Chicago Bulls falling back into old habits in a sluggish start to the season

The best teams maintain their level of play for all 48 minutes. Then there are teams like the Chicago Bulls, whose 6-8 record is a result of coming out of the gates sluggish multiple times this season.

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This was on full display Sunday night against the Denver Nuggets. The Bulls were down 15-29 early in the first quarter and never recovered. Their offense consisted mostly of one-on-one isolation plays, which is not ideal when trying to make a comeback.

"I think that definitely took place. I think that we see it when maybe it's not going well. It's, 'OK. let me try to do something to get us going.' We have some very gifted offensive players, and that may happen on a possession or two, you can overcome that," said Donovan.

However, he clarified that it's not the way to go about it for an entire game.

"But it's not sustainable. Sometimes it's our guys fighting back more than understanding we are going to have to do it collectively," Donovan added. "You get so dejected, it's, 'We have to come back and respond now. I have to go and score to make up for that.' That's not a good recipe for sustainability."

Offensive struggles

It's no secret that the Bulls have struggled offensively this season. They rank near the bottom of the league in several key offensive categories, including being 20th in eFG% at 52.7% and damn near last in three-point attempt rate at 33.4%. While some of these can be attributed to the extended absence of starting point guard Lonzo Ball, it's clear that there's no quick fix for these issues.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I’d sacrifice my knee
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— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) November 14, 2022

Players freelancing and trying to do too much on their own won't be a solution for the team's offensive deficiencies. The Bulls know that, as they attempt to restore the team-first approach, especially until Lonzo comes back. Their first chance of doing so is on Wednesday when they face the New Orleans Pelicans.