Bulls’ Offense Is Flying - But Defensive Cracks Are Getting Harder to Ignore
The Chicago Bulls are moving fast - really fast. They’re second in the league in pace, and it shows.
They’re pushing the ball, hunting early offense, and piling up points in transition. It’s fun to watch.
It’s also covering up a problem that’s been growing louder by the game: the defense is springing leaks, and they’re not small ones.
What used to be Chicago’s bread and butter - a gritty, disciplined defense - has turned into their biggest question mark. And not in a “we just need to tighten up a few things” kind of way.
We’re talking about blown coverages, missed rotations, and wide-open lanes to the rim. The kind of breakdowns that don’t just lose games - they expose bigger issues underneath.
Let’s rewind for a second. Last season, the Bulls were a mixed bag.
The offense had its moments, putting up points in bunches. But the defense?
It was inconsistent enough to keep them from ever really building momentum. Now, heading into the 2025-26 campaign, those defensive lapses aren’t just lingering - they’re defining the team’s identity.
And it’s not like the numbers are hiding anything.
On the surface, there’s some good news. Chicago’s perimeter defense has been solid.
In fact, they’ve held opponents to the third-lowest three-point percentage in the league (34.4%). Their closeouts have been sharp, their rotations mostly sound, and they’ve done a solid job keeping shooters uncomfortable.
On the boards, they’ve been even better - leading the league in defensive rebounds per game (35.7) and sitting second in defensive rebounds allowed. That’s the kind of physicality and effort that usually translates to wins.
But here’s the rub: despite all that, they’re still giving up the third-most points per game in the NBA.
That’s not just a stat - that’s a flashing red light. If you’re locking down the perimeter and dominating the glass, but still hemorrhaging points, something’s breaking down in the middle.
And that’s exactly what’s happening. Teams are slicing through Chicago’s defense in the half-court, getting straight-line drives and easy looks at the rim.
It’s not about getting beat from deep - it’s about getting beat off the dribble, in the paint, and at the point of attack.
Think of it like this: the Bulls aren’t getting torched over the top - they’re getting gashed up the gut.
And that’s where the concern really starts to set in. Because this isn’t a case of missing key players or dealing with a short rotation.
The roster is finally healthy. Reinforcements have arrived.
And yet, the same breakdowns keep showing up. That points to something deeper - a scheme issue, an execution issue, or maybe both.
Head coach Billy Donovan didn’t sugarcoat it after a recent loss. He went straight to the heart of the matter.
“Our team, outside of maybe Isaac Okoro, we don’t have one guy on the team right now that you would sit there and say, ‘This guy’s a defensive stopper. This is what this guy hangs his hat on,’” Donovan said.
“It’s not one guy’s fault; it’s all of us. It’s the coaches, the players.
… It’s a team issue.”
That kind of honesty matters - and it tracks with what we’re seeing. Last season, the Bulls ranked 29th in points allowed per game (119.4).
This season? They’re giving up 124.2 points through 17 games - fourth-worst in the league.
That’s not a small jump. That’s a defense getting walked down the court night after night.
And look, part of this is the league itself. The NBA right now is a track meet.
Offenses are playing faster, shooting earlier, and scoring more. It’s no-huddle basketball, and if you can’t get back in transition or set your defense, you’re giving up layups and open threes.
That’s been Chicago’s reality.
Their pace tells the story. They’re flying up and down the court, trying to outscore teams in shootouts.
And when the shots are falling, it works. But when they’re not?
That’s when the defense has to step up - and right now, it just isn’t.
So here’s the big question: is this Bulls defense actually improving? Or is the offense just doing a good job of hiding the cracks?
Because if it’s the latter - if the scoring is just masking a deeper problem - then it’s only a matter of time before the dam breaks. And when it does, it won’t matter how many points they’re putting up. The scoreboard will still tilt the wrong way.
The Bulls have the tools to be better. They’ve shown flashes of it. But until they find a way to stop the bleeding in the paint and tighten up in the half-court, they’ll keep falling short of the team they’re trying to be.
Fast-paced offense might win you highlights. But defense?
That’s what wins you games. And right now, the Bulls are still searching for theirs.