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The 2014-15 Chicago Bulls have not been a typical Tom Thibodeau team. The typical Tom Thibodeau team has a top-three scoring defense — these Bulls currently rank 15th.
Although Chicago’s leadership identity has been compromised during Derrick Rose’s attempted rejuvenation, the Bulls have played teams without Rose before.
Joakim Noah has missed four straight games due to his ankle, and sliding Pau Gasol into his place has not boosted rim protection. The Bulls’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers is their sixth out of their last eight, and the fifth consecutive game in which the Bulls have surrendered more than 100 points.
Unfortunately the Bulls can’t stop and regroup. This Thursday they start an NBA Southwest back-to-back with the San Antonio Spurs followed by the Dallas Mavericks. Defense will be something Thibodeau will have to repair on the fly, and in a hurry as Cleveland appears to be gathering momentum for a run at the Central Division.
Chicago currently holds a 5.5 game lead over Cleveland, but after Monday night’s game, it appears Chicago is the high-profile team with serious issues. Maybe it was a bad night, and maybe it’s been a bad week, but for now the focus on Rose’s resurgence should be put on hold, at least until the Bulls can figure out their assignments and switching on D.
Then again maybe that’s a good thing for Derrick Rose and the Bulls, adding emphasis on fundamental defense and shifting the pressure back to Tom Thibodeau’s best asset and calling card — which surprisingly isn’t Derrick Rose.
Jerry Landry is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Jerry on Twitter at @Jerry2Landry, “Like” him on Facebook or add him on Google.
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