The Chicago Bulls have had a nightmare start to their 2026-27 NBA season, with their opening performances leaving plenty of fans disappointed and frustrated.
Sitting at a 1-7 record after their first eight games, it is fair to say things have not gone according to plan for the Chicago side.
Although expectations were not particularly high heading into the season, very few people would have expected the Bulls to struggle this badly.
Poor defending, inconsistent attacking performances and a lack of confidence have all contributed to their difficult start.
The big question now is whether they can turn things around before their season gets even worse, writes Sports News Blitz’s Elliot Desage.
Defensive struggles costing the Bulls
One of the biggest problems for Chicago so far has been their defence.
They have struggled to stop opposing teams from scoring, conceding around 130 points per game during their opening run of fixtures.
Their recent 135-105 defeat against the New York Knicks was a perfect example of their problems.
The Bulls allowed New York to score 84 points in the first half, which made it extremely difficult for them to get back into the game.
Knicks star Jalen Brunson also caused plenty of problems, finishing with 33 points.
This was not the first time Chicago's defence had let them down either.
Their struggles have been noticeable throughout the opening games, including a heavy defeat against Toronto, where they found themselves trailing by 48 points.
Of course, playing against some of the stronger teams in the league has not helped, but the Bulls need to show more fight and organisation if they want to compete.
Key players need to step up
Another concern for Chicago is that some of their important players have not been performing consistently enough.
Josh Giddey is someone the Bulls will be looking towards for leadership.
While he has shown some positive signs, including a 13-point and 10-assist performance against Philadelphia, the team needs more consistency from him.
Matas Buzelis has also had a difficult start.
After showing plenty of potential last season, there were hopes that he would take another big step forward this year.
However, his performances have been mixed, and he has struggled to make the impact many supporters were hoping for.
That said, it is important to remember that Buzelis is still young and developing. There is plenty of time for him to improve, and the Bulls will need to be patient with him.
A positive amongst the disappointment
Despite the poor results, there have been a few positives for Chicago supporters to take from the opening games.
Rookie Caleb Wilson has been one of the more encouraging performers.
The fourth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has already shown that he is not afraid to take responsibility, even when the team is struggling.
His 24-point performance against Philadelphia, alongside seven rebounds and four steals, was particularly impressive.
Although he is still adjusting to life in the NBA, his performances have given fans something to look forward to.
Developing young players such as Wilson and Buzelis could be extremely important for the Bulls as they look to build for the future.
Is the schedule posing a problem?
One talking point surrounding the Bulls’ poor form is the schedule.
The Bulls have had to play the Celtics, Knicks and the 76ers over a two-week period with the final game against the 76ers this Sunday.
This is significant because all three of those teams have championship potential.
In fact, all the teams they have encountered so far are expected to go far except the Milwaukee Bucks, who are the only team in both conferences with a worse record than the Bulls in which their only win came against them.
What happens next?
There is no getting away from the fact that Chicago have made a terrible start to the season.
With a 1-7 record, the pressure is already beginning to build, and head coach Tiago Splitter needs to find answers quickly.
The Bulls must improve defensively, become more consistent in attack and start showing greater confidence as a team.
Otherwise, they could find themselves falling further behind the rest of the Eastern Conference.
There is still plenty of basketball left to play, so it would be unfair to write them off just yet.
However, if their opening performances are anything to go by, it could be a very difficult season for Chicago.
For now, Bulls fans will simply be hoping that things improve sooner rather than later.
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