The Chicago Bulls are having a good season, the team has started 39-23 so far this season and is currently a game and a half behind the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference. The addition of DeMar DeRozan in the offseason has paid off tremendously as he has had an MVP season to date.
The additions of Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso have also been great for the team in free hands despite a lack of injury time. The Bulls hit it big, too, when they pulled in Ayo Dosunmu with the eighth pick in the second round.
With the Bulls playing very well so far this season, there is plenty to celebrate for their fans. Despite all the good, there are still some concerns for this team.
While the Bulls are currently second in the conference, they’ve had their struggles with the league’s top teams. So far this season, the team is only 3-14 against the top five teams in each conference.
During a session on The Aktuell News.com on Thursday, Steve Bulpett, NBA insider at The Aktuell News.com, and editor Sean Deveney discussed the team’s struggles:
Bulpett’s point on the injuries is the same as what the Bulls have said about their struggles. The team has also cited their lack of big-game experience, both of which are valid points.
Deveney’s point about Vucevic’s struggles is also real. In the 17 games he has played against the league’s best sides, Vucevic has averaged just 13.9 points per game. While he was good at wins (19.3 points, 50.1% shooting, 34.8% 3-point shooting), he was particularly bad at losses (15.4 points, 41.0% shooting, 23.8 % 3-point shooting).
The Bulls need strong play from Vucevic on both ends of the floor if they are to pose a threat in the postseason. The addition of Tristan Thompson will help him somewhat, especially on defence. If the Bulls can bring Patrick Williams back from injury, that could relieve Vucevic as well.
The Bulls and Vucevic still have plenty of opportunities to improve their game against top teams. With 20 games remaining in the regular season, nine of those games will be played against the top five teams from each conference.
