The Cleveland Cavaliers are still searching for answers after another frustrating loss-this time a 136-point defensive collapse at home against the Chicago Bulls. That defeat not only handed the Bulls the season series but also exposed some deeper issues that continue to plague Cleveland, especially when facing a team that thrives in transition like Chicago.
Let’s start with the obvious: allowing 136 points on your home court is a glaring red flag, no matter how well your offense is clicking. Offensively, the Cavs actually found a decent rhythm, both in half-court sets and in transition.
But that didn’t matter much with how easily the Bulls were getting out and running. Cleveland’s fastbreak defense was, in a word, nonexistent.
And that’s not just about hustle-this is a schematic issue.
There’s a philosophical tug-of-war happening between crashing the offensive glass and getting back on defense. Right now, the Cavs are leaning heavily into hitting the boards, but that aggressive approach is leaving them exposed on the other end. Chicago took full advantage, leaking out early and often, and the Cavs didn’t have the personnel-or the plan-to stop them.
What made this loss especially revealing was the postgame tone. For the first time, we heard some subtle divergence in perspective between head coach Kenny Atkinson and his players.
No drama, no locker room rift-but definitely a difference in how the game should be approached tactically. Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen both raised the question: are we sacrificing transition defense in our pursuit of second-chance points?
Both players also pointed out that the half-court defense is showing signs of improvement, and they’re not wrong. When the Cavs are set, they’ve been more disciplined and connected.
But that only matters if you can actually get back and get set. Against a team like the Bulls, who push the pace and thrive off chaos, that’s a dangerous gamble.
There is some good news, though. Sam Merrill is expected to return Monday night against the Hornets, and his impact goes beyond just spacing the floor.
He’s a constant mover without the ball, which forces defenses to stay engaged, and he’s underrated on the defensive end-capable of staying in front of his man and drawing charges. Merrill’s return could help reestablish some of the off-ball energy that’s been missing.
Zooming out, the Eastern Conference is still wide open. Outside of the Knicks and the struggling Pistons, every team is dealing with its own share of early-season turbulence.
So while Cleveland’s start hasn’t been ideal, there’s still plenty of time to right the ship. But if the Cavs want to climb the standings, they’ll need to find clarity on their defensive identity-and soon.
The effort is there. The offense is starting to hum.
But until Cleveland figures out how to balance the glass with getting back, nights like Friday will keep happening. And in a conference this competitive, that margin for error is shrinking fast.