Chicago has looked murky for nearly the entire 2022-23′ season. After a dismantling in Minnesota, things escalated quickly. The following days were plastered with trade rumors, reports of disgruntled team members, and heated interviews with several of the organization’s pieces. In response to a franchise record 150 points being poured on them, the Bulls have seemingly turned a page and won every game since. They’re 3-0 since, beating the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, and New York Knicks, all on the road and two by way of buzzer-beaters.
During the three-game winning streak, they’ve only surrendered 109 points per contest, compared to the 126 they gave up through the previous six games. Against the Wolves, the Bulls had only seven blocks plus steals and gave up a blistering 65.5% shooting rate from the field, including over 53% from three-point range. Since that embarrassment, they’ve managed ten blocks plus steals per game, allowing only 46% from the field and 38% from deep. Many of the locker room members spoke on the lackluster defensive effort before this winning streak and how it was a point of emphasis if things were going to change for the better.
“we need to compete a whole lot better on the defensive side of the floor. that’s five guys being connected, doing things at a higher level.”
Billy Donovan via NBC Chicago Postgame
Alongside the defensive improvements, individual improvements from Zach Lavine and consistency from Nikola Vucevic have boosted this team back into the win column. Vucevic has caught fire from deep, shooting 44% from beyond the arc with 2.75 makes per contest during his last four games. Lavine, Vucevic, and DeMar DeRozan scored 20 or more points in each of the previous four, the longest such streak in franchise history for a trio. DeRozan nailed a buzzer-beater a few nights ago to bury the Knicks, and second-year standout Ayo Dosunmu snuck in a layup to beat the horn in Atlanta, adding to the dramatic flair of this mid-season turnaround. Lavine and DeRozan were nominated for the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Week award, a fitting recognition for the improved play by the stars. Lavine hasn’t shot less than 50% from the field in his last five, including over 46% from three with 2.8 three-point makes per game. He’s also added an impressive five assists and rebounds per outing to the improved shooting. These numbers are closer to what Bulls fans expected following the max contract he inked this past offseason, and the winning has followed his progression.
The main question for Chicago’s faithful is, is this sustainable, or will we be back to the rumor mill in a few days? For many reasons, this could be the ultimate turning point the Windy City has been begging for all season long. Riding their first three-game winning streak of the year, the road to redemption is for the taking. Starting a four-game homestand tonight, two opponents have the two worst records in the NBA, Houston and Detroit. The other two are serious Eastern Conference contenders in the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers. The latter will provide an excellent challenge to a reformed Bulls team to see if this is a culture change or just a hot stint for Chicago. The Bucks will be coming to town fresh off of a Christmas Day dismantling at the hands of the reigning Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics, the latest of a three-game losing streak for Giannis Antetokounmpo and company. The Cavaliers have two of the hottest teams in the East before the Bulls, the Pacers, and the Nets.
With the noticeably better play at home this year, the ease of their next opponent, and the steadily improving play of their stars, the Bulls are primed for a week that’ll define the rest of their 2022-23′ campaign. More good news is the returns of Javonte Green, Alex Caruso, and Derrick Jones Jr. are all thought to be ‘very soon’, which will solidify this newfound Chicago squad’s energy and defensive stability. The lack of complacency should also draw optimism; every win is followed with players and coaches preaching the need for this type of play to be the new standard, not an anomaly as it’s been this year.
“every game at this point is almost must-win. it’s definitely extra pressure but we handled it really well.”
Nikola Vucevic via NBC Chicago Postgame
Three road victories over Eastern Conference playoff teams have the Bulls back on the map, currently just half of a game out of the play-in tournament. Let’s hope the United Center can reignite this team into playoff contention and the clutch play continues. Since veteran guard Goran Dragic’s mic dropping, “we do not play for each other, simple as that,” quote, Chicago has seemingly put their pride aside and put each other first, and it’s showing. If things can continue their upward trajectory, watch for this team to be a threat in the East again.
