How have the Chicago Bulls fared a year since Lonzo Ball got sidelined?

Things haven't been pretty in the year since Lonzo got injured.

© Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

For all of DeMar DeRozan's clutch greatness and Zach LaVine's high-flying exploits, the Chicago Bulls have been stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of mediocrity since the day Lonzo Ball got injured. Despite high hopes after adding veteran pieces in Goran Dragic and Andre Drummond, the team has failed to make any real progress toward becoming a playoff-caliber squad. They currently sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with a 19-23 record, and with DeRozan now in sick bay with an injured quad, there's little optimism that the Bulls will be able to make up any ground in the standings.

When the Bulls had Ball

With Ball leading the Bulls' attack at the start of the 2021-2022 season, Chicago looked like a genuine contender, racking up a 27-13 record. Sure, DeRozan and LaVine were humming offensively, but Ball was the glue that kept it all together. His 5.1 assists per game, 1.8 steals per game, and strong on- and off-ball defense were instrumental in controlling the tempo of the team's offense and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.

The impact since

Since Ball's injury - which has sidelined him for nearly a year now - things have gone downhill fast for the Bulls. While DeRozan and LaVine have done their best to keep the team afloat, their efforts have been hampered by a lack of ball movement and poor defensive play. Chicago is currently averaging just 24.2 assists per game, while their defensive rating stands at 113.3—both stats places them 19th in the Association.

Much of the Bulls' stubbornness not to blow this team up at the trade deadline largely hinge on the hope that Ball can somehow return this season. Ball is making slow but steady progress and even recently dunked on the court.

However, hoping for Ball to instantly fix the Bulls is a big ask, especially since he has already undergone two surgeries on the same knee. With the second half of the regular season already underway, it may be time for Chicago to face the fact that this squad has far too many flaws for one guy to fix.