It’s hard to believe that a team with three offensive stars like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic ranks 24th out of 30 in offense and 5th out of 30 in defense in the 2022/23 season. There has been a lot of criticism directed at the Bulls’ trio of stars due to their poor offensive performance. However, all three had excellent offensive seasons, shot well, and did what was expected of them.

There are two issues causing the Bulls’ offense to be ineffective. The first is their poor transition ability, which causes them to miss fast and easy scoring opportunities. As a result, they often have to face more difficult offensive situations when opponents have already set up their defense.

The second issue is the lackluster performance of the team’s role players on offense. The Bulls’ best scorer outside of the big three is Patrick Williams, who averages only 10 points per game. The starting backcourt trio they’ve tried, consisting of Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, and Patrick Beverley, have made little impact on offense. What’s even worse is that these players don’t move efficiently, limiting the offensive capabilities of the Bulls’ stars.

If the Bulls can address these two issues, they will make significant progress in their offensive game. In the 2021/22 season, when the Bulls had a guard like Lonzo Ball who could distribute the ball and initiate fast-break offenses, they were a force to be reckoned with.

Lonzo Ball brought excellent three-point shooting and, more importantly, the ability to initiate fast and accurate fast-break situations. When the Bulls’ 2nd pick in the 2017 NBA Draft got injured, they couldn’t find anyone to fill his role. The Bulls acquired players like Goran Dragic and Patrick Beverley, who were clearly not on the same level as Ball when it came to orchestrating the game. As a result, the Bulls ranked 4th in scoring efficiency last season but dead last in three-point shooting. It was a puzzle that the United Center’s team couldn’t solve.

Despite the challenges, the Bulls are starting anew in this year’s preseason. They are heavily relying on the pick-and-roll and attacking from all five positions. These changes were evident in the game against the Milwaukee Bucks. It takes time for the Bulls to experiment and understand the habits and strengths of each player.

One focal point of discussion every summer is DeRozan’s three-point shooting. He made a three-point shot from a 0-degree angle, which was a rarity in the previous season.

The Bulls are also making adjustments to maximize DeMar DeRozan’s value when he doesn’t have the ball. This includes using him as a screener and creating opportunities for his teammates to take open shots from the 0-degree angle. This strategy aims to make DeRozan more effective as a contributor to the team’s offense even when he’s not the primary ball handler, enhancing his overall impact on the game. These adjustments showcase the team’s efforts to diversify their offensive schemes and make the most of their star players’ skills.

“DeMar, Zach, and Vooch, they all shoot the ball well. Shooting isn’t the issue; they are all excellent at it. What we need to do is move the ball more and find the open spaces.”

In the preseason game against the Bucks, the Bulls’ players moved off the ball more, likely stemming from changes in their playing style, aimed at creating better opportunities for players to find open spaces for shooting. This adjustment emphasizes the importance of ball movement and player movement to create more efficient and effective scoring opportunities for the team.

The Bulls appear to be focusing on using more transition plays as well. Carter, known for his fast-break style with the Bucks, is bringing those qualities to the Bulls. Coby White often utilizes his exceptional speed to initiate fast-break opportunities when the chance arises. Even Patrick Williams, who has faced criticism for his lack of assertiveness, is making an effort to contribute on offense when the opportunity arises.

The Bulls had an excellent defense last year, and they haven’t made significant changes to the well-functioning defensive system. They often rotate positions from the 1 to the 4, with center Vucevic moving to support and create chaos with his strength and athleticism.

The changes the Bulls are implementing are quite positive, and if they continue to evolve, they may be headed for a better season ahead. These adjustments demonstrate their commitment to becoming a more well-rounded and effective team.