chicago_suntimes
When the Chicago Bulls gathered at the Advocate Center a few weeks ago, forward Matas Buzelis felt a surge of optimism. After spending most of September scrimmaging with his teammates, the start of training camp under new coach Tiago Splitter brought a fresh perspective on the revamped roster.
"I remember walking in the other day and just looking around like, 'Man, we're pretty big,'" Buzelis recalled. "We've got a lot of fours, guys that can make plays, athleticism. That just makes you more comfortable defensively."
But the NBA has a way of humbling teams. In their third preseason game in Denver on Sunday night, the Bulls were anything but big. They emerged from the 133-128 loss desperately missing size, particularly in the paint.
Nic Claxton remained sidelined with a hamstring issue that could keep him out for several regular-season games. Zach Collins was dealing with a sore quadriceps, and Jalen Smith aggravated a foot injury before Friday's loss to Memphis, sat out that game, but returned against the Nuggets.
However, in this game of musical chairs, while Smith was back, rookie rebounding sensation Tobe Awaka was now out with a sore knee, considered day-to-day. The Bulls were missing just under 21 feet of rim protectors.
"It is a concern," Splitter admitted about his big men spending more time in the training room than on the court during preseason. The coach shares a run-and-gun offensive philosophy with former coach Billy Donovan, which puts even more strain on the bigs.
"We've got to be careful with their minutes throughout the season," Splitter said of his centers. "We'll probably have to have every night a three-man rotation at the five position. It's a little bit also what the league is now – playing physical, fast. Seven-footers can't play for 35 minutes, so you have to divide those minutes with three big men running up and down."
That means getting Claxton, Collins, and Smith healthy and running as soon as possible, with Awaka waiting as insurance. Another option is rookie Caleb Wilson, who played center at North Carolina and is versatile enough to guard smaller fives.
"The game is really transitioning right now, so I don't want to box myself into a role," Wilson said when asked about his position. He eventually settled on being more of a three at the NBA level but is open to whatever is asked.
The ask was significant for Wilson and all the Bulls starters against Denver, especially with the Nuggets starting perennial MVP candidate Nikola Jokic (6-foot-11) and ultra-athletic forward Aaron Gordon.
Jokic scored 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting in his first seven-plus minutes, finishing with a triple-double of 22 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, while Gordon added 25 points. The Bulls hung tough on the scoreboard for most of the night, even against most of Denver's starters in the first quarter.
Yet it was clear from the start where the Nuggets wanted to attack, outscoring the Bulls 16-8 in the paint in the opening period. Chicago's second unit helped mitigate the damage with an up-tempo approach to counter the size disadvantage. That led to solid performances from the frontcourt, led by Leonard Miller's 26 points, while Wilson had 17 and Buzelis 13.
The good news for the Bulls is that Collins is nearing a return with two preseason games left, and early indications suggest Awaka will also be back by Wednesday's game in Milwaukee.
Key Analysis
The Bulls' preseason struggles in Denver underscore a critical vulnerability: their lack of interior depth. With Claxton, Collins, and Awaka all sidelined, Chicago was forced to rely on smaller lineups against one of the league's most dominant big men in Nikola Jokic. Jokic's triple-double exposed the Bulls' inability to protect the rim, a problem that could persist into the regular season if injuries linger. Coach Splitter's fast-paced system demands fresh legs, making a healthy big-man rotation essential. The return of Collins and Awaka will provide some relief, but the Bulls must navigate these early-season challenges to stay competitive in a loaded Eastern Conference.
Originally reported by chicago_suntimes.