Bulls Drop Another One, but Billy Donovan Sees a Silver Lining Amid the Struggles
The Chicago Bulls are officially in the mud. Sunday’s 114-104 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans wasn’t just another tally in the L column-it was the second time this season they’ve fallen to a team that’s been one of the league’s bottom-feeders.
After a promising 6-1 start, the Bulls have now dropped 14 of their last 18 and sit at 10-15. The momentum from October feels like a distant memory.
But head coach Billy Donovan? He’s still finding reasons to believe.
“I felt like we played the right way; I really did,” Donovan said after the game. “We didn’t shoot the ball well... but the way we played tonight is a sustainable style.”
That might raise a few eyebrows, considering the Bulls shot poorly and still lost by double digits. But Donovan’s point wasn’t about the result-it was about the process.
He emphasized that despite the cold shooting night, the Bulls managed to stay within striking distance. “As poorly as we shot, and them making a couple late, we were there,” he said. “We’re going to have to find ways to win games in the mud when we don’t shoot it well.”
That’s a fair point. Every NBA team has nights when the shots just don’t fall.
The good ones find ways to win anyway-through defense, hustle, rebounding, and smart execution. Donovan believes the Bulls are starting to embrace that mindset, even if the results haven’t followed yet.
That said, it’s hard to ignore the bigger picture. This was the second time the Bulls have lost to the Pelicans this season-the first was a 143-130 shootout back on November 24. And while Donovan seemed more optimistic this time around, the pattern is hard to miss: the Bulls are consistently coming up short, especially against teams they should beat.
Offensively, Coby White led the way with 20 points, five assists, and five rebounds. He’s been one of the few bright spots lately, showing more consistency and confidence with the ball in his hands.
Kevin Huerter added 16 points, knocking down four threes. Nikola Vucevic chipped in 12 points and eight boards, while Josh Giddey flirted with a near triple-double line: 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Matas Buzelis and Dalen Terry each added 9 points off the bench, while Patrick Williams contributed 8. Tre Jones and Jalen Smith had 6 apiece, and Isaac Okoro rounded out the scoring with 5.
But scoring hasn’t been the Bulls’ biggest issue-it’s what’s happening on the other end of the floor. Even with defenders like Jones and Okoro, Chicago continues to struggle defensively.
They’re giving up too many rebounds, too many points in the paint, and far too many second-chance opportunities. That’s a formula for frustration, especially when the offense isn’t firing.
Then there’s the ongoing concern about development. Since Donovan took over in 2020, the Bulls have yet to finish a season above .500 and haven’t made the playoffs.
For a team that’s invested in young talent, the returns have been underwhelming. Some of the recent draft picks haven’t blossomed into the impact players the front office hoped for.
That includes Noa Essengue, whose season ended prematurely due to shoulder surgery.
And while Donovan insists the team’s chemistry is strong, the on-court product tells a different story. There’s a disconnect-whether it’s in rotations, defensive communication, or simply effort-that continues to plague this group.
The Bulls aren’t out of time yet, but the clock is ticking. If they want to salvage this season, they’ll need more than moral victories.
Donovan’s belief in the team’s style is admirable. Now it’s on the players-and the coaching staff-to turn that belief into wins.
Because in the NBA, playing “the right way” only matters if it leads to results.