Locked On Bulls - Daily Podcast On The Chicago Bulls

Norman Powell dropped 30, Caleb Wilson made plenty of impressive plays again and we saw a wrinkle and big coaching decision by Tiago Splitter in the Chicago Bulls 133-127 loss to the New York Knicks.


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**The Chicago Bulls have now suffered back-to-back third-quarter collapses, and the conversation is shifting from young-team growing pains to whether Tiago Splitter is getting out-adjusted after halftime. 👀🐂**
On today’s episode of **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer break down Chicago’s latest ugly loss to Boston and a troubling trend that has developed over the past two games.
The Bulls were competitive for stretches against the Celtics, cutting a 16-point deficit down to four and staying within seven early in the third quarter.
Then everything fell apart.
Boston outscored Chicago **39-21 in the third quarter**, just two games after Washington won the third **40-20**. That means the Bulls have been outscored **79-41 across their last two third quarters — a 38-point difference**.
So Haize and Pat ask the uncomfortable question:
**Is Tiago Splitter already losing the halftime-adjustment battle?**
Chicago wants to play fast, pressure defensively and attack before defenses get organized. But when turnovers start piling up, that same pace can turn a manageable deficit into a blowout almost instantly.
Against Boston, the Bulls committed **nine turnovers in the third quarter alone**, leading to 17 Celtics points. Even worse, Boston made its biggest run while Jayson Tatum was on the bench.
At what point does responsibility shift from a young roster learning how to win to a coaching staff that has to stop momentum, change coverages and make better in-game adjustments?
The guys also revisit one of the Bulls’ biggest preseason talking points: **depth**.
Chicago’s bench looked like a potential strength after scoring 59 points against Milwaukee.
Then Boston’s reserves absolutely dominated.
The Celtics bench outscored Chicago **79-33**, while Boston also won the rebounding battle 54-40 and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.
Does Chicago actually have one of the deeper rosters in the East? Or does it simply have a lot of intriguing players who have not yet proven they can consistently impact winning?
**Leonard Miller, Tre Jones, Buddy Hield and Isaac Okoro** all bring useful individual skills, but who becomes the dependable scorer when the starters sit? Should Splitter start staggering his best players more aggressively? And does Bryson Graham eventually need to turn several rotation pieces into one more reliable NBA starter?
Plus, the Bulls now get an unexpected opportunity against the **defending NBA champion New York Knicks**, who have opened the season 0-3.
New York became the first defending champion since the 2011-12 Mavericks to lose its first three games, and its latest defeat included blowing a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to Orlando.
Could Chicago make the Knicks’ nightmare start even worse?
The Bulls are rebuilding and playing with far less pressure. New York is defending a championship and facing growing scrutiny with every loss.
If Chicago can use its athleticism, pace and rim pressure to attack a struggling Knicks team, could a win over the defending champs restore some confidence after blowout losses to Toronto and Boston?

The Bulls are young. Growing pains were always coming.
But there is a difference between losing competitive games and repeatedly watching games become blowouts in a matter of minutes.

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**The Chicago Bulls cannot buy a three-pointer right now, but Tiago Splitter is not backing away from his offensive philosophy. 👀🐂**
On today’s episode of **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer break down one of the biggest early-season debates surrounding Chicago: should the Bulls keep firing from three even when the shots are not falling?
Through three games, Chicago has shot **4-for-36 against Toronto, 12-for-45 against Milwaukee and 12-for-43 against Washington** from beyond the arc. Despite those struggles, Splitter continues encouraging his players to take open threes and develop the shooting necessary to punish defenses that are packing the paint.
That raises a bigger philosophical question.
**Is Tiago coaching the Bulls for October 2026, or for the team he wants them to become in 2028?**
Haize and Pat debate whether Chicago should tailor the offense to the strengths of the current roster or continue forcing young players like **Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis** to develop the skills they will need if the Bulls eventually want to contend.
Caleb’s huge game against Washington perfectly illustrates the issue. He finished with **30 points and 14 rebounds**, but still shot just **1-for-9 from three**. His athleticism and interior scoring already translate. If the jumper eventually becomes consistent, his ceiling changes dramatically.
The guys also dive into **Tiago Splitter’s tough-love approach with Matas Buzelis**.
After struggling through Chicago’s first two games, Matas was benched for the fourth quarter against Milwaukee. Instead of reacting negatively, he accepted the decision and responded against Washington with **21 points, five rebounds and 7-for-13 shooting**.
But there is another step Matas still needs to take.
Washington was comfortable hiding **Trae Young** on him defensively, and Buzelis did not consistently demand the basketball or punish the mismatch. Can Matas become an All-Star-level offensive player if he never develops that mentality of saying, **“Give me the ball. I have the advantage.”**
Plus, Haize and Pat discuss Chicago’s plan to send **Dailyn Swain** to the G League for significant developmental minutes.
Rather than leaving the No. 15 overall pick on the end of the NBA bench, Splitter wants Swain playing heavy minutes, handling the ball and making decisions at multiple positions with the Windy City Bulls.
Is that smart long-term development, or should Bulls fans be concerned that a first-round pick may not be ready to contribute immediately?
Chicago appears to be trying to turn Swain into something more valuable than a traditional wing: a **6-foot-7 defender and secondary playmaker** who can initiate offense.

The Bulls’ new regime is starting to make one thing very clear: **development will not always be comfortable.**
Chicago is willing to live with missed threes, hold one of its most important young players accountable, and send a first-round pick to the G League rather than force him into a role he may not be ready for.

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The Chicago Bulls open the 2026–27 NBA season with a 135–92 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Locked On Bulls breaks down the opener, the early lessons, and where Chicago can improve as the season gets underway.
We discuss Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and the Bulls’ young core, plus the offensive execution, defensive adjustments, and developing chemistry to watch moving forward.
It’s one game in an 82-game season, but there’s still plenty to learn. What can Chicago take from this matchup, and what adjustments would you like to see next game?
Subscribe to Locked On Bulls for your daily Chicago Bulls podcast, Bulls news, postgame reactions, and analysis. Your team. Every day.
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This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.
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Caleb Wilson had a couple positive moments but overall, it was a struggle for the Chicago Bulls in their loss to the Toronto Raptors. Matas Buzelis & Josh Giddey were non-factors, and the Bulls couldn't buy a bucket, start the season 0-1.


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KALSHI
Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next.
Gametime
Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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