Tiago Splitter thinks Isaac Okoro is the best perimeter defender on the Chicago Bulls roster. During Bulls Media Day, the coach made it clear that the seventh year small forward and shooting guard will see plenty of action. I love this. We do not need more flashy scorers who forget to play defense; we need the guy who actually wants to win.
The focus on Isaac Okoro
The coach is not just giving a polite nod to Okoro. According to Yahoo Sports, Splitter said, “(Okoro is) probably our best perimeter defender, so he’s definitely gonna play a lot of minutes for us.” He also added, “He’s gonna help us win basketball games.” That is the kind of blunt truth I live for. It does not matter if you are a big name like Buddy Hield or Norman Powell. If you cannot stop anyone, you are not playing much time under this new regime.
Okoro brings a specific kind of toughness to the court. Per Tiago Splitter, the 6-foot-4, 225 pound player is known for being “relentless, strong and bulky.” He uses that heavy frame to move through screens and disrupt plays. In a league full of players looking for highlights, having a guy who focuses on the dirty work is a breath of fresh air.
A much taller Bulls defense
The Bulls are changing how they guard the rim this year. The roster has seen some shifts, including the addition of long-range shooter Buddy Hield from the Charlotte Hornets. While the shooting is great, the real story is the size. Matas Buzelis noted during Media Day that having more height in the frontcourt helps the whole unit. According to reports, Buzelis noted that placing Claxton at center and adding frontcourt size has enabled the Bulls’ remaining defenders to play much more aggressively.
Buzelis even highlighted the length of the current rotation. “Clax, Caleb, Lenny, we’re a really tall team,” Buzelis said, according to reports. This extra height should help erase mistakes. When you have players like Caleb Wilson and Claxton to block shots, the perimeter defenders can take more risks. It is a much better way to play the game.
The Bulls start training camp on Thursday, Oct. 1, with their first preseason game against Phoenix coming up on Oct. 7. We might not be the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, but the foundation is being built on grit.
