Chicago Bulls: Why it’s too early to panic about this winless squad

The Chicago Bulls have some changes to make

In order to turn things around in the Windy City, three things need to happen. First and foremost, the Bulls must take care of the basketball. Through the first three games of the season, they are averaging an atrocious 19.7 turnovers per game. This was an area of opportunity for the team last season and it appears there’s still cause for concern. It’s impossible to overcome chronic turnovers, no matter how much talent is on the roster.

Secondly, Zach LaVine must find his stroke from 3-point land. Through the first three games of the season, he’s knocking down 30.8 percent of the shots he takes from beyond the arc. That’s a far cry from the 38.0 percent he shot from deep last season. If the Bulls want a shot at the playoffs, LaVine will have to shoot as close as possible to that elusive 40 percent from 3-point range.

Lastly, Chicago’s front line must rebound the ball better. Wendell Carter Jr. is a physical player who averaged 9.4 rebounds per game last season. If he can average double-digit rebounds, it will do wonders for Chicago’s interior presence. His 12.0 points per game average thus far is impressive for a player who’s getting limited touches, but his rebounding has dipped to 8.3 per contest. Sunday’s nail-biter against the Warriors was the only game so far this season that the Bulls won the rebounding battle. Coincidentally, it was the only game they came within arm’s reach of winning.

Yes, fans in Chicago miss the days when the team was a lock to make the playoffs and the only question was how far they could go once they got there. Sadly, those days are over. The good news is Chicago has a battle-tested head coach and a roster full of talent. The only thing left for this group to do is learn how to work together. Once each man understands his role and becomes dedicated to doing his job on a nightly basis, the Bulls will be capable of beating anybody in the league on a given night. They’re long removed from their glory days, but they are trending in the right direction. Hope is just over the horizon.