This season, the Chicago Bulls have played 41 games in a row. The Bulls overcame a dismal 5-14 record and thoughts of rebuilding after a terrible start to the season.
They went on to post an amazing 14-8 record after that, pushing them to a current Play-In berth with a 19-22 overall record. This was made possible by a solid stretch in December and the timely returns of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
Coach Billy Donovan lamented, “It’s unfortunate we dug ourselves a hole those first 15-20 games.” “I believe we’re improving. We’re playing the game and ourselves the way I would like to see us play stylistically. We’re sharing the ball. Our goal is to produce quality photos. We’re winning by a larger margin.
The Bulls’ offense greatly improved after placing more focus on ball movement, and they were able to pull off a gradual comeback. Over the previous 22 games, their offensive rating of 115.6 places them in the top 15.
They are progressively reclaiming their superior status from the previous season on defense. At 114.7, they have the 15th-best defensive rating in the league. Their defensive rating of 113.7, which was the seventh-best in their previous 22 games, allowed them to secure this position.
Vucevic remarked, “Big difference on both ends of the floor.” “That’s been incredibly crucial for us—the intensity we play with, supporting each other, aiding each other on the defensive end. Similar to how the ball has been moving offensively. Guys are being found by us. Everyone becomes involved in that. That’s a much nicer way to play.
The Bulls are riding the momentum they earned during their wild ride through the season’s first 41 games as they advance and encounter more expectations to win.
And Chicago feels confident about how they will handle the impending challenges, even if they anticipate keeping its core until the trade deadline and finishing the season with their goal.
