Jabari Parker’s questionable defensive instincts will be an enduring storyline as the 2018-2019 Bulls season plays out.  The hometown kid made the big play on D, however, to protect a 1-point Bulls lead as time expired and nail down a 99-98 W.  (Weird, yet comforting to see both teams under 100 pts.  We need more of this, Adam Silver.)

Ryan Arciadocono, who had a fabulous game in his first ever NBA start, guarded Cleveland rookie Collin Sexton as the clock ticked down in the 4th.  Sexton drove right, cut back left and short-armed an open layup attempt.  The ball bounced up, Sexton came down with it and went back up.  Jabari wiped it away with a volleyball spike and the buzzer sounded.  Bulls win!

Back to Arch for a moment.  Despite the new role, he played his game.  Arch fought over screens, protected the ball, found open teammates and made open shots.  He finished with 15 points, 4 assists and just 1 turnover.  He’s aggressive and tenacious.  Jabari had a noteworthy postgame quote about RyGuy: “That’s the guy I aspire to be and I look up to him a lot.”

Levitating LaVine put on a show for the home crowd at United Center.  Zach spun in the air for a 360 breakaway dunk.  For his encore he did some Michael Jordan impressions.  Stacey King said what we all were thinking when Zach flew up and under along the baseline for a reverse reminiscent of the GOAT.  Then he took another page out of the Air Jordan playbook, gliding in for a putback slam dunk on a Wendell Carter Jr. missed free throw.  LaVine played a thrill-a-minute game that wasn’t all flash.  He moved the ball and made the right plays on his way to 24 pts, 5 assists.

Ahead of Thanksgiving, Wendell brought the stuffing.  The box score says he only blocked 3 shots, but it seemed like a heckuva lot more.  He was everywhere on defense and chipped in 15 points.

Funny broadcaster moment:

Only Neil Funk can casually accuse Larry Nance Jr. of staying out too late last night because his jumpers were all coming up short.  Stay hilarious, Funk.