Bulls' Search for All-Star Closer Continues Amid Growing Pains and Injuries
The Chicago Bulls are in dire need of an elite closer to anchor their end-of-game units, with several top players struggling to find consistency. While 23-year-old Josh Giddey has been a bright spot on the court this season, his defense remains a liability, particularly against bigger opponents.
Giddey has taken significant strides in improving his defensive skills, especially when matched up against lengthier forwards and big men. However, he still needs to better contain players who can drive and shoot, often relying on help from teammates rather than making plays of his own.
The Bulls' inability to close out games has been exposed by top-tier opponents, with teams like the Cavaliers, Bucks, and Spurs capitalizing on their defensive shortcomings. Giannis Antetokounmpo's 19 points in the fourth quarter against the Bulls last week is a prime example of what they're up against.
With Coby White sidelined due to a calf injury, Giddey has taken on an increasingly larger role, helping the team to a surprising 6-4 start. However, it remains unclear if he can sustain this level of performance throughout the season.
Second-year forward Matas Buzelis is showing significant growth but still requires time to develop his skills. The Bulls' offense is strong, but their inability to secure crucial stops down the stretch has hindered their progress.
The G League and injury reports offer some glimmer of hope for White's possible return next week. His debut would provide a much-needed boost to an already underperforming unit.
The Chicago Bulls are in dire need of an elite closer to anchor their end-of-game units, with several top players struggling to find consistency. While 23-year-old Josh Giddey has been a bright spot on the court this season, his defense remains a liability, particularly against bigger opponents.
Giddey has taken significant strides in improving his defensive skills, especially when matched up against lengthier forwards and big men. However, he still needs to better contain players who can drive and shoot, often relying on help from teammates rather than making plays of his own.
The Bulls' inability to close out games has been exposed by top-tier opponents, with teams like the Cavaliers, Bucks, and Spurs capitalizing on their defensive shortcomings. Giannis Antetokounmpo's 19 points in the fourth quarter against the Bulls last week is a prime example of what they're up against.
With Coby White sidelined due to a calf injury, Giddey has taken on an increasingly larger role, helping the team to a surprising 6-4 start. However, it remains unclear if he can sustain this level of performance throughout the season.
Second-year forward Matas Buzelis is showing significant growth but still requires time to develop his skills. The Bulls' offense is strong, but their inability to secure crucial stops down the stretch has hindered their progress.
The G League and injury reports offer some glimmer of hope for White's possible return next week. His debut would provide a much-needed boost to an already underperforming unit.
! they need an elite closer ASAP and josh giddey is literally trying his best but hes still got some major defensive kinks 2 work out 
... did u see giannis antetokounmpo's stats against them last week? 19 points in the 4th quarter?! 
teams r capitalizing on their weaknesses rn
... btw, did u know that in the nba this season:
, like when they're trying to grab ingredients off the counter and end up making a mess . anyway back to the Bulls, i feel bad for them because they've got some young talent but it's hard to see them struggle so much. Josh Giddey is a cool name btw 
. i wish he could improve his defense more quickly though, that 6-4 start was super impressive though 
. and oh man, Giannis Antetokounmpo is just too dominant 
. hope Coby White gets back soon, that would be awesome for the Bulls' morale 
. AND WITH WHITE OUT FOR A WHILE, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO FIND THAT GUY, SO FINGERS CROSSED HE GETS BACK SOON!!!
. Josh Giddey is doing his best, but he needs some help from the rest of the team when it comes to defense - those big guys just aren't being stopped! 
. Can't wait to see what happens if they get him back, but I'm not holding my breath 
. Giddey's showing promise but he needs help on D, especially against bigger guys 
. And what's up with White's injury drama? Dude's been out for like forever and we're still waiting for him to come back 
. we all know Giannis can take over in 4th quarter and it's gonna be tough for them to beat teams with him getting easy buckets 
hope he comes back healthy and strong 
. I think they should consider making a trade or signing a free agent to help shore up their defense 
. Meanwhile, Coby White's injury is a big blow and Buzelis needs more time to develop his skills...the Bulls are really counting on some young guys to step up this season 
josh giddey is trying his best, but he's still got some work to do in terms of containing bigger opponents 
gotta give credit to matas buzelis though, he's showing some serious growth skills-wise 
but ugh, injuries are just the worst 
. And what's up with Coby White being out for a bit? I'm not buying that calf injury excuse 
. I'd love to see some more analysis on Matas Buzelis' growth - is it just hype or does he actually have the skills to make an impact? 
. It's not just about relying on teammates to make plays, you know? You gotta be the one making the stop or getting the steal 
He's only 23 and he's taking on so much responsibility with Coby White injured 
. Matas Buzelis coming through too 
and they're getting that much-needed push from their G League prospects 
️ Let's see how it goes, maybe they just need to fine-tune things a bit 
. they need someone who can come in and close out games, but it's not just about Giddey improving his defense, it's about him being able to make plays on his own 
. and what's up with all these guys getting hurt? it's like they're playing a game of "who can get injured next" 
. the G League is helping out some young guys, but it's just not the same as having a healthy, established starter 
. And what's with these injuries? Coby White getting hurt again? Can't a guy just get healthy for once? 
The Bulls need someone to step up and anchor that team, pronto! 
. But yeah, defense is still an area for improvement - those guys can drive and shoot, so we'll see how he handles them as the season goes on 
. Let's hope Coby White comes back soon too, his presence would be a huge boost to their lineup 
especially against quicker guards. coby white's injury report does sound promising tho, could be a game changer if he comes back healthy