technical details
  1. is_video => false
  2. alias => "chicago\/\/bulls\/kris-dunn-vs-trae-young-matchup-filled-memorable-moments"
  3. nid => "811406"
  4. title => "Kris Dunn vs. Trae Young is a matchup filled with memorable moments"
  5. is_chrome_page => true
  6. article_body => "<p>Kris Dunn has always downplayed any individual matchup with Hawks guard Trae Young, whom the Bulls brought in for a predraft workout in 2018 despite trading for Dunn less than a year earlier.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI like going against good players. And he\u2019s one of them,\u201d Dunn said following Friday\u2019s practice at the Advocate Center. \u201cThe media created more of, as people want to say, the rivalry. Ain\u2019t no rivalry. I just get up and bring what I bring. My defensive nature is to be aggressive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whatever the case, March 3, 2019 provided all you need to know about the matchup. Playing at the United Center in the two teams\u2019 first meeting since an epic, four-overtime game won by the Bulls in Atlanta, Young drew two technical fouls and an ejection.<\/p>\n<p>Young\u2019s first technical came when he and Dunn were each assessed one for exchanging shoves in the first half. Young\u2019s second \u2014 which resulted in the&nbsp;ejection \u2014 came when he briefly glanced at the Bulls\u2019 bench following a made 3-pointer.<\/p>\n<p>The taunting technical proved controversial enough that a pool reporter interviewed crew chief Mark Ayotte after the Hawks\u2019 victory. Dunn weighed in with his assessment after that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn my opinion, I don\u2019t think he should\u2019ve got ejected,\u201d Dunn said that night.<\/p>\n<p>As he said, he likes going against good players. Whether there\u2019s a rivalry or not, there\u2019s certainly some history and memorable moments. Unfortunately, another opportunity will not come on&nbsp;Saturday in the teams\u2019 final meeting of the season. Trae Young will not be traveling with the team&nbsp;due to a right ankle sprain suffered on Friday night, leaving the Hawks without their primary offensive force.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTrae Young is the head of the snake,\u201d coach Jim Boylen said. \u201cHe\u2019s a terrific player.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That he is, but Dunn has completely smothered him in the individual matchup. And the Bulls are 2-0 this season against the Hawks, winning by an average of 27 points.<\/p>\n<p>Young takes averages of 29 points, 8.5 assists and 4.7 turnovers on 36.6 percent 3-point shooting&nbsp;into Friday\u2019s home matchup against the Bucks. In his two games against the Bulls, he is averaging 12 points, 8 assists and 5.5 turnovers while shooting just 1-for-14 from 3-point land.<\/p>\n<p>Dunn has eight steals in the two games, including two outright strips of Young.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI try to use my size and length and be aggressive. Just make it difficult for him, like I try to do against any good player,\u201d Dunn said of his approach. \u201cMake him drive it. I think it\u2019s like that for a lot of these players. If they get the 3 going, they can get to the lane. Really, the 3 opens up everything. It makes his scoring and his decisions easier. So make him drive it and let it wear on his legs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Young posted 49 points, 16 assists and nine turnovers in that wild, four-overtime game in March, which featured some more chippy moments with Dunn. But, again, Dunn downplayed any extra motivation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m physical with everybody. That\u2019s part of my defensive nature,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you let players run around free, they can get it going. They can break the game open.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Young can certainly do that. He just hasn\u2019t this season against the Bulls and Dunn.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just think he\u2019s been a focal point of what we\u2019ve tried to take away. You can\u2019t take everything he does away. He\u2019s too talented for that,\u201d Boylen said. \u201cOur goal is to make him work, try to make him play through some hands and bodies. Try to contest the shots he does take. He has unlimited range. He has improved his physicality in his finishing. And he seems to be growing as a player.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Attention Dish and Sling customers! You have lost your Bulls games on NBC Sports Chicago. To switch providers, visit&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mysportschicago.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">mysportschicago.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/smart.link\/5bb676790335f?site_id=Dig_RSN_Chi&amp;creative_id=nbcschi1138&amp;cp_4=www.nbcsports.com&amp;cp_1=washington&amp;cp_2=myteams-nbc-sports&amp;cp_3=nbcschi1138\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/bulls\">Bulls<\/a>&nbsp;easily on your device.<\/em><\/p>\n"
  7. author => "K.C. Johnson"
  8. mps => {"author":"K.C. Johnson","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1577480520"
  10. created => "1577480864"
  11. changed => "1577503789"
  12. status => "1"
  13. hero_image_credit => "USA TODAY"
  14. tags => [{"tid":"2961","name":"NBA","url":"tags\/nba"},{"tid":"921","name":"Chicago Bulls","url":"chicago-bulls"},{"tid":"32826","name":"Jim Boylen","url":"tags\/jim-boylen"},{"tid":"30341","name":"Trae Young","url":"tags\/trae-young"},{"tid":"23956","name":"Kris Dunn","url":"tags\/kris-dunn"}]
  15. section => "Bulls"
  16. team => "Chicago Bulls"
  17. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  18. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2019\/12\/27\/defense_hero.jpg","alt":"dunn_defense.jpg","title":"Kris Dunn vs. Trae Young is a matchup filled with memorable moments"}
  19. sponsor => "Bulls Insider"
  20. region => "chicago"
  21. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=330072974228200&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbulls%2Fkris-dunn-vs-trae-young-matchup-filled-memorable-moments&display=popup"
  22. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Kris%20Dunn%20vs.%20Trae%20Young%20is%20a%20matchup%20filled%20with%20memorable%20moments&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbulls%2Fkris-dunn-vs-trae-young-matchup-filled-memorable-moments&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbulls%2Fkris-dunn-vs-trae-young-matchup-filled-memorable-moments"
  23. mailto => "mailto:?subject=Kris%20Dunn%20vs.%20Trae%20Young%20is%20a%20matchup%20filled%20with%20memorable%20moments&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fchicago%2Fbulls%2Fkris-dunn-vs-trae-young-matchup-filled-memorable-moments"
  24. tags_hide => []
  25. type => "article"
  26. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/chicago\/bulls\/kris-dunn-vs-trae-young-matchup-filled-memorable-moments.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/chicago\/2019\/12\/27\/defense_hero.jpg"]}
  27. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2020\/01\/18\/defense_hero.jpg","alt":"dunn_defense.jpg","title":"Kris Dunn vs. Trae Young is a matchup filled with memorable moments"}
  28. article_type => "article"
Bulls

Presented By Bulls Insider
Bulls

Kris Dunn has always downplayed any individual matchup with Hawks guard Trae Young, whom the Bulls brought in for a predraft workout in 2018 despite trading for Dunn less than a year earlier.

“I like going against good players. And he’s one of them,” Dunn said following Friday’s practice at the Advocate Center. “The media created more of, as people want to say, the rivalry. Ain’t no rivalry. I just get up and bring what I bring. My defensive nature is to be aggressive.”

Whatever the case, March 3, 2019 provided all you need to know about the matchup. Playing at the United Center in the two teams’ first meeting since an epic, four-overtime game won by the Bulls in Atlanta, Young drew two technical fouls and an ejection.

Young’s first technical came when he and Dunn were each assessed one for exchanging shoves in the first half. Young’s second — which resulted in the ejection — came when he briefly glanced at the Bulls’ bench following a made 3-pointer.

The taunting technical proved controversial enough that a pool reporter interviewed crew chief Mark Ayotte after the Hawks’ victory. Dunn weighed in with his assessment after that.

“In my opinion, I don’t think he should’ve got ejected,” Dunn said that night.

As he said, he likes going against good players. Whether there’s a rivalry or not, there’s certainly some history and memorable moments. Unfortunately, another opportunity will not come on Saturday in the teams’ final meeting of the season. Trae Young will not be traveling with the team due to a right ankle sprain suffered on Friday night, leaving the Hawks without their primary offensive force. 

 

“Trae Young is the head of the snake,” coach Jim Boylen said. “He’s a terrific player.”

That he is, but Dunn has completely smothered him in the individual matchup. And the Bulls are 2-0 this season against the Hawks, winning by an average of 27 points.

Young takes averages of 29 points, 8.5 assists and 4.7 turnovers on 36.6 percent 3-point shooting into Friday’s home matchup against the Bucks. In his two games against the Bulls, he is averaging 12 points, 8 assists and 5.5 turnovers while shooting just 1-for-14 from 3-point land.

Dunn has eight steals in the two games, including two outright strips of Young.

“I try to use my size and length and be aggressive. Just make it difficult for him, like I try to do against any good player,” Dunn said of his approach. “Make him drive it. I think it’s like that for a lot of these players. If they get the 3 going, they can get to the lane. Really, the 3 opens up everything. It makes his scoring and his decisions easier. So make him drive it and let it wear on his legs.”

Young posted 49 points, 16 assists and nine turnovers in that wild, four-overtime game in March, which featured some more chippy moments with Dunn. But, again, Dunn downplayed any extra motivation.

“I’m physical with everybody. That’s part of my defensive nature,” he said. “If you let players run around free, they can get it going. They can break the game open.”

Young can certainly do that. He just hasn’t this season against the Bulls and Dunn.

“I just think he’s been a focal point of what we’ve tried to take away. You can’t take everything he does away. He’s too talented for that,” Boylen said. “Our goal is to make him work, try to make him play through some hands and bodies. Try to contest the shots he does take. He has unlimited range. He has improved his physicality in his finishing. And he seems to be growing as a player.”

Attention Dish and Sling customers! You have lost your Bulls games on NBC Sports Chicago. To switch providers, visit mysportschicago.com.

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Bulls easily on your device.