The Chicago Bulls came into this season hoping to build on last year’s offensive reinvention - a faster, more modern, three-point-friendly approach that helped them stay competitive even as the roster took a step back in talent. Head coach Billy Donovan shifted the team away from its mid-range-heavy tendencies and toward a pace-and-space identity.
And for a while, it worked. The Bulls won 39 games and looked like a team that had found a new offensive rhythm.
But beneath the surface, the numbers told a more complicated story. While the Bulls ranked sixth in points per game and second in pace last season, they finished just 20th in offensive rating and 13th in true shooting percentage.
They were taking the right kinds of shots - threes, layups, and shots at the rim - but converting them at an inconsistent clip. The three-ball was their saving grace, falling at an above-average rate.
But finishing at the rim? That was a different story.
Chicago ranked 27th in restricted-area field goal percentage, a troubling sign for a team trying to live in the paint and beyond the arc.
Fast forward to this season, and some of those issues haven’t just stuck around - they’ve gotten worse. The Bulls are once again among the league’s fastest teams, ranking second in pace, but their efficiency inside has cratered.
Through 25 games, they sit dead last in restricted-area field goal percentage at just 60.5%. That’s not just a red flag - it’s a flashing neon sign.
Worse yet, the three-point shooting that helped mask those rim struggles last year hasn’t held up. The Bulls have dropped from third in three-point makes to 16th, and while the dip in volume - from 15.4 to 13.8 makes per game - isn’t massive, the timing couldn’t be worse.
During a rough 1-5 stretch in December, Chicago’s inability to knock down threes has been glaring. For the month, they rank 22nd in makes and 29th in percentage from deep.
That’s a brutal combination for a team that relies on the long ball to open up its offense.
The result? The Bulls have plummeted to 28th in offensive rating for December, dragging their season-long mark down to 25th.
The early-season optimism around their offensive overhaul has started to fade. With both rim finishing and three-point shooting faltering, the Bulls are stuck in a philosophical bind.
If they can’t convert at the rim and can’t hit threes consistently, what’s left of the offense?
This isn’t about abandoning layups or threes - those are still the most efficient shots in the game. But it does raise a bigger question: is playing at breakneck speed still the right approach for this roster?
Look back to the Bulls’ hot start in October - a 5-0 run that had fans buzzing. During that stretch, Chicago actually played at a slower pace, ranking eighth in the league.
And guess what? The efficiency followed.
They shot 64.7% at the rim and a scorching 40.2% from three. That’s not a coincidence.
It’s worth noting that some of the NBA’s fastest teams are struggling. The five quickest squads in the league have a combined record of 48-78.
Meanwhile, the top five teams in the standings all rank between 13th and 22nd in pace. The takeaway?
Speed doesn’t always equal success. Sometimes, slowing things down and focusing on quality over quantity pays bigger dividends.
Chicago’s offense, for all its movement and volume, might benefit from a more deliberate approach. Advanced metrics say the Bulls generate average shot quality - 13th in the NBA - but average isn’t enough when you’re not converting. A rushed layup in transition or a quick above-the-break three might look good on paper, but it’s hard to argue they’re more valuable than a dunk off a set play or a corner three created through drive-and-kick action.
With the defense already leaking points, the offense has to carry more weight - just like it did at times last season to eke out wins. But in December, the Bulls have dropped games while scoring just 103, 105, 91, and 104 points. In today’s NBA, that’s not going to cut it.
So where does that leave them? It’s not time to tear the whole thing down, but it might be time to recalibrate.
Playing fast is exciting, but if it’s not leading to efficient looks - or worse, if it’s leading to missed opportunities - then the Bulls need to adjust. Whether that means slowing the tempo, tightening up the shot selection, or simply finding ways to finish better around the rim, something has to give.
Because right now, the Bulls’ offensive identity feels more like a question mark than an answer.