Things turned onto the right track since I wrote that first-quarter column.

Before the relieving victory in Charlotte that ended the seven-game skid and the series win over the Cleveland Cavaliers that kicked off another hot stretch, the Chicago Bulls didn't panic. While Billy Donovan emphasized a handful of housekeeping items, players showed resolutions to re-buy into what they were supposed to be: the identity Donovan brought in and preached among them.

After the Bulls won a thrilling 152-150 battle against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, the seeds of hope sprouting on soil that should have been barren. Before determining whether this was another typical sparking fluke for Chicago, changes were streaming beneath the surface.

So what's been new during this recent rise? Let's break it down.

In those lengthy and repetitive statements Donovan made during the losing streak, what stood out most —and later became even more intriguing— was his emphasis on quality-shot creation. Not generating three-pointers as many as possible, but generating better attempts that were mostly uncontested. Though shooting went poorly in the Pelicans' defeat, Donovan brought up a crazy number to show his optimism: 82% of three-point shots were uncontested.

The tactical tweak has worked well recently. Against the Cavaliers, the Bulls shot 49 threes and nailed only 26.5% on December 13 in a solid win, but they converted at a better rate, 38.9%, and outshot Cleveland 14-12. In the rematch two days later on the road, Chicago again overwhelmed the opponent 18-14 from deep.

The confidence soared against the Hawks as the Bulls fired 20 treys, setting a season-high mark. Matas Buzelis personally hit seven of them. The trend, accompanied by wins, proved Donovan's belief in a less-midrange scheme that prioritizes creating space for better threes and straight twos. So far, the Bulls have only a 13% frequency for pull-ups, with 37.6% and 48.5% splitting into catch-and-shoot and less-than-10-feet categories.

What makes basketball one of the greatest sports in the world is the feasibility of old-school methods. People, including a sometimes-stubborn Donovan, thought fast-paced basketball trends would undermine the function of traditional bigs. However, as the Bulls struggled with a lack of rim protection and interior defense, Donovan was forced to revisit a similar approach he deployed with Joakim Noah and Al Horford at Florida before he became an NBA coach: deploying two big men on the court to immediately boost both ends.

The test came through gradually, starting with a second-unit rotation featuring Zach Collins and Jalen Smith. The frontcourt combo solidified interior defense despite giving up space outside. Well-established communication from both helped generate key stops when opponents attempted to attack the paint. Kudos to Nikola Vucevic, who sacrificed his playing time for a more two-big presence for the team's benefit.

As the Bulls, ranked 25th in defensive rating, continue figuring out their defensive flaws, flexing with a two-big rotation has helped Donovan magnify their strengths. Should they play smaller with two or three ball handlers, or go straight to the bigs? At least the team is actively thinking about the balance between both approaches.

Wins certainly come from collective effort, but individual players must produce first. While encountering struggles, Chicago's rising star Buzelis responded during the recent stretch, exploding with 20.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and shining defensively with 1.7 blocks and 1.0 steals. Behind the increasing figures, we've seen a confidence-boosted sophomore who's become daring in attacking the rim with his finger-roll elegance and shooting confidently. After going 7-of-8 from three against the Hawks on Sunday, Buzelis has posted 43.8% from beyond the arc during the win streak.

Starters have remained consistent, which is always appreciated. Josh Giddey's double-double dominance has impacted the team positively. Coby White's threat-posting on the frontcourt continues creating opportunities. Vucevic, who muscled downhill with a hammer on Sunday, and Isaac Okoro, who returned healthily and contributed solid scoring, have found their groove.

The past 3-0 stretch reminds us of the hot start to the season when the Bulls were cardiac, showcasing collective power with numbers piling up. As Chicago has returned to full strength recently, the killing potential from their bench has resurfaced, bursting out 50.0 bench points per game during the stretch. Right now, the Bulls still lead the league (44.5) in points off the bench.

Winning against Cleveland twice — especially a team that won 64 games last season and remains an Eastern Conference title contender — was delightful. However, the job isn't finished. Despite the acquisitions and good vibes, the mood only lasts in the short term. What tests the group ahead is whether they can keep the momentum running through the system and consistently execute their coach's mindset.