{"id":115807,"date":"2025-10-31T07:10:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T07:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=115807"},"modified":"2025-10-31T07:10:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T07:10:34","slug":"chicago-back-from-the-grave-notice-the-bulls-are-officially-back-and-storming-toward-the-playoffs-with-a-roster-playing-like-theyve-heard-every-joke-every-rebuild-whisper-every-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=115807","title":{"rendered":"CHICAGO BACK FROM THE GRAVE NOTICE: The Bulls are officially back and storming toward the playoffs with a roster playing like they\u2019ve heard every joke, every rebuild whisper, every \u201cdone\u201d label, flipping the script with swagger, young legs, ruthless urgency and a chip the size of the United Center \u2014 and insiders say this isn\u2019t a cute \u201cgood stretch,\u201d it\u2019s a full-blown revival that could punch the East in the mouth before anyone knows what hit \u2019em..ll"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Chicago<\/p>\n

For nearly a decade, the Chicago Bulls have existed in a state of limbo, good enough to compete but never good enough to truly matter. The \u201cplay-in purgatory\u201d label has clung to them like an unwanted nickname. But this season, something feels different. Four games into the 2025-26 NBA campaign, the Bulls are undefeated for the first time since 2011, the last time Derrick Rose led them to the top of the East.<\/p>\n

And while it\u2019s far too early to crown a new contender, the energy in Chicago is undeniable. Billy Donovan\u2019s squad is defending with intent, sharing the basketball with purpose, and showing the kind of chemistry that championship-level teams tend to develop long before the rest of the league notices.<\/p>\n

For a franchise desperate for direction, these Bulls are finally playing like they\u2019ve found theirs, and it all begins with Josh Giddey.<\/p>\n

Josh Giddey is the engine that makes Chicago go<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When the Bulls made the bold offseason move to sign free agent Josh Giddey to a four-year, $150 million deal, the reaction was mixed. Why spend big money on a player who is not committing to the team in free agency? Why commit to someone whose shooting was still developing?<\/p>\n

\n

RT IF YOUR TEAM IS 4-0. pic.twitter.com\/GQdToi0YjC<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/chicagobulls\/status\/1983720690055291294<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Now, those questions look laughable.<\/p>\n

Giddey has been nothing short of spectacular through the first week of the season. In the Bulls’ 126-113 win over the Sacramento Kings, their most dominant victory yet, Giddey controlled the game from start to finish, finishing with 20 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds before checking out with four minutes remaining.<\/p>\n

His season averages of 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists on 43% from deep are a testament to both his maturity and Donovan\u2019s system finally giving him full creative control.<\/p>\n

The fit has been seamless. Chicago\u2019s offensive identity now revolves around Giddey\u2019s instincts, his ability to push the pace, manipulate defenses, and keep everyone involved. Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107 has benefited immensely as a pick-and-pop threat, while young star Matas Buzelis is thriving as a slashing, cutting, and spot-up weapon.<\/p>\n

\n

Josh Giddey has been worth EVERY penny \ud83d\udcb0 pic.twitter.com\/1EjgphRDuA<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/JAYChi_Bulls\/status\/1982996479657873901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1982996479657873901%7Ctwgr%5E779d650b75c9aeabf903d9035c7a24e910654c7b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fchicago-bulls%2Fbulls-officially-back-will-make-nba-playoffs<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Their chemistry is quickly becoming one of the league\u2019s most intriguing duos, as the two have already connected on a series of highlight-reel plays that speak to Giddey\u2019s court vision and Buzelis\u2019 athletic flair.<\/p>\n

More importantly, Giddey\u2019s leadership has given the Bulls a sense of calm they\u2019ve lacked for years. There\u2019s a confidence in how he controls tempo, the rhythm of his dribble, the patience in his reads, and the way he\u2019s unafraid to reset and call for a re-screen if a play collapses. He\u2019s not just organizing possessions; he\u2019s orchestrating them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the connector,\u201d said head coach Billy Donovan after the win against Sacramento. \u201cHe\u2019s the one who gets everyone in their spots. He wants to make the right play every time, and when you have that kind of selflessness from your point guard, it spreads.\u201d<\/p>\n

That \u201cspread\u201d is visible everywhere. The Bulls currently rank third in defensive rating, top 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio, and among the league\u2019s leaders in rebounding. The irony? It\u2019s their defense, not Giddey\u2019s offense, that\u2019s been most impressive.<\/p>\n

Why the Bulls will make the NBA Playoffs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Bulls\u2019 defense looks like it could take them far. Through their 4-0 start, Chicago ranks third in the NBA in defensive rating, a carryover from finishing top-10 in that category last season. This isn\u2019t a fluke; it\u2019s the product of continuity, athleticism, and buy-in.<\/p>\n

Players like Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones have set the tone on the perimeter, while Vu\u010devi\u0107 and Patrick Williams are holding their own in the paint. Jones\u2019 ability to defend multiple positions has allowed Donovan to switch more aggressively, while Dosunmu\u2019s energy on both ends has quietly made him one of the most underrated guards in the East.<\/p>\n

Donovan\u2019s challenge over the past few years has been balance, getting enough shooting without sacrificing size, or enough ball movement without losing defensive integrity. This year, it finally feels like he has both.<\/p>\n

\n

Year 2 Matas Buzelis \ud83d\udc40<\/p>\n

27 points | 11-18 FG | 5 rebounds | 2 steals pic.twitter.com\/rQ2YvaGNNR<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/chicagobulls\/status\/1983739392331059602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1983739392331059602%7Ctwgr%5E779d650b75c9aeabf903d9035c7a24e910654c7b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fclutchpoints.com%2Fnba%2Fchicago-bulls%2Fbulls-officially-back-will-make-nba-playoffs<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And then there\u2019s the intangibles: chemistry, culture, and cohesion. Donovan recently credited Dosunmu as an example for the team\u2019s young players, particularly Matas Buzelis, to follow.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe chemistry on the team in terms of their relationships is really good on and off the court,\u201d Donovan told NBA.com\u2019s Sam Smith. \u201cI grew up and played in a time when if you didn\u2019t have a good relationship on the court, you generally didn\u2019t have one off the court. These guys have great relationships.\u201d<\/p>\n

That bond is visible in how they celebrate each other\u2019s successes, Giddey chest-bumping Buzelis after a transition dunk, Vu\u010devi\u0107 dapping up Dosunmu after a hustle play.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s joy in this team again. More importantly, they have an identity.<\/p>\n

For the first time in years, the Bulls know exactly who they are: a long, athletic, defensively sound team that moves the ball, plays for each other, and refuses to be outworked. Their 4-0 record might not guarantee a playoff berth in October, but it\u2019s evidence of a foundation that can sustain winning basketball.<\/p>\n

If they stay healthy and continue to defend at this level, there\u2019s every reason to believe the Bulls can not only break out of play-in purgatory but secure a top-six seed in the East.<\/p>\n

And this time, it\u2019s not hype. It\u2019s real basketball.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Bulls are officially back. Behind Josh Giddey\u2019s breakout and elite defense, Billy Donovan\u2019s squad looks ready for playoffs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":115811,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[472,43,1733,473,1990,45,1759,1630,527],"class_list":["post-115807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","tag-billy-donovan","tag-chicago-bulls","tag-editorials","tag-josh-giddey","tag-matas-buzelis","tag-nba","tag-nba-editorials","tag-nba-playoffs","tag-nikola-vucevic"],"yoast_head":"\nCHICAGO BACK FROM THE GRAVE NOTICE: The Bulls are officially back and storming toward the playoffs with a roster playing like they\u2019ve heard every joke, every rebuild whisper, every \u201cdone\u201d label, flipping the script with swagger, young legs, ruthless urgency and a chip the size of the United Center \u2014 and insiders say this isn\u2019t a cute \u201cgood stretch,\u201d it\u2019s a full-blown revival that could punch the East in the mouth before anyone knows what hit \u2019em..ll - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=115807\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"CHICAGO BACK FROM THE GRAVE NOTICE: The Bulls are officially back and storming toward the playoffs with a roster playing like they\u2019ve heard every joke, every rebuild whisper, every \u201cdone\u201d label, flipping the script with swagger, young legs, ruthless urgency and a chip the size of the United Center \u2014 and insiders say this isn\u2019t a cute \u201cgood stretch,\u201d it\u2019s a full-blown revival that could punch the East in the mouth before anyone knows what hit \u2019em..ll - News 365\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Chicago Bulls are officially back. 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