After last night’s dominant 113-88 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the Chicago Bulls are now 7-4 and take a three game winning streak into Utah Thursday night. For a team that had so many unknowns coming into this season, they’ve had moments when they look like a legitimate Eastern Conference contender. What’s working? The insanely hot shooting from deep propelled them to their 3-0 start, but that has predictably cooled off in recent games. Jimmy Butler looks like a one-man wrecking crew, and has single-handedly carried them when necessary. But two common threads exist through all of their wins; basic elements of basketball in which the Bulls are throttling their opponents. Free throws and rebounds. Elementary, my dear Wennington.

Free Points? Yes Please

They’re called “free” throws for a reason. Standing comfortably 15 feet from the hoop, with no defenders in your face. Free points for the taking, unless you count the physical beating on drives to the hoop as the cost. The fact that some NBA players can barely hit 50% of their attempts from the charity stripe is an absolute disgrace. But the Bulls are making the best of their free throw opportunities, which are many.

Through 11 games, two of Fred Hoiberg’s stars are leading the way for a barrage of points at the line. Jimmy Butler is averaging 9.2 free throw attempts per game, and making them at an impressive 90% clip. Over the last 5 games, he’s 50-54 at the stripe. Dwyane Wade, who gets the “future Hall of Famer calls” at this stage of his career, is adding another 4.1 attempts per contest and shooting 87%.

As a team, the Bulls are among the league’s elite at generating and converting free throws. They’re averaging 25.2 attempts per game (6th), making 20.8 per game (4th) and collectively shooting 82.7% (2nd). When you compare Chicago’s makes at the line to their opponent (+8.3), there’s no better team in the league. Their free throw percentage differential (+9.799) is also the best in the NBA.

The next time somebody tries to tell you that practicing your free throws is overrated, think about how the Bulls are using it as a big advantage right now. Then take a few hundred shots from the line before you call it a day.

But what about missed free throws? That leads us to the next element of the game that Chicago is dominating right now.

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