After a poor season start, Bulls cherish turnaround on both ends of the floor: "We’re getting better"

The Chicago Bulls love positive progress and improvement.

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The Chicago Bulls have had an incredible 41-game stretch this season. After a horrible 5-14 record, the Bulls were able to bounce back from a disastrous season start and the ideas of a rebuild. 

Thanks to a strong stretch in December and the timely returns of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, they went on to post an incredible 14-8 record after that, propelling them to a current Play-In spot with a 19-22 overall record.

“It’s unfortunate we dug ourselves a hole those first 15-20 games,” coach Billy Donovan said. “I think we’re getting better. We’re playing stylistically how I’d like to see us play and how I think the game should be played. We’re sharing the ball. We’re trying to generate good shots. We’re scoring more points.”

A two-way improvement

The Bulls managed to execute a slow turnaround after their offense improved significantly following emphasis on ball movement. They have a 115.6 offensive rate over the last 22 games, ranking in the Top 15.

On the defensive side, they are gradually regaining their excellent position from the previous year. They are ranked 15th in the league for defensive rating, with 114.7. They achieved this position because of their 113.7 defensive rate, which was the seventh-best in their last 22 matches.

“Big difference on both ends of the floor,” Vucevic said. “The energy we play with, helping each other on the defensive end, being there for each other, supporting each other, that’s been really big for us. Same offensively with the way the ball has been moving. We’ve been finding guys. That gets everybody involved. It’s much nicer to play that way.”

A needed momentum as the season's second half gets nearer

As they progress and face higher expectations to win, the Bulls are riding the momentum they built throughout their roller coaster journey through the first 41 games of the season.

And, while they expect to preserve their core after the trade deadline and meet their season goal at the conclusion, Chicago is optimistic about how they will face the upcoming hurdles.

“Hopefully now we understand what it takes to win games or give ourselves a chance,” Vucevic said.

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