We always say that the numbers don’t lie. This is the case in Chicago with Alex Caruso. Absent from the field since January 21, due to a nasty foul by Grayson Allen, the back of the Bulls made his big comeback last night against the Cavaliers, and his impact was immediate!
The evidence ? For the first time since his injury, the Bulls maintain an opponent below the 100 point mark. The team steals 12 balloons, including four for Caruso alone. Chicago scored more than 20 points on stray balls from Cleveland.
Yet deprived of Zach LaVine and still Lonzo Ball, the Bulls had regained that night this defensive identity symbolized by the activity of Caruso, who compiled 11 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals in 29 minutes.
“With him, we disturb the opponents more”
“What he brings cannot necessarily come from another player” explains Billy Donovan. “It’s just his way of disrupting the opponent, his game intelligence which allows him to see things happening as they develop, to be able to cut passing lanes, to recognize and read. With him, we disturb the opponents more. “
For this return, after 22 failed matches, Caruso had an opponent of choice: Darius Garland, an All-Star and a serious candidate for the title of Most Improved Plyer.
“After six weeks off, it’s good to be able to play 29 minutes and try to defend on an All-Star guard” appreciates Caruso. “I felt very good. As soon as the game started, I got up for some mundane actions that didn’t deserve it. I was just excited to play basketball again. “
Facing the Bulls defense, Garland had a tough start to the night with a 2 of 12 on shots in the first half. “I thought Ayo Dosunmu defended better than me on Garland” continues Caruso. “They tried to put me on Garland in the second half, but I was a bit tired. I had a little floundering feet. ”
“Defensively, there is a lot of confidence in this dressing room when Alex is there”
Holder, the rookie returns the compliment and details the impact of Caruso on the game of the Bulls. “He has an incredible impact, just because he’s one more competitor, one more leader, and someone who’s willing to do all the little things. All of these little things are useful, and it has an impact on everyone. It simplifies things for us, especially on pick-and-roll because we are more comfortable switching. He is a veteran, he has won a title, and he has already played these very high level matches. When you have this, it boosts morale in defense and gives energy. “
Welcomed by a standing ovation from the United Center when he entered the game, Caruso has this ability to blend into the collective, and for his coach, he gives confidence to his teammates.
” I think when you bring scorers back often the team has to adapt and the striker has to adapt to the team. But when you bring a defender back, it’s much easier Concludes the Bulls coach. ” Defensively, there is a lot of confidence in this locker room when Alex is there with his way of creating interceptions and deflecting balls. “
| Alex Caruso | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | ALL | 37 | 15 | 43.1 | 30.2 | 70.0 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 3.6 |
| 2018-19 | ALL | 25 | 21 | 44.5 | 48.0 | 79.7 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 0.4 | 9.2 |
| 2019-20 | ALL | 64 | 18 | 41.2 | 33.3 | 73.4 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 5.5 |
| 2020-21 | ALL | 58 | 21 | 43.6 | 40.1 | 64.5 | 0.5 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 6.4 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 28 | 28 | 42.9 | 34.5 | 81.4 | 0.9 | 3.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 8.4 |
| Total | 212 | 20 | 42.9 | 37.1 | 73.7 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 6.2 | |
