The Chicago Bulls need to improve their rebounding if they want to win more games

The Chicago Bulls are off to a disappointing start, losing eight of their first 14 games, including their last two. The Bulls have to do a much better job rebounding, or they might have a hard time making the playoffs. The good news is that there’s still plenty of basketball left and they can turn the season around.

Get more rebounds

In basketball, the team that wins the battle of the rebounds most likely wins the game. This is proving true for the Bulls, as they rank 25th in the NBA, averaging 49.6 rebounds per game. Poor rebounding has hurt the Bulls this season.

It is no coincidence that the Bucks lead the league with 59.6 rebounds per game and have the second-best record in the NBA at 10-3. Rebounding made a big difference in the Bulls’ 115-111 home loss against the Pelicans on November 9.

Jonas Valanciunas was the X-factor for the Pelicans that night with 21 points and 13 rebounds, and the Bulls were outrebounded 50 to 35. That 15-rebound margin was significant and ended up being the deciding factor in the loss.

It’s safe to say that the Bulls will have a hard time winning tonight’s rematch in New Orleans if the Pelicans dominate the glass again.

The Andre Drummond effect

The key player for the Bulls tonight is Andre Drummond. The two-time NBA All-Star brings rebounding presence and defense off the bench, but he had just five rebounds in 12 minutes in the first meeting against the Pelicans.

It was his first game after missing six contests due to a left shoulder sprain, but Drummond played much better on Sunday’s 126-103 road loss against the Nuggets, scoring 13 points with 11 rebounds in 22 minutes.

“By the time I retire, I’ll go down as the best rebounder ever---if not already,” Drummond said in the offseason.

That’s a pretty lofty claim, but one thing is certain, he remains an elite rebounder. Drummond’s 9.3 rebounds in 73 games with the 76ers and Nets last season still ranked 17th in the NBA despite playing just 19.7 minutes per game. This year he ranks 15th in the league with 9.6 rebounds in just 16.8 minutes over eight games.