The Chicago Bulls barely eked out a season-opening win over the Detroit Pistons, 115–111. It wasn’t always that close, though—Chicago once led by as many as 23 points and still held a 15-point advantage in the fourth quarter.
However, the Pistons came storming back in the final frame to close the gap, but they couldn’t quite erase the deficit. Isaac Okoro stymied Cade Cunningham’s potential game-tying three, and Josh Giddey hit one of two free throws to give the Bulls a late four-point cushion.
While Okoro’s isolation defense on Cunningham ultimately saved the Bulls from a potential overtime matchup, his 23-minute debut in the Windy City was less than stellar, at least in the box score. Okoro grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists, but failed to score, going 0-for-2 from the field. His defense, however, proved invaluable, as reflected in his plus-17 plus/minus. Still, he remained a virtual non-threat on the offensive end.
In the Bulls’ opener, though, they didn’t need extra offense. With Jaden Ivey out of the lineup, Cade Cunningham was Detroit’s lone initiator, and Okoro’s staunch perimeter defense outweighed his nonexistent scoring.
Kevin Huerter brings a vastly different skillset than Isaac Okoro
Still, every game brings a new challenge. Up next, Chicago faces the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks—two teams that haven’t exactly lit up the standings early but are loaded with offensive talent. Orlando features Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, and Franz Wagner, while Atlanta boasts Trae Young, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jalen Johnson.
While Okoro’s defense will surely be needed against scorers like Bane or Young, Billy Donovan is fortunate to have an alternative if offense becomes the priority. Kevin Huerter, who was in the starting mix during the preseason, came off the bench in the opener and scored 15 points, leading all reserves in plus/minus.
Huerter logged 27 minutes in Chicago’s opener, adding five rebounds, a steal, and two blocks. He’s nowhere near the defender Okoro is, but at 6-foot-7 and with solid athleticism, Huerter is no slouch on the less glamorous end. In fact, the Bulls were 6.8 points per 100 possessions better defensively with him on the floor last season.
Time and again, Donovan has emphasized that the Bulls don’t have a set starting five. The lineup will be fluid, meaning Huerter, Okoro, or even Tre Jones could start depending on the matchup. Chicago has options. Just because Okoro didn’t score, going 0-for-2 from the field, doesn’t mean the Bulls are in trouble with their fifth starter.
Huerter is more than a capable replacement for Okoro—or, in Donovan’s words, a “fluid” one. Even after just one game against the Pistons, it’s clear that depth, especially in today’s NBA, is a critical ingredient for success. Having Huerter as an alternative to Okoro might be Chicago’s most reassuring safeguard.