© Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Billy Donovan praises Alex Caruso for constantly making winning plays
Some numbers consistently point to Alex Caruso's excellence on the basketball court. But for Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, it's not just about the numbers with the All-Defensive First Team member.
The intangibles make him stand out as a critical member of a Bulls team that appears to be rounding into form despite the many injuries they’ve dealt with all season long.
Defense wins championships
While nobody isn’t talking about the Bulls winning an NBA championship anytime soon, Caruso’s defense could certainly be a part of what helps them make some noise in the playoffs. He has put on a defensive clinic in Chicago’s recent three-game winning streak and gave fans another example of his brilliance late in the match against the Golden State Warriors.
With the game tied and the Warriors having possession, Caruso drew an offensive foul on Draymond Green, which also happened to be the latter’s sixth, fouling him out of the game. The play was pivotal, reducing Golden State's defensive prowess and enabling the Bulls to clinch a 125-122 victory.
“He’s incredible,” Donovan said of Caruso.
“I think you need a full complement of players that can play to their own identity, and what he does is so unique. There’s no one on our team that does that and there’s probably not that many players in the league that does what he does.”
Appreciated by his teammates
Donovan added that what makes Caruso even more unique in today’s NBA landscape is that he embraces and enjoys his role. In a league where scoring makes the highlight reels every night, Caruso’s defensive intensity and hustle may not always make the top plays, but they certainly do not go unnoticed by his teammates.
“He’s so good defensively and does it every game, you don’t take it for granted, but when it happens, you’re kind of like, ‘That’s normal, that’s Alex, that’s what he does,’” Nikola Vucevic said.
“The plays he makes are so important. It’s a huge bonus for us to have that on the defensive end. He helps us so much and covers so much space, and his communication. We know we can rely on him night in and night out, and it’s huge to have that.”
