Late-game breakdowns aside, Chicago Bulls defense getting better
For the most part, the Chicago Bulls are enjoying the ascent of Zach LaVine and otherwise marking time until several key players return from injury.
There has been evidence of defensive improvement in the past week or so. At least on paper things have improved. The Bulls defense still frequently fails the eye test.
Looking at the numbers over the past six games, the Bulls actually rank fifth in the NBA in defensive field-goal percentage at .436. New York shot 38.7 percent Monday in the double-overtime loss to the Bulls, while top scorer Tim Hardaway Jr. was sidelined by a back injury.
Over that same period, the Bulls rank 14th in points allowed at 110.0 and 12th in defensive rating, which is points allowed per 100 possessions.
That's not bad considering the six-game span includes the loss to Golden State, in which the Bulls surrendered 149 points and literally watched as Klay Thompson set an NBA record with 14 3-pointers.
Not much has changed since the season began. This Bulls lineup isn't likely to excel on defense, but it can be halfway decent if the players simply lock in, bring some energy to the defensive end and limit fastbreak opportunities.
It was tough to ignore some of the bad possessions that could have been costly at the end of Monday's game, so let's take a closer look:
Trier ties it: The first was Allonzo Trier's tying 3-pointer with 48 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Trier could accurately be described as wide open when he let the shot fly.
This sequence started with LaVine launching a 3-point miss, which created a long rebound. Trier gather it in and took off downcourt.
The problem was, LaVine and Cameron Payne both went to guard Emmanuel Mudiay, who was standing near the basket. Justin Holiday picked up the ball, but the Knicks didn't even need to use a screen.
Trier handed it off to teammate Damyean Dotson, Holiday had to stay on the ball, and when Trier drifted out to the wing, there were no defenders around.
Poor communication and recognition is the culprit here. Mudiay probably was Payne's man, but LaVine was the first defender back and took Mudiay, the closest Knick to the basket.
The suspicion here is Payne should have recognized what was happening and taken Dotson on the perimeter. The two other Bulls, Jabari Parker and Robin Lopez, both got back and were in decent defensive position.
Watching the rebound: The Bulls were fortunate on the last play of regulation when the Knicks had a chance to win.
Holiday did a nice job of getting through a screen and contesting Trier's jumper, but Mario Hezonja raced in for the offensive rebound and got a clean look but missed the shot just before the buzzer.
Payne was the closest Bull to Hezonja and made no effort to box out. Holiday also could have helped, but he stood and watched at the foul line. Rookie Chandler Hutchison was in position to get the rebound but didn't see Hezonja coming and got knocked off the ball. Lopez had Enes Kanter boxed out.
Mudiay on the move: The Bulls' last defensive possession of the night was another bad one, with Mudiay tying the game on a fastbreak lay-in with 2.7 seconds left.
This one started with another errant LaVine jumper, but this time it wasn't a long rebound. The Knicks got possession beneath the basket, Mudiay caught the outlet pass a few steps short of the foul line and simply beat the Bulls downcourt.
A couple of mishaps ensued. Holiday and Payne both were back to stop Mudiay in front of the basket. You could almost see the wheels spinning in Payne's head.
He noticed Dotson trailing the play, about to set up at the exact spot where Trier hit the tying 3 in the fourth quarter, so Payne took off to guard him. It was a 2-point lead at the time, so the decision made sense.
That left Holiday 1-on-1 with Mudiay, since the other three Bulls on the court (LaVine, Parker and Lopez) seemed to ease up seeing their two teammates had the basket covered. Holiday had good position, but one slight bump knocked him off course and Mudiay finished the uncontested lay-in.
This seems to happen to Holiday now and then, where he doesn't have the strength to hold his ground. Holiday does other things well, such as when he anticipated a Knicks inbounds play and got a steal in the waning seconds of the first overtime.
There are tougher opponents ahead. But since this season is more about progress than victories, the defense deserves a little credit.
• Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls
Bulls game day
Bulls vs. New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center, 7 p.m. Wednesday
TV: NBC Sports Chicago
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: New Orleans got off to a great start at 4-0, but then C Anthony Davis missed three of the next four games with an elbow sprain and the Pelicans are now riding a six-game losing streak. This will be their first time back home after a winless five-game road trip. Davis has played in the last two games but hasn't been his usual dominant self. He had 20 points, 8 rebounds and 5 turnovers in Monday's loss at Oklahoma City. On the season, Davis is averaging 23.3 points and 11.6 rebounds. Ex-Bull Nikola Mirotic has cooled off since his hot start, but is still averaging 21.8 points and 11.4 boards. PG Jrue Holiday is at 18.9 ppg, and former Lakers PF Julius Randle (18.2 ppg) seems to be enjoying his new home. The Bulls lost last season but have gone 8-2 in their last 10 trips to New Orleans.
Next: Cleveland Cavaliers at the United Center, 7 p.m. Saturday
- Mike McGraw