The Chicago Bulls are simply a different team when they play at home. The team is 10-3 when playing on the road while being just 2-5 on their home court. Traditionally a strong team when playing at home, Chicago is struggling when it comes to playing in front of their fans. For the past four seasons, the Bulls have gone 201-107 at home. But this is year is different and now they host the Brooklyn Nets looking for a bounce back win.
The Bulls started strong, but have struggled to remain consistent. They began the year going 8-3 while opponents shot just 42.9 percent against their defense. However that has changed as they have gone 4-5 in their recent stretch while opponents are putting up an average of 104.7 points against their normally stout defense. Things got bad when the Golden State Warriors paid the team a visit and went 12 of 30 from beyond the arc in a 112-102 loss.
The defensive struggles are a surprise, but the team's best defenders are simply not playing well. Pau Gasol is doing the best he can while being the only heavy lift. He has had six straight double-doubles while averaging 11.9 rebounds per game. Taj Gibson has been out with an ankle injury and has managed just 12 points since his return. Joakim Noah is struggling with a knee issue, setting the team back.
The Nets enter the matchup after getting blown out by the Atlanta Hawks 98-75 and then by the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-88. Brooklyn was playing without Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson which certainly played a role in the struggles. Johnson was only out with the flu while Lopez is once again dealing with a foot injury that could have him miss significant time. Deron Williams and Mirza Teletovic are trying to pick up the slack of the players out, but it simply was not enough especially against Cleveland. Williams put up 13 points, but went just 3 for 14 from the field. Teletovic could miss the game against the Bulls due to a hip injury.
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