The Chicago Bulls have enjoyed one of the most impressive starts in franchise history, reminiscent of the legendary 1996-97 championship season that began 12-0. This year’s quick start follows a successful end to last season after the Zach LaVine trade deadline deal, when the team began focusing on pace, ball movement, and aggressive defense. The current roster has transformed under Donovan’s leadership, with depth and balanced scoring emerging as key factors in their success.
What makes this team particularly interesting heading into their first back-to-back games of the season is the balance they’ve achieved across their roster. Josh Giddey has been phenomenal early on, already recording two triple-doubles while becoming the second Bull since Michael Jordan 36 years ago to post consecutive triple-doubles. In Tuesday night’s miraculous 113-111 comeback win over the 76ers, Giddey posted his second consecutive triple-double with 29 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. Jordan achieved this during the 1988-89 season.
Nikola Vučević has become a crucial anchor in the middle, consistently providing double-doubles and maintaining the tempo of the offense. The bench scoring has been exceptional as well, averaging 48 points in early games, which ranks fourth-best in franchise history since the 2005-06 season. Players like Matas Buzelis, who came in as a young prospect to potentially replace LaVine’s scoring punch, and Ayo Dosunmu have stepped up significantly when called upon.
The primary challenge for Donovan in managing these next two games involves strategically rotating players to maintain freshness without sacrificing the aggressive defensive intensity that has defined this team’s early success. The Bulls currently rank 11th in the NBA in defensive rating and have made a point of contesting three-pointers aggressively while maintaining the pace that wears down opponents as the game progresses. Against quality opponents like the Bucks and Cavaliers, this aggressive approach cannot be abandoned, yet it also demands significant energy expenditure.
Donovan has already shown a willingness to embrace unconventional roster decisions based on what he calls his gut instinct when managing rotations. Donovan explained his philosophy to the media, You have to do that from a certain standpoint. A lot of it is when you have veteran players with substantial experience, there’s a reliability that comes from having been in those situations frequently.
Unlike teams with traditional superstars where certain players have guaranteed minutes and roles, the Bulls allow Donovan flexibility to adjust based on performance and matchups. Eight players reached double figures in scoring during one recent victory against the Hawks, and this depth weapon becomes invaluable during back-to-back scenarios. Rather than running certain stars into the ground, Donovan can afford to limit any single player’s minutes by leaning on the next capable scorer off the bench.
With ‘brotherhood’ and depth, the Bulls continue to surprise with their approach this season. The key to maintaining competitiveness through these next two games involves limiting starter minutes while preserving team chemistry and execution. Against Milwaukee on Friday night, a potential strategy could involve bringing starters off the bench earlier than usual when the Bulls build a sufficient lead, allowing Donovan to test his rotations and give key players meaningful rest before the Cleveland matchup. Nikola Vučević, now enjoying a career revival at 35 years old, could have his minutes reduced while players like Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams see additional opportunities to develop rhythm and chemistry in their roles.
The Bucks matchup presents particular importance beyond just maintaining a winning record. As part of the NBA Cup group stage, this victory counts toward both regular season standings and potential in-season tournament advancement, adding stakes to the game despite it occurring early in November. Donovan will need to emphasize the defensive fundamentals that have made Chicago successful while trusting his bench to provide sufficient scoring punch to limit the workload on starters.
Looking toward the Cleveland game on Saturday, Donovan should consider implementing a similar strategic approach. Rather than asking Giddey and Vučević to carry massive workloads in consecutive nights, the coach can distribute responsibilities across the roster. The Cavaliers, sitting at a respectable 5-3 record themselves, will present challenges, but the Bulls’ defensive identity should hold even with slightly reduced effort from the starting unit if the bench continues performing at the level it has shown early this season.
Rest and recovery protocols become essential between these games. Donovan can utilize practice time, if available, to focus on specific adjustments rather than conditioning, allowing players to recover physically. Emphasis on shooting mechanics and spacing rather than high-intensity drills keeps players sharp mentally while preserving energy for the back-to-back contests.
Here’s the thing, folks: The bench depth that has emerged as the Bulls’ secret weapon becomes the crucial factor in maintaining divisional lead during this back-to-back stretch. With so many players capable of scoring in double figures, Donovan has unprecedented flexibility to protect his starters while maintaining competitive intensity. The team’s ball movement indicates that scoring comes through spacing and teamwork rather than isolation dependent on one or two stars. This team concept becomes especially valuable when managing fatigue across consecutive games.
With that… Billy Donovan’s challenge this weekend involves embracing the philosophy that has worked all season: trusting the depth, leaning into aggressive team defense, and adjusting rotations based on performance rather than tradition. The Bulls have proven over seven games that they’re not a one-star team requiring superstar performances every night. By distributing minutes and maintaining that balanced approach through both the Bucks and Cavaliers games, Donovan can preserve his team’s freshness while holding their division lead and sending a message about the legitimacy of this early-season resurgence.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!