The statistics say the Bulls rank ninth in the NBA in allowing 95.3 points per game, second in forcing 18 turnovers and then a very pedestrian 21st in allowing opponents to shoot 46.2 percent.
Statistics don’t say as much as style in this case.
Anybody who watched the Bulls lead the league in opponents’ field-goal percentage the past two seasons saw a swarming, active defense that caused fits. That swagger, for now, is gone despite adding the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, Ben Wallace.
An undermanned Indiana team missing its top three scorers scored 91 points on 51.4 percent Monday night. Granted, the Bulls won. But similar defensive efforts won’t cut it when the schedule grows tougher.
“This summer, I thought we’d be great defensively,” guard Kirk Hinrich said. “It hasn’t come along as fast as we’d like. But the potential is there.
“I don’t know if it’s effort. A lot of times, we’re one or two rotations away. Our defensive shell and techniques aren’t that bad. We just have a couple of breakdowns that have hurt.”
Specifically, coach Scott Skiles said the Bulls still are allowing too much perimeter penetration. And when those defenders have been broken down, the help defense hasn’t arrived quickly or consistently enough.
“Overall, our schemes, our guys are being conscientious about trying to execute,” Skiles said. “I don’t have a whole lot of complaints there. It’s just more basic pride, not letting my guy beat me or making it very difficult for him.
“We try to teach the guys you have to play a guy for three dribbles. That’s difficult in our league. But if you can, we’ll get the help there to you. We’re getting flat blown by too many times and it becomes difficult to get there.”
Another good test arrives Wednesday in the form of Seattle. Even without Ray Allen, the Sonics feature solid penetrators who like to kick to shooters.
The Bulls have talked of sort of tiptoeing around Wallace as they grew accustomed to his play.
“You think Ben’s going to be there all the time,” Luol Deng said. “We weren’t helping him by playing like that.”
Deng and other perimeter defenders say that honeymoon period is ending and that familiarity soon should breed ferocity. But Wallace is blunt when asked how the Bulls are faring defensively.
“Right now we’re taking a step back,” Wallace said.
Bulls’ opponents are averaging 27.9 free-throw attempts per game, which ranks 25th in the league. Hinrich, considered the team’s best perimeter defender, often has battled foul trouble as he has struggled to adjust to more stringent rules for containing penetration.
“A lot of times, I find myself just trying to stay in the game,” Hinrich said. “It’s taking away some of my aggressiveness. I need to find a way to keep an even keel.”
Skiles’ penchant for bluntness and honesty in the immediate aftermath of games sometimes makes him seem more upset with his team’s play than what some reflection allows.
“I don’t want to seem upset all the time after we win,” Skiles said. “But we’ve changed our focus around here. It’s no longer a matter of can we get in the playoffs or can we make a run at the end of the season. We want to advance.
“We’re not that far from where we need to be. On several occasions, we just have one guy or one-and-a-half guys not quite ready on that possession or a little bit out of position. We need to conquer that. I’m fairly certain we will because we have the last couple of years.
“This is a different group, though, and we’d rather conquer it now.”
Taking their shots
Opponents are finding — and hitting — their shots better against the Bulls this season. From the field:
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2005 2006
42.6% 46.2%
(RANK: 1ST) (RANK: 21ST)
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kcjohnson@tribune.com
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