Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls are now 3-8 since the NBA trade deadline where they made a number of moves. Outside of two bargain finds in Daniel Theis and Troy Brown Jr., the Chicago Bulls also added all-star big man Nikola Vucevic.
Many fans are growing frustrated and confused by the team’s struggles since the additions were made. Initially, it was understandable as the team faced some of the Western Conferences best teams right after the moves were made.
Things have escalated and now the Bulls are coming off of what might be their worst loss on the season. They fell to the Orlando Magic in embarrassing fashion on Wednesday night, getting lit up by one of the league’s worst offenses.
Making matters worse, the Magic are the team the Bulls just made that blockbuster trade with. With a deal involving first-round picks being sent to the Magic only a few weeks old, it’s tough for Bulls fans to see that kind of performance against the team they owe those picks to.
Chicago Bulls still control their own fate
Before getting into the reasons behind the Bulls struggles it is important to remember one thing: This team still controls its own fate. If they get things together sooner rather than later they will be involved in the NBA’s play in tournament.
Realistically, that is all fans can ask for at this point. Making it there would show steps being made as the season has continued. First, the team must address what has caused their brutal performance since the deadline moves went down.
It’s not on anyone person or player but instead problems the entire group is seemingly having. Sure, the star players have done their part in a way, but it’s important to remember a big part of their jobs is to lead. Let’s look at the reasoning behind the Chicago Bulls poor performance since the NBA trade deadline.
Reasons for Chicago Bulls recent struggles: The disappearance of Coby White and Lauri Markkanen
Following the NBA trade deadline, two already inconsistent Bulls youngsters have completely disappeared. That would be Lauri Markkanen and Coby White, both of which have been moved to a bench role that may play a part in their non-existent performances most nights.
Unfortunately for them, that’s where they are expected to stay. Not only does it makes sense from an on-court standpoint, but they both have been so bad since the deadline inserting either one into the starting lineup seems like a recipe for disaster.
Markkanen has had some positive moments, but only briefly. Since the deadline, he is averaging 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. It’s confusing how little aggression he is showing on most nights as he seems perfectly fine being a spectator on the court.
That is an interesting approach for a player approaching a big free agency. Markkanen will be a restricted free agent this offseason and is not helping himself with his recent play.
White, meanwhile, has somehow managed to be even worse than Markkanen. He has played in 8 of the teams 11 games since the moves were made, and he is averaging 9.4 points and 2.8 assists per game in those games. He’s also shooting 24.2 percent from behind the arc and turning the ball over 1.9 times per game, almost equaling his assist numbers on a per-game basis.
The youngsters are going to be asked to pick it up heavily the rest of the way as the team just lacks options outside of them. White is needed to get point guard moments and will need to play more efficiently. While Markkanen needs to have an aggressive approach moving forward and show the league what he is capable of as a shooter.
Reasons for Chicago Bulls recent struggles: Lack of a third option
The Chicago Bulls have one of the most talented offensive duos in the league now that they have paired Zach LaVine with big man Nikola Vucevic. Unfortunately, they ran out of time at the deadline to make moves at positions of need.
Even though they got steals in both Brown Jr. and Theis, they really need a third player to complement their first two. No one they have in their rotation can be counted on nightly to carry some of the offensive load.
Only Thaddeus Young and Theis are averaging double-digit points since the moves were made, with Young at 12.4 and Theis at 10. Meanwhile, Vucevic is scoring 22.5 and LaVine is at 25 in the team’s last 11 games. Both players are playing pretty efficiently given their workload, as well.
In addition to the already discussed White and Markkanen, rookie Patrick Williams has struggled since the deadline. Although it should be added he wasn’t ready to be a third option type guy anyway.
Still, the Bulls are at the point of basically having no consistent or reliable players outside of their two all-stars. That is obviously not a recipe for success. It is hard to say who could step up for the team, but anyone stepping up would do the job.
If LaVine and Vucevic could get some offensive support the team would find themselves in much better situations. A more versatile offensive attack makes players like LaVine and Vooch more lethal themselves. As of now, teams can zone in on defending them and worry very little about anyone else on the Bulls.
Reasons for Chicago Bulls recent struggles: Defense, or lack thereof
Easily number one in the reasons for the Chicago Bulls recent struggles is their complete lack of defense as a group. It was known the defense would not be great after the moves they made, but what we have seen is oftentimes embarrassing.
There is a difference between bad defense because you’re simply not capable of any better and bad defense because you aren’t putting more into it. More often than not the Bulls are displaying an effort issue.
Teams like the Magic should not light them up like they recently did. Especially when the Bulls are playing for something and Orlando is not.
More from Pippen Ain't Easy
- The dream starting 5 for the Chicago Bulls 5 years from now
- Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu inspires the future with new school program
- Chicago Bulls NBA 2K24 full roster ratings, risers, and fallers
- Bulls sign a pair of promising guards to Exhibit 10 contracts
- When does NBA Training Camp start? Dates Bulls fans need to know
Chicago has the sixth-worst defensive rating since the deadline moves were made. Unsurprisingly, they are surrounded by a bunch of bad teams at the bottom of the list. Their defensive rating in that span is 115.4, an atrocious number.
If the Bulls want to turn things around it will begin on the defensive end. Regardless of everything else, if they don’t change their habits on that end of the floor they will continue losing games. Their poor defense has both taken them out of games early and helped them blow leads late.
It’s one of the hardest things to overcome in the NBA, consistently bad defensive effort. With how much they are already putting on their two all-stars offensively, the team needs to wake up on the defensive end of the floor.