The Chicago Bulls' defense has been a mess to begin 2026-27.

While it doesn't necessarily come as a surprise considering their inexperience and roster makeup, it is a tad embarrassing after all the preseason talk . Head coach Tiago Splitter seemingly prioritized this side of the ball during training camp. There was endless chatter about ramping up the physicality, putting more pressure on the perimeter, and cleaning the glass. The Bulls have done all poorly.

As things currently stand, the Bulls have allowed 52.3 points in the paint per game , which is the sixth-most in the NBA. Opponents are shooting nearly 48.0 percent from the field against this defense, while their rebounding percentage sits in the league's bottom ten. It's all played a major part in their ugly 1-5 start, which has featured multiple blowout losses.

If you're coming to the Bulls' defense, however, you're bound to mention the absence of their originally projected starting center.…