Are the Chicago Bulls legitimate NBA championship contenders?
By Dan Bennett
Are the Chicago Bulls legitimate NBA championship contenders?: Offense vs. defense
It’s no surprise that the Bulls’ offense ranks towards the top of the league. The team has the fourth-best offensive rating, scoring 113.2 points per 100 possessions, and is the second most efficient team behind only the Phoenix Suns.
Chicago’s scoring is going to pose a real problem for any team in the playoffs. The ability to hurt opposition teams from all over the court will cause plenty of headaches for coaches and while they might not be a high volume three-point shooting team, taking the least amount per game at 29.6, they rank second for three-point percentage at 37.6 percent.
Simply put, this team is all about offensive efficiency. If it comes down to a straight shootout in the playoffs, the Bulls can go toe to toe with anyone. But as is often the case, offense is not enough to win championships. Defense has a huge impact on whether a team can go all the way.
Going back to the offseason, the question of whether this team could defend at a high enough level was by far the biggest concern. But a fully healthy Bulls team did a lot to calm those fears, with Alex Caruso, in particular, impressing on that end of the court.
However, problems have arisen due to injuries. Without Ball and Caruso defending the perimeter, the team has slumped to 20th in defensive rating, giving up 111.3 points per 100 possessions.
And while the return of the backcourt duo will no doubt provide a defensive boost, questions still remain over whether the team has enough defensively to combat what could await in the postseason.