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Phoenix Suns (29-26) vs. Chicago Bulls (34-21)
Game Time, TV: Saturday, Feb. 21, 8:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV
Projected Starting Lineups:
Phoenix Suns: PG: Brandon Knight, SG: Eric Bledsoe, SF: P.J. Tucker, PF: Markieff Morris, C: Alex Len
Chicago Bulls: PG: Derrick Rose, SG: Jimmy Butler, SF: Mike Dunleavy, PF: Joakim Noah, C: Pau Gasol
The NBA had one of its most exciting trade deadlines ever, and the Suns unfortunately became the big losers of it. Who they gave up wasn’t a surprise, but the limited talent they got back was. Trading Goran Dragic to the Miami Heat without getting any key rotation players back wasn’t the best way to deal their disgruntled asset.
However, the big mistake they made was giving up the Los Angeles Lakers‘ first-round pick in the deal to get Brandon Knight. The decision to get Knight is justifiable considering they traded Dragic and Isaiah Thomas, but it is hard to fathom that giving up that pick was the only way to do it.
The Suns did all this while sitting in the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Phoenix is now a half game out of the playoffs after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves. That loss was largely due to the fact they were undermanned with the trades they made. They are expected to have Knight in uniform for their game against the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls are coming off of a disappointing loss of their own, losing to a short-handed Detroit Pistons team. Everyone is still waiting for it all to click for Chicago this season. It feels like they should be the best team in the East, but they have been stuck in neutral for long stretches of the year. They will have a chance to get things going, as the game against Phoenix is the first of a seven-game homestand. However, the Bulls are just 15-11 this season at home. That is the worst home record in the league among winning teams.
It will be the second game of a back-to-back for both teams, but Phoenix will have the bonus of inserting Knight into its lineup. It will be interesting to see how he responds to getting traded. He should fit in great with the Suns’ frantic up-and-down pace with his ability to hit outside shots.
The Bulls will have a big advantage down low with Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah. Alex Len is the only real post defender for the Suns after they traded Miles Plumlee. The lack of size for Phoenix should also allow Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler to drive to the rim without worries — that is if the healthy version of Rose comes to play.
Rose has become the wild card for this Chicago team. The Bulls look like one of the best teams in the league when he is playing at a high level. The problem is that those games are hard to count on.
I don’t think Chicago will need Rose to be great to get by the Suns. It is hard to figure out exactly what Phoenix is trying to do at the moment after the moves it made. I think the Bulls will bounce back and win this game rather easily.
Final Prediction: Chicago 101, Phoenix 90
