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Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers: 3 Takeaways from Monday’s Loss

By Michael Whitlow

Dec 5, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) is defended by Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the third quarter of the game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) is defended by Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) during the third quarter of the game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jimmy Butler, SG/SF, Chicago Bulls
Dec 5, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) is defended by Portland Trail Blazers guard Evan Turner (1) during the fourth quarter of the game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /

1. The Bulls have defensive issues

OK, so the defensive rating (104.5, 9th in the NBA before Monday) may not show it, but the Bulls have issues on the defensive end.

Portland can be a stellar offensive team with one of the game’s best backcourt combos, but the Bulls have given up 100+ in six of their last eight games (3-5).

Taj Gibson and Robin Lopez can only do so much protecting the lane, while Jimmy Butler is carrying a heavy workload (37 more minutes on Monday) and Dwyane Wade isn’t exactly a ball-stopper these days.

This was another game where the Bulls could’ve used a step-up performance from Jerian Grant (filling in the starting lineup for Rondo), but Grant missed six of his seven shot attempts, had one block and no steals in just 23 minutes. It was certainly a step back from his big 18-point performance the last time the Bulls and Blazers got together.

Plus, the Bulls aren’t going to get much help on the defensive end when the guys coming off the bench are the struggling Bobby Portis (who played just six minutes), Nikola Mirotic, Denzel Valentine and Isaiah Canaan.

At what point does Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg see if an answer lies deeper on the bench in the form of Cristiano Felicio or Paul Zipser (who has been nursing a back strain as of late) to provide the Bulls a spark?

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