Bulls' near upset of Cavaliers exposed the flaw that will define Chicago's season

It shouldn't come as a shock that a team as young as the 2024-25 Chicago Bulls has been maddeningly inconsistent through the first three weeks of the season.

The Bulls beat Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard on the road in the second game of the year. They've mounted multiple comeback wins after being down by 20 points. They took a five-point lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves into the fourth quarter.

They also lost that same game to the Timberwolves by 16 after being routed 45-24 in the final 12 minutes. They've been outscored by 5.5 points during the first quarter through their first 11 games, the worst number in the league.

A swing skill can make a player, and a swing stat can make a team. This Chicago group has already found theirs, and it will mean the difference between wins and losses this season.

Chicago Bulls' biggest flaw shows up in loss to undefeated Cavaliers

The Bulls nearly pulled the biggest upset of the young NBA season on Nov. 11, taking the now 12-0 Cleveland Cavaliers down to the final minute before losing 119-113.

Chicago shot better from the field (49.4 percent to 44.3 percent) and from three (36.8 to 33.5). Despite their lack of interior size, the Bulls outrebounded Evan Mobley, Jarett Allen and co. 51-43 and were only outscored by 10 in the paint.

The difference? The Bulls committed 20 turnovers that led directly to 35 Cavaliers points. Cleveland turned the ball over eight times and Chicago capitalized with 11 points.

That's where Chicago lost the game. But it's far from an isolated scenario.

The Bulls are 26th in the NBA in total turnovers and 24th in turnovers per game (16.5). In its seven losses, Chicago has averaged 18.4 per game; it's in four wins, that number drops to 13.0.

Coach Billy Donovan's squad plays at the league's fastest pace but has the second-fewest possessions. That doesn't add up - until you consider the Bulls force the second-fewest turnovers per game in the league (12.3) while committing the above mentioned 16.5 on a nightly basis.

Zach LaVine and Coby White, who just happen to be Chicago's highest usage players, are both in the top 30 in the NBA in turnovers committed.

All this to say there's a clear delineation between wins and losses for the Bulls this year: Take care of the ball and hang with most teams in the league; don't take care of the ball and potentially massive wins turn into disappointing losses.