Bulls' Three-Point Woes Continue Despite Encouraging Signs in Loss to Pelicans
The Chicago Bulls walked into Sunday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans hoping to build off a much-needed win over Charlotte that snapped a seven-game losing streak. Instead, they walked out of the United Center with more questions than answers - and a staggering 49 three-point attempts that clanked off the rim more often than not.
The Bulls launched threes like a team desperate to find rhythm, spacing, or maybe just a spark. But when only 13 of those 49 shots fall, the math doesn’t lie - that’s a recipe for another frustrating loss, their eighth in the last nine games. And while the crowd was sparse, the energy belonged to Pelicans rookie Jeremiah Fears, who dropped a career-high 20 points in front of a hometown audience that made its presence felt.
Still, head coach Billy Donovan wasn’t ready to hit the panic button. In fact, he liked what he saw - at least in terms of process.
“I felt like we played the right way,” Donovan said after the game. “We didn’t shoot the ball well… but we moved it, we generated good shots.”
He’s not wrong. The Bulls did manage to create open looks - a lot of them.
Donovan pointed out that nearly all of their three-point attempts against New Orleans were uncontested. That’s the kind of shot profile coaches dream about.
The problem? The shots just didn’t fall.
A Cold Spell from Deep
This isn’t just a one-game blip. Over their last 10 games, the Bulls are shooting just 32.4% from three - 29th in the league.
Narrow the lens to the last five games, and it dips below 30%. That’s a brutal stretch for a team that, at least on paper, has the personnel to shoot better.
Kevin Huerter, brought in to provide spacing and shooting after coming over from Sacramento, has struggled to find his rhythm. He’s hitting just 31.8% from deep this season despite his track record as a reliable perimeter threat.
Coby White, who had a breakout year last season shooting 37% on nearly eight attempts per game, has seen his efficiency crater. Over the last 10 games, he’s shooting just 20% from three - and still leading the team in attempts. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player who’s supposed to stretch defenses.
Josh Giddey has been one of the few bright spots, hitting 42.9% from three during this rough patch. That’s a significant jump for a player whose outside shot has long been considered a work in progress. Ayo Dosunmu also flashed some promise before a thumb injury sidelined him, matching Giddey’s 42.9% over his last seven games.
But the rest of the roster hasn’t kept pace. Nikola Vucevic, who often steps out to the arc to balance the floor and compensate for his defensive limitations, is down to 33.3%.
Matas Buzelis is still finding his footing, shooting just 23.9%. Isaac Okoro, known more for his defense, is struggling mightily at 10% on five attempts per game.
And Tre Jones hasn’t hit a three since December 1.
Ironically, the team’s most efficient shooter during this stretch has been Patrick Williams, who’s knocking down 45.5% of his threes off the bench in limited minutes. It’s a small sample, but it’s something.
What Happened to the Shooting?
Just a month ago, this wasn’t the narrative. In November, the Bulls were shooting 36.4% from three on over 40 attempts per game - good for 11th in the league.
October was even better, with a 40.2% clip that ranked sixth. That early-season hot start feels like a distant memory now.
There’s been some talk around the league about the departure of former shooting coach Peter Patton, who helped the Bulls climb from the league’s basement in three-point makes to a more respectable middle ground. Under Patton, Chicago went from 854 made threes in 2022-23 to 1,266 last season - a 48% increase.
Now he’s with the Knicks, and New York has emerged as one of the league’s top shooting teams. Coincidence?
Maybe. But it’s hard to ignore the timing.
Still, Donovan isn’t focused on the past or the hypotheticals. He’s looking at the process - and in his eyes, the Bulls are doing the right things.
“82% of our three-point shots against New Orleans were uncontested,” Donovan said during Tuesday’s practice. “That’s crazy. You’re not going to bypass those.”
He emphasized that the team’s focus isn’t just about volume - it’s about quality. And against the Pelicans, they did a better job moving the ball and getting clean looks. The shots just didn’t fall.
Trusting the Process
The Bulls’ offensive struggles aren’t just about mechanics - they’re about mindset. Confidence, rhythm, and trust in the system all play a role when shots aren’t dropping.
“If you’re a 40% three-point shooter, you’re going to miss 60% of your shots,” Donovan said. “You’re going to have games like this.”
Coby White echoed that sentiment after going 1-for-10 from deep.
“A lot of them felt good off my hand… I can’t control whether they go in or out,” he said. “If I had to go back, I’d take those shots again.”
That’s exactly the kind of mentality the Bulls need right now. The process is there.
The looks are there. The effort is there.
What’s missing is the payoff. And while that can be frustrating - especially for a team trying to claw its way out of a slump - it’s also the only way forward.
The Bulls don’t need to reinvent themselves. They just need to keep shooting - and hope the math swings back in their favor.