The Chicago Bulls have gotten off to a 2-0 start, and it’s surprisingly been their defense that has shined the most. Through their first two games, the Bulls lead the NBA in defensive rating, yet rank 29th in offensive rating. It’s certainly a big surprise because most everyone would have expected the Bulls' offense to hit the ground running and the defense to be a work in progress.
The Bulls have played great defense through a committed team effort. They don’t have a dominant Center to lock down the paint like some other teams do, but they’ve gotten help from every position. Chicago has signaled their commitment to defense by starting Isaac Okoro, a defensive-minded forward who doesn’t provide much on offense, over sharpshooter Kevin Huerter.
Chicago's commitment to defense hasn't gone unnoticed
Okoro has been a perfect piece for the Bulls against their first two opponents: the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic. Both teams have offenses that are heavily reliant on stars—Cade Cunningham for the Pistons and the duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner for the Magic. Okoro was able to force inefficient performances out of both Cunningham and Banchero, which ultimately led to Chicago victories.
Cade and Paolo are very different offensive players, but Okoro has the right blend of size and agility to guard both. Both All-Stars still scored plenty of points but needed a lot of shots to get there. In fact, both stars shot 33 percent from the field against the Bulls.
That’s no coincidence, and not just possible through Okoro’s effort alone. Patrick Williams, long considered a disappointment by Bulls fans, has stepped up as a defensive forward and filled in when Okoro needs a breather. Young rising star Matas Buzelis has also been a disruptive help defender, who routinely erases his teammates’ mistakes. Another standout is new arrival Tre Jones, who is averaging a whopping 4.0 steals per game.
The Bulls’ incredible defensive rating is surely helped by playing two teams without great spacing around their young stars. But there is a lot to like about Chicago’s improved defensive effort and execution to start the season. Even against better offenses, the Bulls should be able to keep up their defensive improvements, not to the tune of the league’s best defense, but certainly better than last season.
They still have some clear room for improvement, especially at the rim. Despite having the best defensive rating in the league, the Bulls are giving up the most points in the paint. This is definitely not sustainable for having a successful defense, and something that will need to be addressed before playing more potent offenses.