Chicago Bulls: 3 keys to stopping their devastating losing streak

Key No. 3 to stop the bleeding for the Chicago Bulls: Interior scoring

During last week’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks, the Bulls were outscored in the paint by 20 points. They lost the game by twelve. It just goes to show that the more things change, the more they stay the same. In basketball, you can do everything else right but if the other team controls the interior they will most likely win the game.

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Chicago was outscored in the paint in three of their last four games, which is a recipe for disaster. While Nikola Vucevic and Lauri Markkanen are two of the most talented big men in the league, they both have a tendency to play more of a perimeter game as opposed to attacking the paint. When forwards and centers attack the basket, they inevitably draw fouls.

This gets the other team’s frontline in foul trouble which results in decreased rim protection. When opposing big men forced are to play reduced minutes, or become hesitant to contest shots, guards have increased opportunities to penetrate into the lane. This creates a myriad of problems for the defense. However, until Chicago’s bigs become aggressive in the paint, the Bulls will never reap those benefits.

Mark Cuban and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks may not prefer the NBA’s play-in tournament but Bulls fans are grateful for the opportunity. Until recently, the team looked like a lock to claim one of the top ten seeds in the Eastern Conference and be given a chance to compete for the playoffs. If the team focuses on rebounding, 3-point shooting, and interior scoring, they can stop the losing streak and get back to the kind of basketball that fans in Chicago were excited about not so long ago. If not, it’s going to be a long off-season in the Windy City.