Chicago Bulls: 3 Takeaways from the recent win streak

2. The Chicago Bulls defense has improved with Carter Jr. healthy

When Wendell Carter Jr. returned to the Bulls lineup against the Pacers on February 15th, the improvements were instantly visible.

No disrespect to backup center Daniel Gafford who started in Carter Jr.’s place, but the team’s defense is far better with the former lottery pick protecting the interior.

Players defended by Gafford shoot 0.4 percent better on two-pointers with him guarding them on defense. With Carter Jr. guarding however, opponents shoot 2.6 percent worse than they normally would.

His impact has been visible in team metrics as well. On the season, the Bulls have the 20th defensive rating in the league at 112.0. Since Carter Jr.’s return, the Bulls defense has transformed into seventh in the NBA with a 107 defensive rating.

Carter Jr. has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but when he’s healthy he is one of the most important players on the Bulls roster. His performance over the past few games has brought the Bulls defense from bottom of the barrel to the top of the league.