Just the latest challenge for Thibodeau, Bulls

The Bulls have hit plenty of low moments over the past few seasons.

There was Derrick Rose's ACL injury in the first game of the 2012 playoffs, Joakim Noah's plantar fasciitis in 2013, Rose's second season-ending knee injury and the trade of Luol Deng later on last season.

On every occasion, coach Tom Thibodeau was able to rally the players and get back to winning games.

So there's no reason to panic now.

The Bulls are in a rough stretch, losing six of their last eight games, and Monday's 108-94 loss at Cleveland was a particularly poor performance.

It's a stretch to suggest that Thibodeau is on the hot seat. There is plenty of time to turn things around, and the Bulls have finished strong in three of his four seasons as head coach.

If the Bulls end up with a mediocre result this season, say, losing in the first round of the playoffs, there's a pretty good chance Thibodeau and the Bulls will agree to part ways. But there's no reason to think a coaching change will happen soon.

If anything, there are more reasons for optimism. Before hitting this slump, the Bulls won 13 of 15 games, with several quality victories. They also should get two starters back from injury relatively soon.

The Bulls played a strong first half against Washington last week with Noah on the floor. When he left with an ankle injury, the team fell apart in the second half. So Noah's return should give the defense a boost.

The Bulls next game is Thursday against San Antonio at the United Center.

Also worth noting is that the slump began two games after Mike Dunleavy was sidelined with an ankle injury. It didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but maybe Dunleavy's presence means more than most observers believed.

He's a smart player on both ends of the floor, plus he's a 3-point shooter most opponents respect, so he helps open the floor on offensive side. This underappreciated theory will be put into practice when Dunleavy returns to the lineup.

Most of the Bulls' problems still revolve around continuity and chemistry. They haven't adjusted well to new teammates, a more offensive-minded style and continuous series of annoying injuries.

So when Rose said after Monday's game, "Everybody has to be on the same page. Until then, we're going to continue to get our butt kicked," he's exactly right.

Here's a rundown of problems the Bulls need to solve. Many of these will sound familiar:

• As good as Pau Gasol has been - and no one has any complaints about his presence - the Bulls are struggling to fit the pieces around him.

With Gasol on board, Noah's role has changed, Taj Gibson's role has changed. The Bulls' help defense is different. They have to figure out how to best mesh Gasol's low-post scoring with Rose's driving ability.

It's looked good at times, but there has been no consistency. Word is, Gasol and Thibodeau have gotten along well.

• The Bulls intentionally switched to more of an offensive style this season. That was the right move, because they're never going to get to the Finals averaging 92 points.

But they still need to be able to clamp down on defense. One of the most noticeable changes is the Bulls are no longer attacking opponents' pick-and-rolls, often with lousy results.

Also, with Gasol guarding the lane, he can be a pretty good shot blocker, but he's not necessarily a good basket protector. To put it another way, he's a good face-to-face shot blocker, while sliding across the lane to help is not a strength.

• One theory about Thibodeau's defense is that to execute it well the team needs extensive practice time. The Bulls aren't getting that because of older players, minutes limits and the long string of injuries.

• Jimmy Butler's shooting slump is another factor in the Bulls' slide. After an all-star caliber start to the season, Butler is at 16 points and 38-percent shooting over the last nine contests. To be an offensive-minded team, the Bulls need their scorers to play well.

• Noah has had a tough recovery from last summer's arthroscopic knee surgery, so he hasn't always been at his best.

• When things turn sour on the court, you never know how much outside factors could creep in. Butler is planning to get a big contract this summer. Noah's contract expires after next season.

Then there's the perpetual iciness between the coaching staff and front office. Internal friction is a long-standing tradition for the Bulls, and there's always a chance the negative vibe seeps into the locker room.

There's nothing so negative to think Thibodeau's job is in imminent danger or even that the players have tuned him out. Thibodeau has rallied the Bulls from deeper lulls in the past, and the team may be back at full strength in a matter of days.

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