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Now that Lonzo Ball is set to undergo left knee surgery and is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks, this creates a major void in the Bulls’ backcourt rotation that they remedy immediately. There’s no denying that the Bulls possess one of the deepest rosters in the league and have been a dominant two-way team all season long.
If they are to continue their reign of dominance and hold the no.1 spot in the Eastern Conference, then others must step in Ball’s absence and provide the Bulls with a major spark when it comes to scoring, facilitating, and playmaking. As Chicago fights tirelessly to fend off the competition and hold the top spot out East, we’ll take a look at the three players who must step up with Lonzo out injured.
Coby White
As a sneaky good combo guard in the NBA, Coby White has made a name for himself with his efficient shooting and slick passing that’s been a huge asset to the Bulls over the past few years. With Ball expected to miss a significant amount of time, White will have to step up his game and give Chicago a major boost in their backcourt.
Whether he’s starting or coming off the bench, White has been a spark plug for the Chicago Bulls and his scoring and playmaking will be vital to their offensive success in the coming weeks. Now that the Bulls will be playing undermanned for the interim, White must do all he can to help Chicago stay competitive while they fight to keep their current position in the standings.
Alex Caruso
Back in the line-up after being sidelined with a foot injury for the past 10 games, Alex Caruso’s highly productive two-way play will be crucial to the Bulls over this next stretch. With his active hands and relentless hustle, Caruso’s presence on the defensive end has been stellar for Chicago and they’ll need his defensive motor in their upcoming games with high-IQ perimeter defender Lonzo Ball out injured.
As a crafty scorer and fundamentally sound playmaker and facilitator, the Bulls will need Caruso to be on his A-game and bring the fire for them as they aim to keep the top spot the Eastern Conference. Plus Carushow may even find himself back in the conversation for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award if he can get back to playing at a high level.
Ayo Dosunmu
He’s a rookie reserve that packs a punch and provides the Bulls with a ton of energy and production on a nightly basis. Now that Ball is going to be out of the line-up for a while, this will open up more opportunities for Ayo Dosunmu to shine as a highly skilled point guard with a strong defensive prowess.
While he grows into an elite floor general and perimeter defender, taking on more responsibility and getting more playing time will only allow him to develop his game even further and contribute to the Bulls’ success even more over the next few months. If the Bulls want to hold their ground and continue to fend off the competition, getting an all-out effort from Dosunmu is another major factor that will help them remain in the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference.