Gasol leads Bulls' trend of sharing ball
The Bulls are on an impressive run of sharing the ball. Over the last 10 games, they are averaging 25.9 assists, third in the NBA over that span behind Golden State and Atlanta.
In Monday's 100-90 victory over Milwaukee, the Bulls set a season-high with 35 assists, on 39 made baskets. The highest assist total in the league this season is 40 by the high-scoring Warriors.
Sharing the ball isn't necessarily the answer to team success. The Bulls are just 5-5 over those 10 games, but injuries have been a factor. What's unusual is the team's assist leader over that stretch is center Pau Gasol with 7 per game.
"We're using Pau a lot more in a facilitating type role," coach Fred Hoiberg said Tuesday at the Advocate Center. "He's trailing the play a lot more than running to the rim. He's just so good at making decisions. Our guys are moving and cutting.
"Mike Dunleavy has had a direct effect on our assist numbers going up just because of his movement. Derrick (Rose) is making quicker decisions. That's the big thing: If we make quick decisions and don't try to hit home runs, we're pretty darn effective out there."
Gasol recorded his second triple-double in the last five games on Monday.
Bulls stop before 100:
Another milestone for the Bulls on Monday was the end of their 16-game streak of allowing opponents to score at least 100 points.
That was the team's longest 100-point streak in 30 years. The Bulls gave up 100 points in 25 straight games during the 1985-86 season, when Michael Jordan missed several months with a foot injury.
Asked about the streak-busting after the game, coach Fred Hoiberg laughed and claimed to have no idea what the reporter was talking about. He gave a more serious answer Tuesday.
"We played a really smart game on the defensive end," he said. "I thought Niko (Mirotic) really for us was the player of the game on the defensive end. He did a great job all night long of being in the right spot and plugging.
"We played personnel really well. Mike (Dunleavy) played Giannis (Antetokounmpo) about as well as you can play him by getting off him and making him take jump shots. We guarded (Jabari) Parker well. We didn't allow a lot of slashing, which they get a lot of points off. They average 50 in the paint and we held them 10 below that."
The Bulls nearly ended the streak Saturday, but Houston got hot late to reach 100 points exactly.
Dunleavy brings help:
The Bulls' improvement in several categories has coincided with the return of Mike Dunleavy. He made his season debut on Feb. 6 after recovering from back surgery.
"Our offensive rating when Mike's on the floor is phenomenal," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "He just knows how to play. He knows the right spot to be in. He knows when to cut. He knows when to hug that corner and he takes the right shots."