Both benches are actually quite deep. The luxury of having elite scorers like Sexton and McCollum on the bench, with nice offensive big men in Vuc and Goga, and solid 2way PGs like Jerome and Lowry. The size advantage goes to the Bulls though, and that might end up being part of the difference with that rebounding.

Bulls Star

LaMelo Ball
It’s no surprise who is the star of the Bulls. Siakam is a great player, and big name, but he’s never really translated properly over here and his 20 points a game might be close to the best he has put up, when he can do that in his sleep in the NBA. Ball however has the ability to go super saiyen, especially in this engine, and he is going to be the difference between a really strong playoff team and possibly taking it all the way on their best day.

PPG 28.7

RPG 4.3

APG 5.5

SPG 1.5

BPG 0.3

FPG 2.9

TPG 2.7

PPG 28.0

RPG 2.8

APG 4.5

SPG 1.1

BPG 0.5

FPG 2.2

TPG 1.1

Heat Star

Derrick White
Let’s be honest, this engine seems to have a type and Derrick White is that type, and so he is the clear star on this team. He’s dropping what is surely a career high 30.65 points a game so far and his defensive prowess on top of that is what Pete would have targeted in that trade to play alongside the other defensive crew of Duren, Isaac, Vanderbilt, Coulibaly and Lowry. It’s paying massive dividends right now and if he can make a good playoff spot and go deep into the playoffs, it’s going to be on the back of Derrick!

X-Factor
- Both teams clearly value defence. They have 2way guys littering their rotations from top to bottom and the winner of the defensive battle might just get over the line. The Bulls have far more offence which might also be the problem for the Heat, but you probably take the Heat for defensive impact and maybe White’s ability to match Ball’s scoring output, but also play better defence on him that he might receive himself, could be the XFactor?

X-Factor

- Both teams clearly value defence. They have 2way guys littering their rotations from top to bottom and the winner of the defensive battle might just get over the line. The Bulls have far more offence which might also be the problem for the Heat, but you probably take the Heat for defensive impact and maybe White’s ability to match Ball’s scoring output, but also play better defence on him that he might receive himself, could be the XFactor?

Injury Report
Injured Players: Kevin Love (Personal/Back) - 16 NBA Games missed this season Jonathan Isaac (Hip/Hamstring) - 6 NBA Games missed this season Jarred Vanderbilt (Foot) - 23 NBA Games missed this season	Injured Players: G.G. Jackson (Foot) - 25 NBA Games missed this season Returning Players: Joe Ingles (returning from Calf) - 6 NBA Games missed this season LaMelo Ball (returning from Calf) - 6 NBA Games missed this season Tristan Vukcevic (returning from Knee) - 10 NBA Games missed this season

Prediction
Head to Head Prediction: Real tight one this one. Shame Isaac isn’t available to really make it a top talent V top talent game, but we got close still. I think the Bulls might just be a little too much to handle overall, but the Heat are going to make it a tight game. Bulls by 3.

Prediction

Head to Head Prediction:

Real tight one this one. Shame Isaac isn’t available to really make it a top talent V top talent game, but we got close still. I think the Bulls might just be a little too much to handle overall, but the Heat are going to make it a tight game.

Bulls by 3.

		Comments (1)
pistolpk 12/18 11:28 pm	Thanks for the write up, I look forward to playing against the Bulls

	SAC	98
	LAC	103

	CHA	110
	PHO	113

	LAL	97
	SA	121

	IND	110
	LAL	107

	GS	101
	CLE	107