Life without Alex Caruso is getting ugly for the Bulls on defensive end
The Reality Check
Alex Caruso isn’t walking through that door anytime soon.
Plus, when would Caruso ever actually walk? He’s more likely to sprint through the door headfirst, deflect the basketball from your hands, chase the loose ball down, dive for it, and then find an open teammate with a perfect bounce pass while he’s still lying down on his back, as blood starts dripping from his knee.
But still, the former Bulls guard isn’t walking through that door.
That’s the realization that Billy Donovan’s crew has to start grasping, and then do something about it.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
A little over a week ago, the statistics were singing the praises of the Bulls defense, having them at No. 7 overall in the league in defensive efficiency. Further evidence of why stats lie.
Even coach Billy Donovan felt like the top 10 ranking was more mirage than what he’s seen this group put on film, and that’s how it’s been playing out.
The Bulls will enter the game with Atlanta on Saturday now ranked 20th in defensive efficiency. Oh, how the average has fallen.
The Struggle is Real
Then again, allowing 45 points in the fourth quarter against Minnesota and losing a game they controlled through the first three quarters on Thursday, didn’t help.
“The start of that (Timberwolves) game we feel like we’re playing the right way,” Bulls guard Josh Giddey said. “The defense is good, we’re locked in on coverages and the scouting (report), and it’s just too up and down. We need to string 48 minutes together and see where we are collectively.
“We’ve had individual stretches, and team stretches, where we look great, but we have stretches where we look horrible. It’s not one person, it’s a collective effort, and we’ve spoken about it that way. That we have to defend as a team. All of us kind of have to look in the mirror, myself included, and say what can we do individually to help this group defensively?”
Lacking a Stopper
That’s the issue with this Bulls roster. There’s not much they can do.
With Lonzo Ball sidelined with a right wrist sprain and Patrick Williams remaining very inconsistent on both ends of the floor, there’s really not another player that they can put in the category of stopper, especially against wings and opposing guards.
Their best defensive game plan early on was to use their up-tempo pace on offense to simply tire teams out and hope the legs weaken, the shots miss. Effective at times but not sustainable.
A Solution in Sight
Without Ball, the player most needed – and able – on the defensive end has to be Ayo Dosunmu.
Not only does he have that mentality to become a lockdown defender out of the backcourt, but has shown flashes of taking over that role. Now he just needs to do it on a consistent basis.
“Shots come and go but there is a reality of being able to impact the game on a consistent basis on both ends of the floor,” Donovan said. “I do think that Ayo has developed into being a two-way player. I’ve got a lot of confidence in him in terms of our team, our roster, and what he can do. He leans into that, he’s competitive and he takes those challenges on.”
Conclusion
The Bulls have to find a way to string together 48 minutes of consistent defense, and it starts with Dosunmu taking on a bigger role. They can’t rely on individual stretches of good defense; they need to make it a team effort.
FAQs
Q: What is the current ranking of the Bulls defense in the league?
A: The Bulls are currently ranked 20th in defensive efficiency.
Q: Who is the player most needed – and able – on the defensive end for the Bulls?
A: Ayo Dosunmu is the player most needed – and able – on the defensive end for the Bulls.
Q: What is the key to the Bulls’ defensive struggles?
A: The key to the Bulls’ defensive struggles is their lack of a stopper, especially against wings and opposing guards, and their inability to string together 48 minutes of consistent defense.
