Chicago Bulls: Key reason for losing streak revealed

The Chicago Bulls are 3-7 in their last seven games and are currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak with the Portland Trailblazers handing the Bulls their most recent loss. 

Sitting tenth in the Eastern Conference standings and having a record of 18-25 the Bulls are likely to be sellers at next month’s trade deadline with both their stars Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic drawing interest from teams. 

This losing streak could continue with the possibility of Bulls point guard Coby White potentially missing time with a sore ankle. There is one key reason according to a Bulls insider why the Bulls have been losing.

Insider reveals key reason for the Chicago Bulls losing streak

According to Bulls insider K.C. Johnson of CHSN, reports that the Bulls during their five-game losing streak have been letting up too many second-chance points. 

“5th straight game Bulls have allowed 20 or more 2nd-chance points“

5th straight game Bulls have allowed 20 or more 2nd-chance points

— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 20, 2025

Giving up that many points on the offensive glass is unacceptable and shows a lack of effort in rebounding. The Bulls in that five-game span have been outrebounded 244-236 according to my count. Another key factor in the Bulls’ losing streak is their sloppy play with the basketball recording 69 turnovers during this losing streak to their opponent’s total of 56. The Bulls have also let up 276 points in the paint. 

This was a concern of head coach Billy Donovan

The Head Coach of the Bulls Billy Donovan has already expressed that the Bull’s lack of rebounding and lack of overall effort is another contributing factor to this recent skid. Donovan’s main concern was he felt the Bulls were playing down to their competition with him expressing: 

“We’re good enough to do that against anybody. So, I don’t even look at it as playing up or playing down. If we don’t play to our potential, it doesn’t make a difference who’s out there,” Donovan said before Wednesday’s game,

“We have to play to what we’ve tried to establish as our identity for most of the year, and for the most part, we’ve done a pretty good job. But certainly, the things that have hurt us at times have been the rebounding, which was a factor yesterday, and then also the turnovers. That was a problem as well. But we’ve got to be able to do better [with] some of the things that we have control over.”

Having a combination of being outrebounded, losing the turnover battle, and as K.C. Johnson said allowing so many second-chance points is the perfect recipe to send a team into a losing streak.

The Bulls play tonight against the LA Clippers and to win the Bulls will have to limit the second-chance points, out-rebound the Clippers, and limit their turnovers to win this game and end this losing streak.