The Chicago Bulls had one major focus this offseason: improve their defense and physicality to become a more well-rounded team. In their preseason opener, they made good on that promise by playing with much-needed intensity and activity on the defensive end, more than we saw last season. Although the Bulls did allow 117 total points, they still showed good progress defensively.
No matter who you listened to on media day, the Bulls emphasized the same theme of defense. On Tuesday night, it was clear that the players heard that message loud and clear. Players up and down the roster were active in their help defense and showed some pride in their individual matchups as well.
Chicago's improved defensive intensity was evident
The Bulls' defensive effort paid off in this one, as they made winning plays on the less glamorous end. First, with the game tied and under a minute to go, Jevon Carter picked up a loose ball turnover and went coast to coast for a tough layup. Both Carter’s awareness and Jalen Smith’s defensive pressure helped make this play possible.
Then, two separate Bulls defenders had huge blocks to seal the win in the closing seconds. Dalen Terry got the first crack at a Thomas Bryant layup after Bryant himself tried to go coast to coast for a game-winner. After Terry blocked the shot out of bounds, Bryant got one more chance with 0.3 seconds remaining and had his attempt sent right back by Jalen Smith.
Terry was a defensive leader throughout the game. He’s very switchable, which plays right into the Bulls’ scheme for defending non-star players, and is still capable of making incredible recovery plays like that game-saving block. Terry is fighting for a rotation spot, and his path there will have to be forged in defensive grit.
Tre Jones and Matas Buzelis were other standout defenders in this game. Jones finished with four steals off the bench and was a team-best plus-16 in his minutes. Buzelis showed his defensive improvements by blocking an alley-oop dunk and holding his own in the post against larger players, with his primary matchup being All-Star Evan Mobley.
The Bulls’ defense still lacked direction, but it was encouraging to see their effort. As the season progresses, communication should improve, and their defensive strategy will become sharper. Much of the Cavaliers’ scoring came from plays beyond Chicago’s defensive control.
The Bulls gave up a ton of fastbreak points coming from the Cavs’ 19 steals (Chicago's offense looked very sloppy without Coby White). And reserve Craig Porter Jr. also went five-of-five from three-point range, which is all but impossible to gameplan for. Cleveland hit a bunch of tough looks as well, but if there's something to take note of, it's that the Bulls’ defense looked much improved.