Chicago Bulls · 4 notes
Jalen Smith will start at center for the Bulls with Nic Claxton out, Tiago Splitter said, with Tobe Awaka "just coming back." Splitter wants everyone but the shooter chasing misses 75% of the time, up from about 40%: "we don't have the best shooting team in the NBA."
With the Bulls' injuries, Noa Essengue "is probably going to play more than he has," per Chicago's postgame: "get him out there for 20 minutes a night." No word on Jalen Smith, who sat after playing Oct. 7 and is being monitored, or Tobe Awaka, seen limping in a knee sleeve.
Two-way players like Tobe Awaka will split time with the G League, Bulls coach Tiago Splitter said: "If they have good minutes, they're going to be here with us. If I don't see them having minutes, they're going to be with the Windy City."
Nic Claxton is out, Zach Collins is "probably close to coming back, but not 100% yet," so the Bulls lack bigs. Tiago Splitter says Tobe Awaka will play "short minutes," nobody should top 35 minutes in the preseason opener, and he'll try small and maybe double-big lineups.