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Film Room with the Bulls: What to Like, Not Like from First Two Weeks of Season

By Michael Whitlow

Nov 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg reacts on the side line during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg reacts on the side line during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Doug McDermott and Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls
Nov 5, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) is guarded by Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) and forward Doug McDermott (11) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeated Chicago 111-94. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

What Not to Like: The Bulls defense has been putird since the 3-0 start

Even before Tom Thibodeau was fired two seasons ago, the Bulls’ defense was already on a downslide.

Last year — the first under Fred Hoiberg — the Bulls weren’t good, but weren’t completely terrible on the defensive side of the floor, finishing 16th in team defensive rating.

In their 3-0 start, the Bulls were good defensively.

In their 0-3 stretch after, they were awful.

In the last three games against Boston, New York and Indiana, it was more than just give up 112 points on average in those games. The effort has been poor, and the communication has been even worse.

I noted a couple of plays from the Knicks game, and it involves the Bulls’ half-court and transition defense.

How did Porzingis get that open? Butler was guarding Anthony as Porzingis set the screen at the elbow, but not only did he follow Anthony off the screen, so did Nikola Mirotic (Porzingis’ man).

Porzingis did miss this wide-open look, but these kinds of scenarios are why the Bulls are struggling as of late on the defensive end.

Another issue that was well-documented heading into this season was the Bulls being able to get back and stop teams in transition.

This was the second possession of the game against the Knicks.

Butler had Rose marked in transition, but the defense from Rondo was quite bad in trying to slow down Courtney Lee for the game’s opening bucket.

This is the kind of effort the Bulls need from Rondo and the roster as a whole in transition:

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