The Chicago Bulls are flying high following their impressive win over the Denver Nuggets, on the second night of a back-to-back while coming off of a double overtime loss in Utah. Chicago showed a tremendous amount of heart in refusing to back down once Denver took a late lead. The Bulls stuck together, and used some more clutch shot-making from Vucevic to pick up the win. But life in the NBA never stops, and the Bulls reward for their great win is a tough matchup against a much-improved Portland Trail Blazers team. 

Portland and Chicago's NBA futures are currently linked, as. the Bulls own a lottery-protected Trail Blazers pick that looks likely to convey this year with how solid they have looked. The Trail Blazers are not worried about rebuilding--and thusly aren't too worried about that pick--because they finally have re-assembled a competitive team in a brutal Western Conference. 

Jrue Holiday was an excellent pickup for Portland, a veteran guard capable of playing the point to relieve pressure off of their young ball handlers, and taking on a variety of assignments defensively. Holiday is doubtful for Tuesday's Suns-Trail Blazers matchup due to a calf injury, and his absence against the Bulls would certainly make life easier for Josh Giddey and Coby White. 

But regardless of if Holiday suits up or not, the true trouble for the Bulls starts with Deni Avdija. The Israeli forward is in the midst of a breakout season, averaging 26.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists on a 63.5% True Shooting Percentage. Avdija is doing all of this while carrying a 28% Usage Rate. In layman's terms: Deni Avdija is carrying the Portland offense. And it's a solid offense, with the Trail Blazers being 12th in Offensive Rating (116.3), and right above the Bulls for 2nd in the league in pace. 

The Trail Blazers truly go as Avdija goes, and if the rotation of Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, and Isaac Okoro slow him down, it will be easier for the Bulls team defense to load up early and provide help on drives from the uber-athletic Shaedon Sharpe. Okoro will likely be X-factor in this matchup, as he wasn't on the Bulls roster last season, when Avdija hung 37 points on the Bulls in a tight game.

Okoro has fluctuated between positive and negative, surprising scoring performances. He is coming off of 20 minutes and 2 points on 1-3 shooting in the win over the Denver Nuggets. And if you go back to last Wednesday's loss in Detroit, Okoro had 15 points on 5-7 shooting from the field. But any--and I mean any--scoring provide by Okoro is just icing on the cake for the Bulls coaching staff. Wednesday's game against Portland represents another opportunity for Okoro to prove he belongs in a solidified role in the rotation, following him playing the lowest minute total he's seen in a week. One would assume Okoro draws the Avdija assignment, an assignment that should allow him to showcase his skillset, and a matchup that could decide Wednesday's game.

Read More Chicago Bulls Coverage

MORE: Bulls' Coby White is Out for Monday Game Against Denver, Tre Jones Listed as Doubtful

MORE: Bulls Defense Showing Major Signs of Regression

MORE: Bulls Extend Skid to Five After Yielding to Utah 147-150 in Double Overtime

MORE: Billy Donovan Wants to See Fundamentally Sound Defense, Attention to Detail Over Road Trip

MORE: It's a Trap (Game)!: Bulls Look to Avoid Five-Game Losing Streak, Take On Utah Jazz