The Chicago Bulls opened their preseason with a 124-117 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. While the win was certainly encouraging, there was a lot more to take away from Chicago's first game under Tiago Splitter than the final score.

The Bulls showed flashes of a much-improved offense, but there were also some glaring weaknesses that will need to be addressed before the regular season begins.

Here's the good, the bad, and the ugly from Chicago's preseason debut.

Norman Powell is going to open up this offense. The Bulls haven't had a movement shooter quite like Powell in a long time, and his impact was immediately noticeable. Splitter ran several off-ball actions designed around Powell's shooting ability, opening up the floor for the rest of Chicago's offense.

Speaking of Splitter, the Bulls' halfcourt offense already looks significantly more fluid. After years of relying almost exclusively on centers to set screens, Chicago is incorporating its forwards into more screening actions. There was considerably less standing around and waiting for something to happen offensively, which is an encouraging development.

Matas Buzelis also looked like a completely different player physically. The third-year forward has clearly added muscle and is attacking the basket with a purpose. When Buzelis said he wanted to drive more this season, he meant it. His added strength is allowing him to finish through contact instead of getting bumped off his spots.

Then there's Tobe Awaka.

When Josh Giddey called Awaka the best offensive rebounder he'd ever seen, he might not have been joking. The rookie crashed the offensive glass like a madman, finishing with 14 points and six offensive rebounds. If he keeps this up throughout the preseason, it'll be difficult to keep that skill set on the bench.

Buddy Hield also looked energized following his trade to Chicago. He was aggressive with the ball, and his off-ball gravity as one of the NBA's most respected shooters was immediately apparent with a few nice offensive stretches in the game.

Chicago's two first-round rookies also had encouraging moments. Dailyn Swain finished with 10 points and six assists, while Caleb Wilson contributed 15 points and three rebounds.

Josh Giddey didn't look particularly explosive in his preseason debut.

The Bulls' point guard seemed a step slower than usual and struggled to beat defenders off the dribble. Chicago needs Giddey to consistently create advantages if it wants to maximize his exceptional playmaking ability. If he can't get into the paint and force defenses to react, this offense could struggle.

The rebounding was another concern.

For a team with as much length and size as Chicago possesses, the Bulls surrendered far too many offensive rebounds. Players need to become more disciplined about boxing out instead of relying on their physical tools to secure rebounds.

Rebounding should be one of this roster's greatest strengths. It absolutely cannot become a weakness if this team wants to overachieve this season.

Caleb Wilson's debut was certainly a mixed bag.

While the rookie finished with 15 points, his offensive approach left plenty to be desired. Wilson forced several three-point attempts and settled for difficult midrange jumpers instead of attacking the basket.

Some of that falls on Wilson, but Chicago wasn't exactly making life easier for its young star.

The Bulls need to incorporate Wilson into more off-ball actions designed to get him favorable matchups and easier looks around the basket. His 6-of-15 shooting performance wasn't particularly efficient, but there is plenty of room for improvement.

The turnovers were arguably Chicago's ugliest problem.

Bulls ballhandlers were far too nonchalant against an aggressive Phoenix defense. Instead of attacking defenders with quick, decisive moves, Chicago frequently allowed the defense to get comfortable while its players slowly initiated the offense.

Swain struggled particularly early after being forced into a larger ballhandling role following Tre Jones' late addition to the injury report. To his credit, the rookie responded with a much more impactful second half.

Defensively, Chicago's lack of foot speed was also apparent.

Despite being a roster full of length, the Bulls struggled to contain Phoenix's perimeter players. Suns ballhandlers consistently beat Chicago's point-of-attack defenders off the dribble, forcing the defense into difficult rotations.

The Bulls need to gamble less and prioritize staying in front of their assignments. Players like Isaac Okoro, Swain and eventually Jaylin Sellers could carve out significant roles if they prove capable of consistently defending the point of attack.

The Bulls continue preseason action Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies, where Wilson will have another opportunity to face off against former AAU teammate Cam Boozer.

Chicago will be without Nic Claxton for the remainder of the preseason, but the team is hoping to get Zach Collins, Tre Jones and Jaylin Sellers some opportunities to show what they can contribute.

Wednesday's victory was an encouraging start, but it also demonstrated just how much work remains for this rebuilding Bulls squad.

The offensive improvements are exciting, but Chicago will need to clean up its turnovers, defensive discipline and rebounding before those improvements can translate into consistent regular-season success.