Josh Giddey gives Bulls' offense a lift by going downhill

Bulls point guard Josh Giddey is painfilly aware of his slow start to the season. His shooting percentage and scoring average are well below where he finished last season, and he said he still was trying to figure out how to be effective in the offense.

“I’ve probably played the worst eight games that I’ve played in my career, in terms of the stretch,” he said last week after practice.

If that’s the case, then he snapped that skid Sunday, scoring 19 points and handing out 15 assists in the Bulls’ 127-121 loss to the 76ers. The assists marked a season high and were four short of his career high.

Giddey said last week that the Bulls needed to start faster and he needed to play more downhill, rather than laterally. Both happened against a Sixers team that entered the game fourth in the NBA in defensive efficiency.

“He was the Josh that we know,” coach Tiago Splitter said. “He was aggressive. He was driving downhill, getting teammates [involved], and that’s how we see this game. We got to touch the paint and find options out there.”

Touching the paint is crucial for the Bulls’ offense. Giddey said the their points per possession is much higher when they get in the lane. Of course, it also helps when they make shots. The Bulls shot a season-high 52.3% from the field, their first game over 50% this season.

“Guys made shots, and they make my job easy,” Giddey said. “It doesn’t just have to be me. We look really good when we hit the paint. It’s just a matter of continuing to do that and not settle for contested stuff early. That’s where we can get in trouble.”

The Bulls appeared to be in trouble before the game when they learned that guard Norman Powell, their second-leading scorer, had developed back spasms in the morning and would be unavailable. That put defensive specialist Isaac Okoro in the lineup, and he delivered on offense, as well, scoring 12 points.

“Naturally, we have a better defensive team with Isaac in there,” Splitter said. “He did a good job offensively, as well, driving, cutting, back doors, and-ones.”

Matas Buzelis had 19 points, Caleb Wilson 18 and Jalen Smith 17 to round out the starters. Noa Essengue had 10 points off the bench.

It started with Giddey, who set the tone on the Bulls’ first possession by driving and feeding Okoro for a layup. He drove for his own layups, as well, including one on a Euro step. He later dished to Smith for a layup.

Giddey had seven assists in the first six minutes, and the Bulls had 13 field goals in the first quarter, their most this season.

But the game also ended with Giddey, who committed two turnovers down the stretch. He made up for one by setting up Wilson for a three-pointer that cut the Sixers’ lead to 116-113. He made another later with the Bulls down five. Giddey had five turnovers for the game.

“Against a team like that, the margin for error is so small,” he said. “I had a couple turnovers late that I would’ve wanted back. But I thought we competed a lot better than we have the last few games.”

Indeed they did. Thought there are no moral victories in the NBA, against a Sixers team that entered with an Eastern Conference-leading 8-2 record, the Bulls can take some solace in defeat.

“We stepped up,” Splitter said. “Our guys competed for the most part. At the end of the day, the game is decided on the boards. They got 20 offensive boards. We did a lot of good things. Played the way we want to play. It wasn’t enough. That’s a very good team.”

And another one is coming to town Wednesday, when the 8-2 Spurs visit. The Bulls’ season-opening gauntlet continues.