Westerlund: Bulls Should Be Wary Of The Wizards
By Cody Westerlund-
CHICAGO (CBS) – One by one Wednesday night at the United Center, the Bulls dodged the lingering question after a 105-99 loss to the Wizards.
What is it about this Washington squad that gives you so much trouble?
"They're a good team," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "They're a good team."
"It's an NBA team," point guard Derrick Rose said. "Anybody can come in here and beat you any night. They have good players on their team."
"Our intensity was down a little," big man Pau Gasol said. "But they played well."
All around, the Bulls were also dodging what's become more and more evident as these foes have squared off three times already this season: The Wizards are as tough a matchup as anyone in the East for them.
The statistics tell us that much – including the playoffs, Washington is 8-3 in the past two seasons against Chicago and has won five in a row at the United Center – and so does the eye test.
Consider that Wednesday night, the Bulls received their best effort of the year from Rose – he had a season-high 32 points and set the tone early – and yet the Wizards were in full control for the final 16-plus minutes. That says something about Washington, which is no longer a youthful squad finding its way.
It's grown-man East contender, with an elite point guard in John Wall who has found the right balance to direct his team and a tough-as-nails defense that's held foes to the sixth-fewest points in the league. In their last 14 games against the Wizards, the Bulls have hit the 100-point mark just once, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
"We like to pride ourselves on defense and move the ball," Wall said. "I think we have great big men who can score and pass. We have shooters on the perimeter."
More specifically, there are several reasons Washington is such a tough matchup for Chicago. Unlike the rest of the East, the Wizards (27-12) have both the perimeter explosion (in Wall and Bradley Beal) to exploit the Bulls' mundane athleticism and powerful giants in the frontcourt to negate the Bulls' size and strength.
Last Friday in Washington's 102-86 home win between these teams, the former trait was reflected in the Wizards' 20 fast-break points and Wall's dizzying 12-assist effort. On Wednesday, the latter was showcased as Nene (primarily) and Marcin Gortat (to a lesser extent) held Gasol to a 13-point night on 4-of-11 shooting while Washington won the rebounding battle.
Typically, foes that can speed past the Bulls don't have the personnel to deal with their bruising frontcourt for 48 minutes as well, but the Wizards have that dual ability.
There's one more notable Wizards trait that lends itself to success against the Bulls: a lack of reliance on the 3-pointer. A staple of Thibodeau-led defenses is to take away the 3-point shot – the Bulls have allowed the fewest attempts per game in the NBA this season – which can force opponents out of rhythm and into unfamiliar territory.
Yet it's no worry for Washington, which is second-to-last in the league in 3-point attempts and is comfortable relying on its mid-range game. The Wizards are third in the NBA in mid-range jump shot attempts and second in makes, at a respectable 41 percent clip entering Wednesday, according to NBA.com.
What the Bulls (26-14) give up, the Wizards are used to taking, so they're rarely pushed out of their comfort zone offensively.
It's been reflected in the recent matchups and should be a growing concern for the Bulls, even if they won't acknowledge it publicly. With the potential of both sides and preseason favorite Cleveland reeling, a playoff matchup could again await for Washington and Chicago, this time in the conference semifinals or finals.
"We just got to tighten up some things," Rose said.
"We just didn't find that recipe yet."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
