Though the Chicago Bulls shot 50.6% from the floor against Denver, sloppy defense, poor rim protection, and 18 turnovers doomed them against an efficient, high-IQ Nuggets team. Denver's 41-28 advantage in free throw attempts exposed how often Chicago's aggressive, undisciplined defense put them in foul trouble and gave away extra possessions.

The paint was a problem all night. Denver outscored the Bulls 54-46 inside, including 19 second-chance points off offensive rebounds. With virtually no resistance at the rim, the Nuggets attacked relentlessly off drives and cuts. Nikola Vucevic provided little deterrence, allowing Denver's bigs to dominate the interior.

Billy Donovan has repeatedly identified rim protection as a foundational weakness, and this game proved it. He's urged the Bulls to fight over screens, rotate when needed, and commit to off-ball defense. The loss underscored the urgency of those instructions.

There were bright spots. Second-year forward Matas Buzelis dropped 20 points and blocked 4 shots, flashing the defensive presence Chicago needs at the time. Josh Giddey added 25 points and kept the offense moving when Denver pressured the rotation. Both showed the two-way effort the Bulls expect from their younger core.

But the defensive miscues carry a clear warning: tempo and offensive efficiency won't cover these gaps in the regular season.

These defensive issues aren't new. The Bulls finished last season with a 115.4 defensive rating, ranking in the lower half of the league. Despite offseason efforts, including the acquisition of Isaac Okoro from the Cleveland Cavaliers, to rebuild chemistry, the preseason lapses suggest that those habits haven't taken hold yet.

Even in Chicago's narrow loss to Milwaukee earlier in the week, cracks were visible. The Bulls grabbed more total rebounds but still lost the second-chance points battle, proving that collecting boards isn't enough without strong box-outs and physical presence. Milwaukee's size and aggression exposed the same problem Denver exploited—too many easy second looks at the rim.

That's why Donovan continues emphasizing a physical identity. The Bulls can't rely solely on Vucevic to anchor the paint. Perimeter players must communicate better on switches and double-teams to relieve pressure on their bigs. A single misread rotation or slow help-side reaction continues to cost them dearly.

One possible solution could come from the bench. Jalen Smith and Zach Collins, recently showcased impressively as reserve bigs, looked effective and energetic in limited minutes off the bench. Their presence could allow Donovan to test the possibility of two-big lineups, pairing him alongside Vucevic or rotating with him to strengthen interior defense and rebounding. Such combinations might not stretch the floor as much, but they could be key to reestablishing the toughness and discipline Chicago needs.

If the Bulls want to turn regular-season hopes into results, the blueprint must begin here—tightening interior defense, minimizing fouls, securing rebounds, and holding discipline under pressure. The talent is there, but without fixing these fundamental issues, Chicago will keep digging holes too deep to climb out of.

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