The Bulls Are Spiraling-But There’s Still a Path Out
The Chicago Bulls opened the season looking like a team ready to turn the corner. They jumped out to a 6-1 start, sat atop the Eastern Conference, and played like a group that had figured things out-at least for a moment.
But that early momentum has evaporated. Fast forward to now, and they’ve lost 11 of their last 14 games, including five straight.
Four of those losses came against teams that entered the matchup with four or fewer wins. That’s not just a slump-that’s a full-on tailspin.
The biggest culprit? Defense, or more specifically, the lack of it.
The Bulls have been getting torched at the rim, and it’s become a glaring weakness that opponents are targeting night after night. Despite the downward spiral, Josh Giddey is keeping the locker room upbeat.
According to him, the team’s chemistry hasn’t cracked, and there’s a belief that better days are ahead.
Holding the Locker Room Together
Over the last two weeks, the Bulls have made headlines for all the wrong reasons-blowout losses, defensive collapses, and trade rumors swirling around nearly every veteran on the roster. It’s been a perfect storm of poor play and instability.
Injuries haven’t helped either. Key contributors like Jalen Smith, Kevin Huerter, and Tre Jones have all missed time, disrupting both the starting lineup and the second unit.
Still, Giddey insists the group is staying connected. That’s no small thing in a league where losing streaks can fracture even the most veteran locker rooms. And with three of their next four games coming against teams near the bottom of the standings, the Bulls have a real opportunity to stabilize-if they can capitalize.
These next few games could be pivotal. Not just for the standings, but for the front office’s decision-making.
If the Bulls can’t take care of business against struggling teams, it’s going to be hard to justify holding off on trades. But if they can string together some wins, the narrative might shift-and fast.
Help on the Horizon
There is at least one reason for optimism: reinforcements are on the way. The most important name in that group?
Zach Collins. He’s not a defensive anchor in the mold of a Rudy Gobert or Brook Lopez, but compared to what the Bulls have right now-especially Nikola Vucevic-he’s a major upgrade in rim protection.
Vucevic has been a liability in the paint. His defensive impact has dwindled, and at this point, he’s offering little resistance at the rim.
Collins brings youth, energy, and a willingness to contest shots-three things Chicago desperately needs. He won’t fix everything, but he addresses the Bulls’ most glaring flaw.
And it’s not just Collins. Dalen Terry is back in the rotation.
Isaac Okoro is making his way toward full health. Tre Jones has remained available.
If this group can stay intact, Chicago’s defense could start trending back toward what it was to start the season-when they were a top-10 unit and knocking off some of the league’s best offensive teams.
What Comes Next?
No one’s pretending Zach Collins is the long-term answer, but he gives the Bulls a fighting chance to steady the ship. And if he can bring some stability to the paint, it raises a bigger question: how much longer does Vucevic stay in the picture?
The veteran center is on an expiring deal and hasn’t lived up to expectations this year. If Collins proves he can handle a bigger role, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Chicago explore trade options for Vucevic-especially if they’re leaning toward a retool or reset.
But first, the Bulls need to show they can beat the teams they’re supposed to beat. That starts now.
The next few games won’t just shape their record-they’ll shape the direction of the season. If this group still believes in itself, now’s the time to prove it.