After the tough 134-99 loss to the Boston Celtics on Monday, the Chicago Bulls showed signs of life.
Although it did not result in a win, it did involve a fight with the defending champions. One that featured the Bulls succeeding in areas they did not against the Boston Celtics.
Here are four team areas that the Bulls performed better in during the 133-127 loss to the Knicks compared to their performance against Boston. These could represent a more positive ceiling for Chicago, depending on whether they continue this.
The Bulls displayed their playmaking abilities
Against the Celtics, the Bulls finished with 20 assists.
Against New York, the Bulls ended with 32.
This ability to move the ball helped this Bulls offense put up those 127 points and find offensive success they could not against the Celtics.
Watching this Bulls team, it feels like they are still figuring out how to play with each other and build on-court chemistry.
This level of playmaking in a game against the defending champions is a great step forward in building that.
Bulls shot well from deep
The Bulls shot just 27% from beyond the arc in the loss to the Celtics.
That drastically changed against the Knicks. Chicago shot 43% from 3-point range.
The Bulls needed to find a good rhythm from beyond the arc, especially given their struggles in general from 3-point range to begin the season.
Now that they shot well from deep, the Bulls can hopefully keep this going. If the Bulls' offense wants to be successful, they must be a reliable 3-point shooting team.
Success from beyond the arc will make this team harder to guard by spreading the floor and making defenders play up. This should open up more looks inside.
The Bulls cut down the turnovers
From 25 turnovers against the Celtics to 12 against the Knicks. This drop is key.
This is a young Bulls team trying to figure things out. They cannot afford to turn it over and give their opponents the ball.
They have to maximize the opportunities they have with the ball given the circumstances around this team and the rebuild.
There will be mistakes and difficulties. One way the Bulls can help deal with this is by limiting turnovers.
Granted, defenses are different, and this could have just been a result of the opponent. However, because of the struggles against the Celtics, this should be considered a win for now.
The Bulls' third-quarter play
The Celtics outscored the Bulls in the third quarter 39-21. But against the Knicks, Chicago scored 34 points in the third. That tied the Knicks' 34 third-quarter points.
The Bulls cannot get into a habit of struggling in the third quarter. It's not a good way to start the second half, but it also puts Chicago in a tough fourth-quarter position.
This is a team that needs to give themselves as much breathing room as possible. This is especially true in late-game situations. Struggling in the third quarter will not give them this opportunity.
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