Bulls vs. Cavaliers Preview: Two Teams Searching for Stability Meet at the United Center
The Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers are both riding waves of inconsistency as they head into their December 17 matchup at the United Center. For two teams with playoff ambitions - and rosters built to compete - this game is less about the standings right now and more about finding their footing before the season slips away.
Let’s start with the Bulls. After a promising start to the year, they’ve hit a rough patch. Their latest stumble came in a 104-114 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans - a game that exposed some of the same issues that have been dogging them all season: lack of cohesion, questionable shot selection, and defensive lapses at key moments.
Josh Giddey, brought in on a major deal with hopes he’d be a foundational piece, hasn’t quite settled into his role yet. The talent is there - his court vision and passing instincts are undeniable - but the production hasn’t matched the price tag so far.
And he’s not alone. The Bulls as a whole look like a team still trying to figure out how to play together, especially when the game tightens up in the fourth quarter.
On the other side, the Cavaliers aren’t exactly cruising, either. Sitting at 15-12, they’ve shown flashes of the team many expected them to be - explosive on offense, gritty on defense - but they haven’t been able to string together consistent performances. Their most recent outing, a 111-119 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, was another missed opportunity to build momentum.
Darius Garland put up 26 points in that one, continuing to show why he’s one of the more dynamic young guards in the league. But even with that performance, questions loom. Trade rumors are starting to swirl around Garland, and while nothing’s imminent, it’s the kind of background noise that can impact a locker room’s focus.
The Cavaliers still have Donovan Mitchell, and when he’s locked in, he’s capable of taking over a game. Add in the frontcourt presence of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, and Cleveland has the pieces to cause problems for any team - especially one like Chicago that’s still trying to find its identity.
This matchup isn’t just another regular-season game. It’s a measuring stick for two teams that expected more from themselves at this point in the season.
For the Bulls, it's about rediscovering rhythm and getting Giddey more involved in a way that maximizes his strengths. For the Cavaliers, it’s about tightening the screws defensively and figuring out how to play through the noise around Garland.
Tip-off is set for Wednesday, December 17, and it should be a fascinating watch - not just for the basketball, but for what it might reveal about where both teams are headed.