Bulls vs. Warriors preview and open thread

The Chicago Bulls are on another winning streak. Three games to be exact. After dropping back-to0back games against the Pacers and Rockets, Chicago has reeled off wins against Knicks, Pistons and Heat. The winning streak has the Bulls slotted in the ninth pick in the 2018 NBA draft according to our friends at Tankathon.com. What’s even a little more troubling to the Bulls’ tank plan is they are only half a game out of 10th and one game behind the Charlotte Hornets for the 11th pick. So it seems the tank for a top pick is all but dead at this point.

Now the Bulls welcome the best team in the NBA in the Golden State Warriors to the United Center in what will be one of the biggest games Chicago will play this season. The defending champs are entering this game with a record of 36-9, best in the entire league, and are also on a three-game winning streak overall and 13-game road winning streak. After dropping a game at home to the Clippers, Golden State has defeated three really good teams in the Bucks, Raptors and Cavaliers in consecutive order. They are still the favorites to win the NBA championship again and everyone knows why. The talent level on this team is unbelievable and they can beat you with a number of different guys. Kevin Durant one night and Steph Curry the next. Plus they play team basketball and are unstoppable when they get going. After this game, Golden State travels to face the Houston Rockets in a primetime Saturday night matchup.

The last time these two teams met, Chicago held its own for about a quarter and even led after it. But then the Warriors became an unguardable juggernaut led by Curry’s 33 points and ended up battering the Bulls, 143-94.

In terms of injuries, the Bulls remain relatively healthy and will have their usual guys out there. Zach LaVine is still on a minutes restriction and won’t play in the fourth quarter. But for the Warriors, they will be missing two key players in Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala:

This means that ... Jordan Bell will be starting! Cue the cash consideration jokes!

Matching up against the Warriors will also be another huge test for Kris Dunn in terms of his all-around performance, especially defensively, against arguably the best point guard in the NBA in Curry. Nobody is really expecting Dunn to completely outplay or lock down the former MVP, but this could serve as a bit of a litmus test as to how Dunn will match up to future guards who will have playing styles similar to Curry.

This promises to be a fun matchup. The Warriors are always a show, especially when Curry and Kevin Durant play. The Bulls are looking kinda fun, too, with all the 3-point bombing of their own.

Game Time: 7PM CT

TV: WGN