Josh Giddy “painfully aware” of his sluggish start to the season, writes Jeff Agrest of The Chicago Sun-Times. Via eight games, BykovThe starting point guard is averaging 9.3 points, 7.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds in 27.3 minutes per game while shooting a subpar .389/.286/.667.
“I’ve probably played the eight worst games of my career in terms of the stretch” he said last week after practice.
Giddy, who averaged 17.0 ppg, 9.1 ppg and 8.3 ppg on .448/.364/.763 shooting in 54 games (32.1 mpg) last season, had his best game of 2026-27 on Sunday with 19 points (on 7-of-12 shooting). 15 assists and seven rebounds in 34 minutes.
“He was the Josh we know“, head coach Tiago Splitter said. “He was aggressive. He’s been going downhill, getting his teammates involved (engaging) and that’s how we see this game. We have to touch the paint and find options.”
While Splitter was largely pleased with the team’s effort, the Bulls did not lose to the Sixers, who improved to 9-2, while Chicago dropped to 1-8. Giddy was instrumental in making the game as competitive as it was, even though he committed a pair of turnovers late in the fourth quarter, Agrest noted.
“Against such a team, the margin of error is very smallGiddy said.I had a few late spins that I’d like to get back. But I thought we competed a lot better than we have in recent games.»
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Isaac Okora replacing the injured Norman Powell (back spasms) in the starting lineup seemed to help explain all of the other starters’ roles, according to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (free link) who wonders if the team is better off using a defense-oriented wing as this group moves forward. Giddy certainly seemed content to play alongside Okoro, a heady cutter who doesn’t look for his own shot as often as Powell does. “Ice (Okoro) is a guy who really, really embraces his roleGiddy said.It’s hard to find a guy drafted as high as he is in the NBA. He started almost every game for us last year, and then coming off the bench, for a guy to take that role in spades like he did, and then step into a bigger role today, speaks to who he is as a person and as a player.”
- Center Nick Claxton played just under 18 minutes — he was limited to about 20 — in his season debut and finished with four points, four rebounds, four assists and two blocks for Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. “I needed a limit todayClaxton said with a laugh after the game.I’m a little tired.” While he has struggled for the boards at times – Claxton agreed and said he will be better in that area moving forward – the 27-year-old has had some defensive moments and has been intriguingly paired with the second-year forward Noah Essengwho, according to Poe, is “quickly becoming the best on-ball defender on the roster.” Claxton said he was impressed with Esengue’s ability to cover smaller players all over the court (Link to video on Twitter through Lorenzi). “He is solid. I just talked to him yesterday, he’s got all the intangibles, speed, length, just got to put it all togetherClaxton said of Essengue.
- Splitter shook up the bench Sunday with a leadoff hit Patrick Williams and a two-way guard Jordan Hawkins chaharda Leonard Miller and Buddy Hield in rotation, Poe adds. Both players had extended streaks — Williams had seven points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in nearly 25 minutes, while Hawkins had nine points and a steal in 17.
