For a while there, the Bulls looked like legitimate contenders. Despite sporting anemic advanced numbers and claiming just two victories through seven games to start the season, they managed to outperform the vaunted Lakers for much — make that most — of the first three quarters of yesterday’s match. Playing inspired ball from opening tip, they had the overflow crowd at the United Center engaged and primed for an upset. They were making shots and, more importantly, acting like ungracious hosts to keep the visitors, and especially hometown hero Anthony Davis, at bay.
And then reality struck. The Lakers happened, albeit not in the way casual observers would have expected a typical comeback to be forged. Down 13 with 12 minutes left, they found themselves relying on their supposedly questionable bench to take the measure of the Bulls. With Davis, fellow All-Star LeBron James, and the rest of the starting unit in the sidelines, they used the first three minutes and seven seconds of the payoff period to put together a remarkable 14-point run. They weren’t perfect, but they got the job done, sharing the ball to post five dimes on their six baskets while pressuring the competition to commit three misses and two turnovers.
That Lakers head coach Frank Vogel would stick to his rotation and rely on a five composed of Dwight Howard, Kyle Kuzma, Alex Caruso, Quinn Cook, and Troy Daniels to start the final quarter despite the sizable deficit speaks volumes of his trust in both his charges and the process itself. He’s still feeling out his lineup, and not because the 2019–20 campaign is just a little over a tenth gone; among other things, early revelation Avery Bradley and rotation regular Rajon Rondo were out due to injury. At the same time, it bears noting that he has the luxury of patience given the presence of Davis and James.
When the battlesmoke cleared, the Lakers left what Davis deems the Mecca of pro hoops with a sixth straight triumph in their pockets. He didn’t have a good game by any means, but at least he finished strong. James was again outstanding in coming up with a third consecutive triple-double, although the game ball goes to the reserves. Yesterday, they bailed the purple and gold out of a potentially embarrassing outcome. Little wonder, then, that Vogel was beaming in the aftermath. There’s still a lot of basketball to be played, but he knows the future is bright.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
