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.
Valentine gets caught ballwatching. Bricks the 3 and gets beat by Crabbe for the fast break layup on the other end. pic.twitter.com/NuCzJPT2bB
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) December 6, 2016
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?