{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"title":"Difficult stretch","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/donovan_b_usatsi_15363633%20%282%29.jpg","credit":"USA Today","published":1609785962,"caption":"

All Billy Donovan will allow is that the upcoming schedule is “really, really hard.”

Otherwise, he fell into typical coach-speak when asked about the four-game West Coast trip that begins Tuesday in Portland, Ore. And while Donovan didn’t go full “one game at a time” mantra, he did say the Bulls have to focus on what they can control.

That’s a difficult task given that they’re down four players due to either positive COVID-19 tests or a quarantine period as part of the league’s health and safety protocol. Donovan has been mixing and matching his rotations, using Thad Young at center for two straight fourth quarters.

Unlike Donovan, we’re here to look big picture. Not only at the Bulls’ current balancing act of developing its young core with starters’ minutes while leaning heavily on veterans in crunch-time moments, but also at all four opponents.

Donovan is right. This is a “really, really hard” stretch.

*All records and statistics are as of Monday morning

"},{"title":"At Portland Trail Blazers, Jan. 5","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/DamianLillardCJMcCollum_USATSI_15363933.jpg","credit":"USA Today","published":1609786223,"caption":"

At 3-3, the Trail Blazers rank eighth in offensive rating and 28^th in defensive rating with a point differential of minus-3.8. As usual, the offense is led by the all-world backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, who are averaging a combined 54.3 points per game.

But their defensive issues are legitimate. The arrivals of Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr. were supposed to help, and Covington is one of those glue guys who makes any defense better. But whenever Carmelo Anthony and Enes Kanter play together, the defensive rating plummets.

The Bulls currently get to the free-throw line at the league’s fourth-best frequency, so perhaps Portland’s defensive issues can be exploited.

Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers take -- and make -- the second most 3-pointers in the league. He’s not called Logo Lillard for nothing. Portland’s starting backcourt is cumulatively shooting 39.8 percent from 3 on 21.3 attempts per game.

Ball security also could play a factor in this one. Portland ranks second with just 11.2 turnovers per game, 6.5 fewer than the 29^th-ranked Bulls.

"},{"title":"At Sacramento Kings, Jan. 6","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/1220-Fox.jpg","credit":"USA Today","published":1609786453,"caption":"

The Kings won three of their first four but stand at .500 with a matchup against the Golden State Warriors before facing the Bulls. They rank 14^th in offensive rating, 18^th in defensive rating with a point differential of minus-2.

Rookie guard Tyrese Haliburton has been a revelation, but he could miss the matchup with a bone bruise in his wrist. It’s too bad. It would have been fun to see him and De’Aaron Fox offer another test for Zach LaVine and Coby White.

As it is, Buddy Hield is shooting close to 38 percent from 3-point range, a weapon the Kings don’t utilize much. They rank 29^th in both attempts and makes from beyond the arc.

The Bulls must keep the Kings off the offensive glass. Led by the always active Richaun Holmes, Sacramento leads the league in offensive rebounds per game (12.7) and ranks sixth in second-chance points per game (14.3). Bulls opponents rank 24th in each category, pulling down 8.6 offensive boards and posting 10.7 second-chance points per contest.

And then, you always have to factor in the element when the Kings become the Kangz, who are on a 14-season playoff drought. The father of former No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III Tweeted and then deleted a request for the organization to trade his son.

"},{"title":"At Los Angeles Lakers, Jan. 8","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/LEBRON_JAMES_USATSI_14183688_0.jpg","credit":"USA Today","published":1609786593,"caption":"

The Lakers are 5-2 with games at the Memphis Grizzlies and versus the San Antonio Spurs before the Bulls arrive. They rank third in offensive rating, sixth in defensive rating and second behind the Bucks in point differential at plus-11.1.

What’s weird is: It doesn’t even feel like the Lakers have played that well yet. And yet here they are as the league’s best shooting team overall and third-best 3-point shooting team. That’s in large part to how strong of a passing team they are.

New guard additions Dennis Schröder and Wes Matthews do what they do. Schröder always has been a strong rebounder for his position, and the Lakers, who also added Marc Gasol and Montrezl Harrell, have been a strong rebounding team. Matthews is shooting 45 percent from 3-point range.

Is anybody else ready to see Patrick Williams get some defensive minutes on LeBron James?

"},{"title":"At Los Angeles Clippers, Jan. 10","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/George_Paul_Leonard_Kawhi_USATSI_13729336.jpg","credit":"USA Today","published":1609786694,"caption":"

The Clippers also are 5-2 with a home game against the Spurs and a two-game set at the Warriors before facing the Bulls. They rank fifth in offensive rating, 21^st in defensive rating and own a point differential of plus-2 that is skewed by the shocking 51-point loss to the Mavericks.

By starting Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and a rejuvenated Nicolas Batum with Serge Ibaka at center and Patrick Beverley at point guard, the Clippers force your hand at matchups. That lineup, albeit in a limited sample size, has a net rating of plus-33.7 (LOL).

This game screams for some serious Thad Young minutes and the furthering education or rookie Patrick -- don’t call him “Baby Kawhi” -- Williams. Luke Kennard has been a nice pickup, especially because the Clippers rely so much on their halfcourt offense.

In fact, the matchup features the league’s No. 1 and 30^th-ranked teams as far as pace.

One troubling Clippers trend from last season is lingering: Letting teams come back from double-digit deficits, if not always to win at least to make the outcome more interesting than necessary. Load management game potential also looms.

"}]}

Bulls' opponents include Lakers, Clippers on grueling West Coast road trip