Bulls rookie Dosunmu vying for defensive role
Plenty of teams struggle to defend Atlanta guard Trae Young.
The Bulls were no exception, but might have found a workable strategy during Monday's victory.
After Coby White got in early foul trouble, rookie Ayo Dosunmu helped slow Trae Young. White then came back from a rough start to score 13 second-half points.
The Hawks started the game involving center Nikola Vucevic in pick-and-rolls, and Young collected 10 points and 4 assists while leading Atlanta to an early 9-point lead.
"We had trouble early in the game keeping Trae Young in front of us and that really led to all those lobs and to those easy baskets," interim coach Chris Fleming said. "I think what worked well for us was when Ayo came in and guarded him, put some length on him and eventually in that second half we put Javonte (Green) on him."
Lonzo Ball (protocols) and Alex Caruso (left foot sprain), two of the Bulls' better defenders, were out on Monday. But their strengths are creating havoc with quick hands and double-teams. Staying in front of a small, quick guard isn't really what they're good at, especially the 6-7 Ball.
"It's less about our weaknesses, I thought we played to our strengths in that phase because we put versatile, lengthy guys on him and that helped us for sure keep him a little bit more under control," Fleming said.
It's easy to turn this situation into a White vs. Dosunmu competition, but this is a bad time for comparisons. White is coming off shoulder surgery and a protocols layoff, while Dosunmu is two months into his NBA career.
White averaged 15.1 points last season and could play an important role with scoring off the bench. Dosunmu has had some offensive flashes, but even in points per minute played, he ranks 11th on the team.
If the question is which of these players is more likely to be on the Bulls' roster three years from now, the answer is Dosunmu. It's tough to tell what will happen with White when his rookie contract expires in 2023.
For the rest of this season, the Bulls will be hoping White can stay in a scoring groove, while it's helpful to know Dosunmu can be a defensive option.
Young finished with 29 points and 9 assists, but didn't shoot well, going 8-for-23 from the field. The Bulls will get another chance to test the theory when the Hawks visit the United Center on Wednesday.
DeRozan shows poise:
After hitting the Hawks with 35 points and 10 assists Monday, DeMar DeRozan was asked what he feels are the strengths of his game.
"Probably just the poise," he said. "There's not any situation I haven't been in in this league, there's not a defensive coverage, not a defensive player that can rattle me, keep me out of my game. So for me it's my poise and my calmness I bring to the court is one thing I definitely appreciate."
Ilyasova joins list:
Newcomer Ersan Ilyasova was added to health and safety protocols Tuesday, according to the injury report. The veteran forward joined the Bulls on a 10-day contract last week. He was in uniform for the last two games, but did not play. ... Forward Derrick Jones Jr. (left hamstring strain) is listed as questionable.
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