Not even Benny the Bull could have predicted the Chicago Bulls’ first week of the regular season.
After a transformative offseason that put the focus on the future, many expected the Bulls to be swimming in the depths of the Eastern Conference. To be sure, this would still be where most have them heading, but Chicago has given us a lot more to be optimistic about than anticipated.
Let’s take a look at some of the numbers that have stood out most over the team’s surprising 3-2 start to the year. And we’ll begin with the most important one!
Bulls By the Numbers …
44.2 3PM
The Chicago Bulls have turned words into actions over the first five games of the regular season. After finishing 26th or lower in 3-point attempts per game over the last three seasons, the Bulls are currently shooting 44.2 attempts a night. This is currently the third-highest mark in the NBA behind only the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, two of the most notorious shot-chucking teams in the league.
Even more promising, they are hitting their shots at a 38.8 percent rate, which ranks top 7 in the NBA! The team’s 25 makes against the Memphis Grizzlies earlier this week is the second-most by any team in the league this season.
Even Josh Giddey and Nikola Vucevic have started the season red-hot from long range. Vucevic is 11-24 thus far, draining four 3s in two different contests. He had zero such games last season. As for Giddey, he is a stunning 10-17 and fresh off a 4-4 performance against the Orlando Magic.
107.50 PACE
The only thing jumping off the screen more than Chicago’s new shot profile is their tempo. The Bulls currently possess a 107.50 PACE, which is the single-highest mark in the NBA. For those who might be unfamiliar, PACE represents the number of possessions per 48 minutes, so it essentially tells us the speed at which a team is playing.
Billy Donovan has put a clear emphasis on pushing the ball down the floor quickly and shooting early in the shot clock. Prior to this season, the Bulls’ philosophy was to capitalize on every single possession – aka being as efficient as possible. The goal now is to create as many possessions as possible and force their opponent to play their brand of basketball.
At the end of the day, THIS is why they’ve managed to erase two 20-point deficits in their first five games. The tempo at which tier playing is slowly tiring out opponents and giving them an edge in the second half.
27.6 AST
The Chicago Bulls have been nothing short of unselfish to begin the year. Head coach Billy Donovan’s new offense revolves as much around sprinting up and down the court as it does moving the basketball. The Bulls have started the season dishing the 6th-most assists per game a 27.6.
Of course, this number should be relatively high when we consider they’re first in PACE, but this is still a very encouraging sign. The Bulls are trying to teach their young players how to make quick decisions and keep opposing defense on their toes. The fact this number sits Top 10 in the league is an indicator that they’re doing precisely that.
19.8 OPP FT
The defense remains a major concern for the Chicago Bulls. They lack guards who can put legitimate pressure on the POA, as well as a big man who can protect the rim at a high level. At the same time, people always say effort is half the battle on this end of the floor, and the Bulls have at least been trying hard to start the year.
Indeed, one thing that has really stood out to me is their lack of fouling. They have averaged the second-fewest personal fouls per game, as well as given up just 19.8 opponent free throws a night. Now, is some of this because they have allowed too many uncontested, straight-line drives to the rim? Yes. But they’ve also contested shots surprisingly well and done a nice job staying vertical around the rim. The limited fouling, in particular, is an underrated factor in their recent comebacks.
7.4 PPG
You didn’t think all the numbers would be good, right!? This is the Bulls we’re talking about!
While Patrick Williams may have hit some clutch shots against the Orlando Magic, his overall start to the year has been disappointing. The 23-year-old forward is averaging just 7.4 points per game and shooting a dismal 29.5 percent from the field.
Many thought the door would swing wide open for Williams with DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento. However, we’ve seen only more of the same from the fifth-year forward so far, as he’s shown little sense of urgency on the offensive end. Considering he signed a five-year, $90.0 million deal this offseason, Williams is only going to feel the spotlight become hotter and hotter if he can’t show more aggressiveness.
I’m willing to give him a little more time, particularly when we consider the Bulls’ change of scheme and his elongated absence last season. But we need to see some signs of life ASAP.
5.6 MIN
This is probably my least favorite number of them all. Billy Donovan has kept a tight leash on Matas Buzelis to begin his NBA career. The Chicago Bulls’ No. 11 overall pick has averaged just 5.6 minutes per game. He saw his most playing time when he clocked nearly 9 minutes of action in the win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Yes, I understand having to earn playing time. The fact he’s also started 2-11 from the floor isn’t going to help his case. However, this season is all about player development and establishing an identity for the future. The Bulls have started to do the latter, and they should want Buzelis to be getting as much experience as possible in that new system. Donovan has clearly shown he’s willing to stretch the rotation to include the youngster, so why not go all the way and give him a legitimate rotational role? You can’t even get him to 15 minutes a night? Not great!