Nine consecutive wins for the Chicago Bulls, who after Brooklyn’s last stumble are Eastern Conference leaders with 26 wins and 10 losses. They remain at an excellent level that places DeMar DeRozan as an MVP candidate now Zach LaVine, also in the pools for All-NBA. And of course, to Billy Donovan as possible Coach of the Year.
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However, despite hitting their best winning streak in a decade, when Derrick Rose led the attack on the juggernaut A defensive player built by Tom Thibodeau, Donovan isn’t satisfied with the performance and wants more. “We have to be better“, said the coach after the victory for 130-122 about the Wizards. “Yes we need to improve“.
What is the coach referring to? We reviewed various data from the Bulls’ nine-win streak. *The data in the article correspond to the section from the start of the streak (12/20/2021)*.
The best attack in the NBA
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The existing doubts regarding the fit of the figures were resolved from the first day. DeRozan and LaVine don’t just coexist, they make each other better. Lonzo Ball works perfectly as a volume shooter (highest 3-point average in this streak, 9 attempts with 40.7%) and support generator between the two annotator references. They still need work to polish Nikola Vucevic’s performance, but the veteran center does show a role change towards more work on the boards, passing the ball, blocking and shooting (5.4 triples with 32.6%).
It is a team that prefers small quintets to maximize space. Donovan uses the board to create the idyllic situations for each player, to exploit their scoring strengths. Thus, and serving as their intelligence, Bulls have 59.4% shooting, the best in the league since the winning streak began.
The TOP PLAYS from the @chicagobulls 9-game winning streak…their longest since 2011! pic.twitter.com/siW0uHo1Ln
– NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2022
They have found the perfect rhythm in a high, but not crazy. They bet on the shot, the rinse and the one against one. While teams like Warriors, Suns, Spurs, Hornets or Heat live great offensive seasons looking for fast circulations and converting after assists, in Chicago they believe in the ability they have to score and create the best situations for it. In addition, his care of the ball is excellent: only 12.7% losses, the 7th best figure in this section.
They lose few balls, they look for positive situations and the rhythm adapts to their game. The Bulls have the perfect tone for their attack and feature shooters and elements that space the court. And during the streak they have five players in double-digit scoring: LaVine (27,6), DeRozan (25,6), Coby White (18), Vucevic (17,4) y Lonzo (13,3). In this way they get the most efficient attack since December 20.
A defense with holes
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But nevertheless, the problems are in defense. While they started the season fantastically back, they are noticing the absences of their two best defenders: Ball and Alex Caruso. The former played against Washington, but has played 3 of the 9 games; while Caruso is out and only played 6 minutes of the first game.
During the streak they are the 19th defender on the NBA’s efficiency list.. It could be worse, no doubt, but it is a record that could be improved. Despite being 6th in net rating, they do need what Donovan said: to be better at the back. The coach’s main concerns lie with defense. Certain disconnections, communication failures, paths too clear to the rim …
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“We have to be better in defense“Donovan said after beating the Wizards.”I think we did some really good things up front tonight with our altruism and the way we moved and shared the ball. I think if you talk to these players they would tell you that we have to keep improving in defense, because we have the ability”.
The Bulls miss figures like Lonzo or Caruso for the added pressure on the outside lines. They steal balls, cause deflections and improve the defensive performance of the pick & roll, an action in which they suffer more with other players if they are paired with Vucevic, the most common. They have a specialist, not too many, and could seek reinforcements in this regard at the close of the market.
The exit of the Big 4
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The Bulls have arguably the most powerful four-player lineup in the entire NBA. Few or no teams compete or equal DeRozan, LaVine, Vucevic and Ball, to which if we add Caruso there is a powerful, balanced and superbly understanding quintet.. Only Nets and Bucks with all their arsenal may top this.
The problem also comes when it is time to give relays. The continuous casualties from COVID-19 plus injuries shorten Chicago’s rotation, which as we say has been through sections without DeRozan, without Vucevic and until recently without Lonzo, and now, without Caruso. Like they have a very powerful Big 4, they suffer in consideration when they rest or are on the low side.
White, with his 18 points, 3.6 assists and 50.9% on triples, is very positive news as a bench scorer.. Next to the combo appears the rookie Ayo Dosumnu, who brings energy and averages of 8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 55% from 3s during the streak, but the overall performance declines a lot when the headlines come out. Let’s see the difference between the two most used lineups since December 20:
- White, LaVine, DeRozan, Green y Vucevic: 120.7 offensive ratio and 108 defensive ratio = +12.7 net rating
- White, Dosumnu, LaVine, Brown Jr. y Jones Jr.: 101.6 offensive ratio and 117.5 defensive ratio = -15.8 net rating
Donovan has praised the players for the block’s overall composure during absences, but the performance slump is considerable. There are some Bulls who are all healthy, whose version is a refined offensive game and defense capable of making stops and steals; and other Bulls, those who need non-specialized plugin entries and who need side references. Donovan needs to find a better balance no matter how complicated it is, in addition to asking Arturas Karnisovas for a transfer before February.
The nine-game winning streak is a source of joy and excitement for the Bulls fans, one who hadn’t enjoyed a basketball team as much since Derrick Rose’s team of a decade ago. Of course, they still have a long way to go, adjustments to be made in attack (Vucevic) and a lot of work in defense. The nine triumphs are a wonderful fact, although with some fringes you dig a little.
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent the NBA or its organizations.
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