Holiday more concerned with shooting slump than streak's end
Justin Holiday was the last player in the gym Saturday before the Bulls left for a road trip to Cleveland.
The previous night, Holiday's franchise-record streak of 43 straight games making at least one 3-pointer came to an end. But he claimed to be more concerned about his 24-percent shooting over the past seven games than the end of the streak.
"I wanted to make sure I got some time in, because I haven't shot it well lately," Holiday said at the Advocate Center. "It's not a panic, but just get back to doing what I do."
Over the past four games, Holiday has made just 9 of 43 shots overall (20.9 percent), so it's not just his 3-point game that's gone south. He went 0-for-5 from 3-point range on Friday against Orlando.
"It's over now. It is what it is," he said. "It's not like I was trying to get a streak, but I was disappointed. I should be able to make shots in games. It's not about that one 3, it's about all of them."
Holiday had the longest active streak in the NBA, dating back to last season.
"Yeah, I could have been the only player in the league to make one in every game this season too, but I didn't," he said. "I just always think bigger, but it is a good accomplishment."
Dunn learns to lead:
Bulls coach Jim Boylen expanded on something he said after the Orlando game about how he and point guard Kris Dunn had a good synergy during the victory.
"I think he's trying to make the next step in his leadership and command of what winning basketball is," Boylen said." I think those are important things to him. I think there's a maturation going on with him right now. And you have to give him the credit and praise for that, for what he's accomplishing and how he's getting people involved.
"It's very difficult to know when to shoot, when to pass it, who's got it going. All those things have to be in his mind. And I think he's trying to process it."
Harrison shows growth:
Shaquille Harrison has always tried to focus on defense, but big and physical wasn't part of his game growing up.
"Actually when I was in high school, I was real scrawny," said Harrison, who grew up in Lee's Summit, Mo., south of Kansas City. "I was actually short. I was like 5-9. The weight room actually helped me a lot and I played football too. I get a little bit of toughness from that."
There must have been a growth spurt then, since he's 6-4 now.
"My junior summer I went from 5-9 to 6-2, and then I gained like 20 pounds. I was 100 pounds soaking wet the beginning of my junior year of high school."
Injury update:
Bulls coach Jim Boylen said he expects Jabari Parker to be available to play Sunday in Cleveland. Parker missed the past three games with a stomach virus and was pulled out of the playing rotation before that, so it's not clear if he would have played anyway in the past three games.
Cameron Payne did not practice with a calf injury. Zach LaVine (ankle) did portions of practice but will not play against the Cavs. Boylen said Kris Dunn (ankle) and Wendell Carter Jr. (stomach illness) were doing well after having issues during Friday's game.