The Chicago Bulls traveled to Toronto on Sunday, intending to secure their sixth win of the season against the Raptors. Unfortunately, many things went wrong for Billy Donovan and his boys, and instead, they lost 113-104.
But amidst their struggles, at least Bulls rookie Dalen Terry didn’t go unnoticed. Terry, who was picked in the first round out of Arizona by the Bulls in the 2022 NBA draft, experienced for the first time a real rotational role, and he didn’t disappoint.
While he had appeared in over 6 of the Bulls’ first 11 games – now 12, it was at Scotiabank Arena that Terry got his first proper opportunity.
First one out the way pic.twitter.com/bBopaGj7lp
— Dalen Terry (@DalenTerry) November 7, 2022
The rookie has potential
When the opportunity rolled out on Sunday night, maybe Terry didn’t know where to start, but a career-high 9 minutes and 46 seconds against the Toronto Raptors brought out exactly what the rookie can bring to the table.
Terry dropped 4 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist thanks to the absence of Andre Drummond, Coby White, and Zach LaVine. He showed the same kind of game that pushed him up draft boards earlier this summer before the Bulls pounced on him in the first round.
Just like in his preseason debut against the New Orleans Pelicans where he dropped 11 points after 18 minutes on the court, Terry once again gave the Bulls’ management a clear picture of where to fix him.
From playing solid defense to driving the basket and finishing with a lot of power and authority, the shooting guard had a huge impact on the game.
The 6-foot-7 guard with a 7-foot-1 wingspan has shown that he can be a difference-maker on the Bulls’ roster and has actually started earning the trust of coach Billy Donovan.
“His willingness to stay engaged in the middle of the third quarter and to go in there and play as he played was great to see. And I thought he raised the energy on our team and certainly got the place excited,” Donovan told reporters after their preseason game with the Pelicans.
Hall of Fame education for the Rook. pic.twitter.com/zoXmMFUO0G
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 4, 2022
A mix of length and high motor at the wing position
After Sunday night’s game, it’s clear that Terry’s value doesn’t rest in the scoring column. Instead, his mix of length and high motor at the wing position makes a lot of difference on the defensive end.
His first bucket of the night came barely 29 seconds after he checked into the game. He first watched DeMar DeRozan pass the ball inside to Javonte Green, and he immediately opened up by cutting to the rim.
This may look like an easy read, but it shows the kind of game the Bulls are trying to build in the NBA. They’re trying to focus on generating easy looks and a free-flowing offense, and with his active off-ball mindset, Terry knows how to take advantage of such opportunities.
He then had another bucket which was so random but still encouraging. After finding himself with the ball in his hands, he first messed up with former Bull Thaddeus Young, who was guarding him by making him dance off the dribble before he landed a high-arching stepback-two.
And his second career block was just something else. After pushing his way past OG Anunoby, Terry immediately finished the play by swatting the ball out of Anunoby’s hands. His timing and speed were just incredible.
So this confirms that even though he may not be a box score stuffer, Dallen Terry knows how to change the game, and whenever he is on the floor, fans always have a reason to smile. Terry is only 20 years old, but it’s clear that the Bulls have a young player on their roster who could help them get more wins in the future.
The rook brought his energy to Bulls Fest this weekend! 🤣@DalenTerry | #BullsFest pic.twitter.com/LdaEQgkGre
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 5, 2022
Chicago Bulls get revenge
After a disappointing game in Toronto, the Bulls once again met the raptures yesterday at the United Centre and, this time round, carried the day with a 111-97 win, led by Zach LaVine, who scored 30 points, had 3 rebounds, and also gave 5 assists.
After the Raptors sent them to 5-6, the Bulls’ did not only want to get revenge on the Raptors, but they also wanted to settle things so they could go back to .500.
Very many factors were on their side on Monday night, though. Playing at the United Centre was an advantage, and the return of Zach LaVine after missing Sunday’s game was also another thing.
They also had in mind where they left off on Sunday, so they started from that point- attacking the basket. Also, they knew that turning the ball over and making careless passes cost them on Sunday, so they tried to avoid such mistakes. And in the end, the Bulls won 111-97, with LaVine’s 30 points being a great boost.
Dalen Terry put up 14 PTS & 10 REB in 32 MINS for the WINDY CITY BULLS on Sunday afternoon
He then scored 5 PTS in 6 MINS for the CHICAGO BULLS later that night! pic.twitter.com/ddibyDHiIK
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 14, 2022
Credits on a Featured Image: MGoBlog, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
