The Chicago Bulls’ three-point defense is an issue

Opponents take a lot of three-point shots against the Bulls and they’ve been very effective, especially in the first quarter.

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The Chicago Bulls have to defend the three-point line better, especially at the start of games, to avoid falling behind early. It’s been an alarming trend! Five of the Bulls’ first seven games have had opponents shoot the lights out in the first quarter.

The Heat shot 6-of-8 from three-point range in the first quarter of the season opener before the Cavaliers were 5-of-6. The Celtics opened the game 8-of-9, the Spurs 5-of-6, and the 76ers 6-of-10. The Bulls lost four of these five games.

The Bulls can’t ignore this trend

Opponents take a lot of three-point shots against the Bulls and make 43.4 percent of them (second-highest in the NBA). Chicago allows the third-most opponent three-pointers per game with 15.3.

The Bulls have to tighten up their three-point defense. Last Saturday, the 76ers led by 15 points at the end of the first quarter and finished the first half 10-of-20 from beyond the arc. The Bulls dug themselves into a hole that proved too much for them.

Paint touches helped the 76ers do a lot of damage. Early in the game, DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso prevented Joel Embiid from getting downhill in one play, but he still found Tyrese Maxey for an open corner three.

Moving forward, the Bulls have to better prevent their opponents from getting to the rim. It’s hard to defend when your opponent moves the basketball at will around the perimeter.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan was aware of the issue, but this defensive strategy is still a work in progress.

“For us, when the ball is coming downhill at the basket, right, generally, you’re going to be put into some rotations,” Donovan said before the game against the 76ers.

“We have got to be a big help team. And we’ve got to protect the paint. Because when we don’t protect the paint, you’re giving up rim drives, you’re giving up fouls and you’re giving up corner threes.”

The Bulls have to be better in their execution

Defending plays like these is difficult because you must be two steps ahead.

“If you’re dealing with a team that’s staying stationary, it’s a lot easier to close out,” Donovan explained. “But if you have people moving and cutting at the same point, you have to recognize and realize what’s getting ready to happen kind of before it happens, where help is coming from and where you have to rotate.”

We can’t expect the Bulls to be perfect. However, we can ask them to execute their rotations better, especially against teams with a low-block scoring machine like Embiid. Improved execution will prevent the Bulls from falling into a hole early in games.