The Bulls have now lost 7 straight and are 1-8, and the problem is obvious. A Week 3 breakdown counted 388 points allowed across 3 losses, and each one exposed a different weakness. The Sixers grabbed 20 offensive rebounds and won the boards 54-42 in the 127-121 loss. That is the worst possible résumé to bring into a game against a 7-footer who erases the rim on one end and cleans up misses on the other.
Josh Giddey is the one thing going right in Chicago. He had 19 points, 15 assists and 7 rebounds against Philadelphia, setting up 7 of the Bulls' first 10 baskets. Chicago can score. It put up 121 and 127 in its 2 most recent home losses. The trouble is that the offense has to be perfect, and with Wembanyama roaming the paint, Giddey's drive-and-dish game gets a lot harder. Without Powell, it gets harder still, because he's the guy who takes the shots Giddey creates.
The scheduling is the one thing working in Chicago's favor. San Antonio comes in at the end of a road trip that went through Sacramento, Portland and Phoenix, and the Spurs will have played just 1 day earlier. The Bulls will have had 2 days off since Philadelphia. The Spurs blew out the Kings, Blazers and Suns by 15, 22 and 26, so fatigue hasn't shown up yet. A 4th road game on short rest is still the kind of night when a 1-8 team at home hangs around for 3 quarters.
The Vassell and Powell updates are the news to watch before 7:00 PM CT. If Vassell's back, the Spurs have their full rotation minus Harris against a team that hasn't stopped anyone. If he isn't, Harper and Fox handle the ball again. If Powell sits, Chicago loses its top scorer on a night it will need every point. The Bulls' path is narrow: hold their own on the glass, let Giddey set the pace, and hope the trip catches up with San Antonio.
