Oct 27, 2026 12:08 PM
Caleb Wilson’s defensive brilliance and Josh Giddey’s renewed aggression offer glimpses of hope, yet familiar rebounding woes and interior weakness fueled another lopsided blowout for the Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls suffered another blowout loss on Monday night, falling to the Boston Celtics 99-134.
While there were some encouraging individual performances, many of the same problems that have plagued Chicago early in the season were once again on full display. Poor rebounding, inefficient shooting and a lack of consistency continue to hold this team back.
Here's a look at the good, the bad and the ugly from Chicago's loss to Boston.
Oct 26, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) tries to slow down Chicago Bulls guard Norman Powell (24) during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn ImagesThe Good
Caleb Wilson continues to flash his potential in a big way. Despite the blowout, Wilson showcased his talent on both sides of the ball, and the Bulls actually managed to keep things competitive during his minutes on the floor. Wilson finished the night with 17 points and 5 rebounds and was only a -3 in a 35-point loss.
The rookie's defense was particularly impressive. Whether he was guarding the ball or making plays as a help defender, Wilson consistently made life difficult for Boston, collecting two blocks and a steal. His ability to impact the game defensively while continuing to develop his offensive arsenal is an encouraging sign for Chicago.
Josh Giddey looked alive in the first half for the first time this season. One of the biggest differences in his approach was his willingness to look for his own shot.
Too often, opposing defenses have been able to play the pass when guarding Giddey, knowing that his first instinct is to facilitate rather than score. When Giddey becomes more aggressive looking for his own offense, it forces defenders to respect him as a scoring threat and opens up the passing lanes that make him such a dangerous playmaker.
Norman Powell finally shot the ball well in this one scoring an efficient 20 points on 11 shots while going 4-for-7 from three point land.
Leonard Miller continues to make the most of his opportunities off the bench. Miller has provided a combination of offensive production and dirty work that this Bulls team desperately needs. His energy and willingness to do the little things have made him a valuable contributor to Chicago's second unit.
The Bad
The Bulls continue to get beaten on the glass. Rebounding is certainly about size, but it's also about effort, positioning and a willingness to get physical.
Boston has a significant size advantage with Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson, two big men who are bigger than anyone on Chicago's roster. Still, that doesn't excuse the Bulls' inability to consistently compete for rebounds.
Chicago needs to take more pride in finishing defensive possessions and creating second-chance opportunities on the offensive end. The Bulls aren't going to magically get bigger overnight, but they can certainly become more disciplined and aggressive on the glass. Giving up 19 offensive rebounds in a game is not a recipe for success.
Oct 26, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) tries to hold off Chicago Bulls forward Noa Essengue (2) during the second quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn ImagesThe Ugly
The Bulls continue to shoot themselves out of games. Under Billy Donovan, Chicago's offensive system relied heavily on getting up a high volume of three-point attempts despite lacking the shooting talent to consistently make that approach successful.
Now, under Tiago Splitter, the philosophy appears largely unchanged. The Bulls are still launching threes at a high rate despite once again lacking the personnel to justify that shot selection.
Sure, many of these attempts are technically "open" looks, but there's a reason opposing defenses are willing to surrender them. Chicago is shooting below 30% from beyond the arc as a team this season, and opponents are more than comfortable daring the Bulls to beat them from deep.
At some point, the coaching staff needs to recognize that generating open threes isn't necessarily creating good offense when the players taking those shots aren't converting them. Chicago needs to diversify its shot selection and find ways to consistently generate more efficient looks.
Matas Buzelis was once again a major negative for Chicago. After two productive seasons as a starter, Buzelis has gotten off to a rocky start this year.
With the addition of Caleb Wilson and Norman Powell, along with Jalen Smith's improving chemistry with Josh Giddey, Buzelis has found himself sliding into the role of the fifth offensive option in the starting lineup.
That diminished offensive role can excuse some of his reduced scoring production, but it doesn't excuse his lack of impact elsewhere.
If Buzelis isn't going to be a focal point offensively, he needs to find other ways to influence games. Whether that means crashing the glass, becoming a more committed defender or simply bringing more energy to each possession, Buzelis needs to leave his fingerprints on more areas of the game.
Otherwise, it's fair to question whether some of his minutes would be better spent on players like Leonard Miller and Noa Essengue, who have shown an ability to impact games in complementary roles without needing the offense to run through them.
Buzelis has plenty of talent, but talent alone isn't enough to justify significant minutes when the production and effort aren't consistently there.
What's Next?
The Bulls will return to the United Center on Wednesday to take on the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks.
Chicago will need to make some serious adjustments to its shot selection and find a way to generate more efficient offense if it wants any chance of competing with Jalen Brunson and company.
The Bulls have shown flashes of what this roster can become, particularly with the development of their younger players. But until they start addressing the same recurring problems, the Bulls will remain uncompetitive during this rebuilding year.
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