Chicago Bulls: The challenge of trying to make sense of this team

Who’s Who for the Chicago Bulls

The first issue is that all of their wins and losses during this recent five-game stretch are deceiving. All three wins have come against either severely depleted or flat-out bad opponents. Cleveland, who exacted revenge on the Bulls a few nights later, is 30th in scoring and they were the one opponent the Bulls beat that was healthy.

Beating Boston was a pleasant surprise. But let’s not forget they were without Kemba Walker (who tied his season-high with 32 points against Phoenix on Thursday) and Marcus Smart.

Charlotte has won one of their last seven games and is without their top two players, LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward.

What happened when they faced Memphis or Minnesota, who had players at point guard and inside that gave the Bulls fits? It was a similar story against Atlanta and earlier against Phoenix. They even let the Orlando Magic take it to them.

So yes, their defensive effort (when they show some) should be commended.

But there haven’t been any breakthroughs on that end. Just fortune breaking their way in one of the toughest remaining schedules in the NBA.

The Bulls still have the fourth-toughest remaining strength of schedule including two games in the next three nights on the road against the defending Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat. Five of their six remaining home games are against the 76ers, Bucks, and Nets. All teams in the upper half of the playoff standings.

In other words, this final stretch is going to be a dog fight. But it will also be a better barometer, with the full roster, of who is bringing that level of intensity every night and not just against wounded opponents.