One of the biggest problems that this Chicago Bulls team has faced since the turn of the calendar year under the direction of first-year head coach Billy Donovan was caused by their play on the defensive end of the floor. The Bulls sit amid the worst teams in the NBA this season in most defensive metrics as a team.
At this point of the season, the Bulls are the worst in the NBA in offensive rebounds allowed per game (nearly nine), second from the bottom in two-point field goals against per game (31), and in the bottom six in opponent field goal percentage (north of 47). Beyond those metrics, Donovan and the Bulls still look like they are really struggling to find traction on the defensive end of the floor.
The Bulls also rank 20th in the NBA in points allowed per game (113.5) and in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating (112.4). There are a few problem players in particular that aren’t helping the Bulls cause on defense.
Particular problematic Chicago Bulls defenders
And a lot of the moves that the Bulls new front office regime made at the trade deadline haven’t helped their defensive ability. Outside of landing big man Daniel Theis from the Boston Celtics and shooting guard/small forward Troy Brown Jr. from the Washington Wizards, the Bulls didn’t do much to move the needle in terms of adding defensive stoppers at the deadline.
Moving forward, the Bulls have to get better on the defensive end of the floor. In two losses in part of the four-game losing streak they currently sit on, the Bulls gave up at least 120 points. The Bulls allowed the Atlanta Hawks to score 120 in a dozen-point loss back on April 9. And they allowed 121 to the last-place Minnesota Timberwolves in a really tough loss back on April 11.
And things got even worse for the Bulls when they ironically lost to the Orlando Magic on April 14. After getting Vooch from the Magic at the deadline, they still fell short by a double-digit margin earlier in the week to that team.
Which Bulls players (more specifically noted starters for most of the season) have struggled mightily on the defensive end of the floor?