Chicago Bulls: The Struggle Continues

 

It’s like that moment when you awake from a good dream only to realize it was just that…a dream, and back to reality you must go. Well the Chicago Bulls have officially awaken from their 5-3 start and entered the reality of the fact that their defense is inconsistent, they can’t score the ball, and there’s months to go before Derrick Rose could possibly return. Chicago has lost three of their last four games dropping to a game under. 500 (5-3). As the Bulls look for answers frustration is starting to set in.

Since the Tom Thibodeau era Chicago has prided themselves on being a defensive juggernaut. A team that could turn their defense into instant offense. But as of the late the Bulls are not the defensive threat they have been in years past. They have trouble stopping the ball and keeping teams out of transition.

“The defense is not what it used to be.” Joakim Noah said after the Bulls suffered their third loss in a row to the Houston Rockets.

Noah is absolutely right. Chicago’s defense is not what it used to. Having traded away their bench in the off-season the Bulls lack a lot of elements they’ve had in past seasons. The “Bench Mob” use to enter the game; increase the defensive intensity changing the momentum of the game; but the Bulls don’t have that luxury anymore.

On the other side of the ball the Bulls can’t score. It’s just that simple. They’re struggling with offensive sets and executing in late game situations. Without Rose there’s no one who can create off the dribbling and get others involved. Thibs can try different lineups, heck he can even suit up the water boys if he wants, but the fact still remains the Bulls’ defense is currently on life support.

“I don’t think it’s time to panic yet,” Loul Deng said. “The best way to bounce back is just to go out and work as hard as you can.”

Without a real scoring threat, and the defense failing Chicago is looking more and more like a below average team. Relying on their defense use to be enough to get them by, but it’s not anymore. It just might be time to panic.