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Bulls Rebounding Fix Is Failing Splitter’s Test Now
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- Bulls Rebounding Fix Is Failing Splitter’s Test Now
David Butler II-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bulls think they are fixing their rebounding, but the numbers tell a different story. They sit 10th in total rebounds per game, yet they are trapped in the bottom third of the league for rebounding percentages, according to the Chicago Tribune . Coach Tiago Splitter knows the team is not doing enough to stop bigger opponents from grabbing the ball. He wants more than just volume; he wants true control of the glass.
The old habits must die
Junior Giddey is struggling to adapt to the new system Splitter has put in place. The coach wants players to box out, but Giddey is used to chasing the ball down on his own. That old instinct is hurting the team's rhythm right now. Giddey admitted the change is tough to handle in his own words. He said, "I've always been a guy that has tried to just hunt the ball down off of our misses, so I'm just adjusting to a different rebounding scheme." It sounds like a small shift, but it changes how the whole team moves. Giddey added that in the past, he was just a guy to "go and hunt it." Now he has to wait and block others out.
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Splitter sees this as a growing pain for a young squad. He told reporters that while they are better, there is still plenty of room to get better. The team lost to the Boston Celtics 125-111 on Friday night, a game where rebounding issues helped the Celtics build a massive lead. The Bulls gave up too many second-chance points early on.
Patience has an expiration date
Coach Splitter is not willing to wait forever for these habits to stick. He expects immediate changes in effort, not just long-term growth. Norman Powell echoed that feeling after the loss to Boston. Powell said, "We just got to sight-check." He means the team needs to look at their mistakes and fix them right now. The timeline for improvement is not next month or next season. Powell was clear on the deadline. He said, "The timeline needs to be next game." This is a hard line for a team that often struggles with consistency.
The Bulls have shown they can fight back in the second half, scoring 25 points from second-chance opportunities against the Celtics. But that is not enough to overcome a 44-25 deficit in the first quarter. Rebounding became an even greater struggle because the team committed 13 turnovers during the first half.
