(670 The Score) The Bulls are playing their best basketball of the season here late in the regular season, winning seven of their past nine games, including three of their past five on a tough West Coast road trip.
In the middle of it all have been point guard Josh Giddey and sharpshooter Coby White. They both played terrific in the Bulls’ 146-115 rout of the Lakers on Saturday, a game in which Chicago set season-best marks for points and with 41 assists and 58.3% shooting.
Giddey nearly became the fifth player in NBA to record a quadruple-double as he posted 15 points, 10 rebounds, 17 assists and eight steals. White scored 36 points on 12-of-17 shooting. He has scored 20 or more points in a career-best 12 straight games.
In March, White is averaging 29.1 points on 50.0% shooting overall and 34.7% 3-point shooting.
On the Mully & Haugh Show on Monday morning, Chicago Sports Network analyst Kendall Gill reflected on the Bulls’ strong play and expressed his belief that the team’s trade of two-time All-Star guard Zach LaVine to Sacramento in early February was what paved the way for Chicago to be better.
The Bulls acquired guard Kevin Huerter, backup point guard Tre Jones and big man Zach Collins in the trade.
“I’m the biggest Zach LaVine fan ever, but I think that the trade has made, it’s addition by subtraction,” Gill said. “As great as Zach was, Coby White now has the freedom he needs. He’s adjusted to playing with Giddey off the ball. Kevin Huerter provides that consistent outside shooting that the Bulls have needed for a couple years now.
“I know Tre Jones is a free agent, but you’ve got to find a way to keep that guy.”
The Bulls were 21-29 when they traded LaVine to the Kings on Feb. 2. They’re 10-11 since then and sit in ninth place in the East, putting them in play-in round position.
“You’re seeing before your eyes what you need right now,” Gill said.
The Bulls’ net rating since the LaVine trade is -0.6. It was -3.4 in the first 50 games before the LaVine trade.