The saying “basketball is a game of runs” can be cliché, but the Chicago Bulls have had a season of runs. After starting 5-0, the Bulls lost five-straight games two separate times this season. Recently, the Bulls have won five straight games in a season-defining stretch.
Chicago’s recent success can be attributed to health. With the team finally healthy, the Bulls have three centers available, allowing coach Billy Donovan to implement double-big lineups. Two center lineups were a huge talking point in the playoffs last season, with the Rockets, Thunder and Cavaliers all finding regular-season and playoff success using them.
Donovan experimented with double-big lineups in the preseason, but Zach Collins broke his left wrist, causing him to miss the beginning of the season. When he became available, Jalen Smith strained his hamstring, causing him to miss games. The Bulls had all three centers healthy for the first time all season on Dec. 12, when they played the Hornets.
Nikola Vucevic struggled in that game, and since Donovan had access to two other quality big men, he benched Vucevic. The Bulls ultimately won, breaking a seven-game losing streak. Vucevic played only seven minutes in the second half.
Since then, the Bulls have won five of their last seven games.
Double Bigs Benefiting Vucevic
Collins and Smith getting healthy could not come at a better time for Vucevic. He was in a personal slump while the Bulls were in a slump as a team. In the seven-game losing streak, Vucevic had more games scoring in single digits than he had 20-point games. In the five-game win streak, Vucevic scoring 20 points three times, his first time having 20+ in back-to-back games this season.
How are Vucevic’s numbers able to go up while there are more centers in the rotation?
In double-big lineups, Vucevic’s minutes have not changed. He is still playing 30 minutes a game, but now in shorter stints. The shorter stints, combined with playing alongside another big man, have reduced some of his workload, allowing him to play with more energy when he is on the court.
Over the last seven games – when Vucevic, Collins, and Smith were all playing – Vucevic has averaged more points, steals and blocks on a higher field goal percentage while having fewer turnovers than his season-long averages.
Buzelis Blossoming at Small Forward
The preseason injury to Collins not only affected the centers but also Matas Buzelis.
Buzelis’ natural position is small forward. He doesn’t have the length to guard Evan Mobley, Chet Holmgren and other tall fours. He also doesn’t have the size to guard Alperen Sengun, Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle or other traditional fours.
But Buzelis was forced to play power forward due to the lack of options, and in turn, he had a disappointing start to his sophomore season. The Bulls were so desperate for healthy big men that Patrick Williams started at center in one game.
Double-big lineups allow Buzelis to play his natural position, and he is flourishing. Like Vucevic, Buzelis scored 20+ in back-to-back games over the five-game win streak, including a 28-point game where he shot 10-for-11. He might have been able to make it three straight games, but he was injured in the fourth quarter against the Hawks.
Buzelis’ stats aren’t the only indicator that he is comfortable at the three. Both Donovan and Buzelis himself have talked about his role while sharing the floor with two centers.
“Those matchups (against small forwards), quite honestly, are probably a little bit easier for him (Buzelis) physically,” said Donovan. “I don’t mind playing Matas with two bigs. I never looked at Matas as a big.”
The Bulls getting healthy can only mean good things. Chicago faces Zion Williamson, Randle, Bam Adebayo, and Sengun all in the next 10 games. Having three healthy centers and leaning on double-big lineups will be a huge factor in future matchups.
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