As the adage says, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. If that's true, the Chicago Bulls are trending toward delusion. Because, through four preseason games, they're repeating all the same mistakes that doomed them a year ago.
The full array of issues was on display in a 124-117 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 14. Though, to be fair, there were undoubtedly some bright spots.
Matas Buzelis had 20 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and racked up five blocks. Josh Giddey had his best game of the preseason, scoring 25 points and adding nine rebounds and six assists. Zach Collins and Dalen Terry each scored 11 points, and Jevon Carter continued his pleasantly surprising exhibition run by pouring in 17.
But there's a reason (or, rather, reasons plural) that Chicago was never truly in the game despite receiving that slew of solid individual performances.
Bulls are repeating the same mistakes that doomed them last season
Chicago played decently in its first two preseason contests, both wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers. It rallied late against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 12 but ultimately came up short. That theme, among several others, resurfaced in Denver.
The Bulls scored the third-most second-half points of any team in the league in 2024-25 -- because they were 26th in first-half points and consistently trailed heading into the break. They fell behind the Bucks by six, and, unsurprisingly, lost by the same margin.
Against the Nuggets, Chicago trailed by eight after the first quarter and by 12 at halftime. Even after outscoring Denver 34-20 in the fourth, the Bulls lost by seven.
Billy Donovan's squad finished last season 29th in free-throw attempts per game (19.7), though a somewhat respectable 15th in free-throw attempts allowed (21.5). It put on a masterclass in free-throw enabling in the Mile High City, though, committing 32 personal fouls and handing Denver a whopping 41 attempts from the charity stripe. The Nuggets made 37 of those. By contrast, the Bulls attempted a total of 28.
Poor starts and free-throw discrepancies played a role in Chicago's 39-43 record last season, but so did free possessions. The Bulls were 28th in turnovers forced and 20th in turnovers committed. Against the Nuggets, they forced nine and gave away 18.
Another disappointing trend followed the team from Illinois to Colorado. For as well as Giddey played last season, his poor perimeter defense was a major concern. Despite averaging career-highs in rebounds, assists, steals and 3-point percentage, the Bulls were 1.0 ppg worse with him on the floor.
In his statistically great performance against the Nuggets, he was a minus-22. Only fellow defensive sieve Nikola Vucevic was worse (minus-26).
Chicago played all the hits against Denver: It started slowly and lost, even with a dominant fourth quarter. It allowed way too many fouls and didn't draw enough. The Bulls committed twice as many turnovers as the Nuggets. For as good as their new $100 million man was, his poor defense was a significant burden to carry.
The team dealt with these issues over and over last year, and through four preseason games, it doesn't look like things have changed. If Donovan can't find a way to fix these problems, another mediocre season is on the horizon.