The best NBA teams have one thing in common: consistent excellence. Whether that team faces a bottom-dweller or one of the NBA’e elite, you can always expect them to play at a high level. However, consistency has been hard to come by for the Chicago Bulls this season due to a string of injuries.
Head coach Billy Donovan recently addressed this issue, stating that the team's lack of consistent performance is directly linked to its injury woes. With key players like Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams already out for the season due to various injuries, the Bulls have found it difficult to establish a rhythm and maintain it throughout games.
Different starting fives
The Bulls have had to fill starting roles with new guys since LaVine and Williams were declared lost for the remainder of the season due to various foot injuries. To replace the reserves that were elevated to the starting five, Donovan has plugged in untested rookies like Julian Phillips, Henry Drell, and Onuralp Bitim.
This constant shuffling of lineups has made it challenging for the Bulls to develop chemistry and consistency on both ends of the court.
“The hard part for us is, at times, having guys in and out and not being whole,” Donovan said.
“Relying on different guys in different situations. The other guys have had to step up. At times, we’re fighting for consistency. We’ve got to find that consistency.”
Others need to step up
While it can be frustrating, injuries are as much part of the NBA’s fabric as pick-and-roll defense and postgame press conferences. For the Bulls, injuries have allowed players like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu to step up and make their mark on the team. White and Dosunmu have delivered in their newfound roles; the question is: can others follow suit?
“It’s kind of like next man up. I don’t know if it’s frustrating or disappointing. The consistency, can we get the consistency to a higher level? And that requires everybody raising it, too,” Donovan said.
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