In a shocking twist that no one saw coming to start the year, the Chicago Bulls are 4-0. They are one of four undefeated teams left standing in the NBA. It’s the first time the Bulls have looked like a playoff team since they went 5-1 in October of 2021-22.
The Bulls took down the Kings 126-113 on Wednesday night to increase their win total. It was a win that encompassed why Chicago has been able to win. They played together as a team, and Billy Donovan shared why his team is undefeated as the calendar gets close to changing to November.
“Good team effort, had a lot of contributions from a lot of guys,” via Sam Smith of NBA.com. “Kept playing the game and playing the game. We talked a lot in the offseason (about) when transition is taken away we had some challenges, did not get to the rim a lot, did not get to the free throw line a lot. Talked a lot about more off-ball and player movement, and these guys have done a good job.”
Chicago Bulls Teammates Praise Matas Buzelis
Maatas Buzelis has made a leap in his second season with the Bulls and looks like a star in the making. Teammates couldn’t stop praising him for how he played against Sacramento, and he acknowledged that has helped him greatly.
“My teammates told me to be aggressive. They said it’s going to be hard to stop me because they were (going to be) focused on other guys.”
Buzelis has already increased his shot output over the first four games from what he did last season, shooting the ball 12.3 times per game. He only shot 6.9 times per game last season, yet his efficiency has gone up with more shots. That has allowed the Bulls to stay hot.
The Bulls have started 4-0 without Coby White taking the floor this season. He is still recovering from a strained calf that he suffered back in August, and Donovan is being cautious with him. Donovan did mention that he is running and shooting “pain-free” so his return is likely close.
The Bulls Have One Big Issue Yet to Be Fixed
Despite the strong start to the season, Donovan acknowledged that they still have some issues that need to be fixed, mainly on the defensive end. Following the victory over the Kings, Donovan mentioned a lack of rim protection that could be a problem.
“We don’t have this unbelievable amount of rim protection and shot blocking. When centers get rolling down the lane we are going to have to pull across and get our bodies in play.”
Perhaps that is something the Bulls address when the trade deadline nears in February. Of course, that is predicated on how well this team continues to play. During that aforementioned 5-1 start to the 2021-22 season, the Bulls fell apart and finished the season getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs.
Chicago has some confidence that this season will be different, especially when they have access to all of their pieces. Buzelis has this team riding high. Bringing White back will help them, too.
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