Bulls Defense Showing Major Signs of Regression

Michael Walton

Nov 17, 2025, 18:08

Michael Walton

Nov 17, 2025, 18:08

Updated at: Nov 17, 2025, 18:08

The Bulls started the year off hot defensively, limiting opponents from the perimeter as they raced to a 6-1 record. But a 5-game losing streak has seen the defense struggle to sustain.

The Chicago Bulls started the year off hot defensively, limiting opponents from the perimeter as they raced out to 6-1 record. But a five-game losing streak has seen the defense struggle to sustain that great start. Billy Donovan had talked all week about the Bulls needing to focus on "controllables," limiting mistakes and ensuring that they give themselves a chance to compete and stay in games.

Donovan stated in a practice following the Bulls recent loss to Detroit, "Last game we turned the ball over 21 times, we were 19-for-28 from the free throw line, and we gave up 33 rim shots. You are not winning. We do that, we are not winning any games...these are things that we have to do. And they are controllable things." It's safe to say that Donovan was likely not pleased with the Bulls follow-up effort in Utah. In the loss to the Jazz, the Bulls turned the ball over 17 times, a major factor in Utah being able to come back. Chicago's team defense also struggled to contain Lauri Markkanen, although that has been a problem for most of the league this year in Chicago's defense.

The Bulls have limited opponents from making and even taking 3-pointers this season, but their perimeter defense waned in the most crucial moment on Sunday.

Jazz guard Keyonte George started 2-14 from the field, but would finishing the game hitting 8-13 FGAs, including a game-winning 3-pointer from the right wing. That game-winning 3-pointer came when George came out of the corner for a handoff from Isaiah Collier. George starts his motion before Ayo Dosunmu is completely ready, and it is not clear if the Bulls wanted to switch any handoff actions or told their defenders to stick with their man.

Patrick Williams--who was guarding Collier--shifts his weight to get back to George as Dosunmu gets up a contest, but it was all a split second too late as George drained the 3-pointer with 00.8 seconds left on the clock.

The Bulls are in the top-10 in opponents 3-pointers made and attempted, but over this current five-game losing streak, the Bulls are 22nd in opponents 3-pointers made, allowing 14.8 makes per night from deep.

The up-tempo nature of Bulls games naturally leads to high scores, and keeping opponents off the free throw line and 3-point line allowed Chicago to force opponents into a track meet where they traded quick twos, something the paint-heavy Bulls offense was more than happy to do. If Chicago's defense is closer to what we've seen over this five-game losing streak than at the beginning of the season, then it will be tough for even a high-powered offense like the Bulls, to keep up.

Bulls Defense Showing Major Signs of Regression