Josh Giddey is catching Zach LaVine. Coby White and Jalen Smith haven’t broken an egg. And Julian Phillips is stable at the top of the pyramid. Whatever trust exercises Billy Donovan is running at the Advocate Center are paying off!
Coming into the year, the Chicago Bulls were adamant that things would be different. Both Arturas Karnisovas and Billy Donovan were insistent that the offense we watched over the past few seasons would remain in the past. The new focus would be on hoisting 3-pointers and sprinting up and down the floor. Instead of making every possession count, the goal was to play as many possessions as possible. And they’re undoubtedly achieving that goal to begin the season.
The Chicago Bulls lead the NBA in PACE through their first four games of the season. Their 46.8 three-point attempts per game also rank third in the league behind only the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors. This new brand of basketball has helped them pull off two stunning early-season victories over the Milwaukee Bucks and Memphis Grizzlies. Now, whether or not these types of wins will accumulate in a meaningful way remains a fair question. But if watchability was a trackable metric, the Bulls might be sitting near the top of the league to begin the season.
Indeed, as chaotic as things may be at times, the Bulls offense feels like a breath of fresh air. What was once a one-dimensional method that swam against the modern current has become anything but. If I had to pick the one thing that has stood out the most, however, it wouldn’t be the up-and-down hustle or 3-point shot volume. Instead, it would be the trust.
The Bulls’ Offense is Built On Trust
This current roster genuinely feels like it believes in one another. I understand how corny that sounds, and I’m not about to use this as some argument for why this group is about to defy the odds. My gut tells me that they will still stink, which remains the best-case scenario when we consider the top 10 protected first rounder.
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