The Bulls are 1-7, and Norman Powell doesn’t think opponents are particularly worried about making them 1-8.
“Teams are coming at us and looking at us like it’s lunch,” Powell said, via Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. “Like they’re going to get their numbers and it’s going to be an easy win. We’ve got to figure out how collectively to have the mentality and approach of some grittiness, some toughness, some way to compete.”
That’s a fairly blunt description of a team that just lost to the Knicks by 30 points. It’s also difficult to argue with the results.
The Bulls are tied for the NBA’s worst record and own its worst net rating at minus-17.5. As Poe notes, they rank 28th in offensive rating, 29th defensively and last in 3-point shooting at 27.2%. Pick an area. They need help.
But Powell’s concern goes beyond missed shots. He’s describing a team that opponents expect to push around, which makes the response to adversity particularly important. On Wednesday, rookie Caleb Wilson’s response didn’t satisfy coach Tiago Splitter.
The No. 4 overall pick didn’t return after leaving midway through the third quarter, a decision Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times described as a “soft benching.”
“I didn’t think he had a great game,” Splitter told reporters. “He wasn’t doing the right things on offense, defense, body language, he’s got to get better.”
Wilson acknowledged getting frustrated. Splitter acknowledged that losing like this is unfamiliar territory for the 20-year-old, while making clear that it doesn’t change what’s expected.
“Caleb probably has never been in this situation in his life,” Splitter said, per Cowley. “He’s always been on the winning side, winning games, and now you’ve got to be resilient even when you’re down 20, 30, 40 (points), it doesn’t matter. It’s a learning experience, for sure.”
Eight games won’t define Wilson’s career or settle the Bulls’ future. But competing through a bad night is something Splitter can demand immediately.
Powell is asking for the same thing from the entire roster. The Bulls don’t have to fix everything at once. They do have to become a more difficult team to play against.
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