5 Early Signs That the Chicago Bulls Can Be the Best Defensive NBA Team

It goes without saying that the key to the Chicago Bulls' success last season was their team defense.

Derrick Rose had an MVP season and took the step to elite status offensively, but the primary reason for the Bulls launch into title contention was their focus on team defense. 

Last season, under the tutelage of the defensive-minded head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Bulls went from 10th in the league (102.6) in Team Defensive Efficiency (the number of points a team allows per 100 possessions) all the way to first.

The difference in efficiency from 102.6 to the league-best 97.4 shows clearly the difference a team committed to defense could make. 

The real question becomes: Can the Bulls continue their defensive success in 2011-12, or was it merely a year-long fluke?

In my mind, they absolutely can repeat this feat and in my estimation is that they will repeat as the NBA's best defensive team this season. 

Despite Early Struggles, Bulls Still Rank Among the Best in the League

There is no doubt that the Chicago Bulls defense has been less than stellar in their first three games of the 2011-12 season. 

Granted, they have faced some of the better offensive teams in the league, including Monta Ellis and the upstart Golden State Warriors. 

While not an excuse, the Bulls definitely have to put together better defensive efforts if they want to reach the NBA's best record.  Despite the less than desirable start defensively, the Bulls still rank 18th league with a Defensive Efficiency of 101.6. 

Frankly, I do not think they can play any worse defensively then they have.

The team is not built to remain as mediocre as they have been. What this tells me is that even playing at their worst, the Bulls remain an above-average defensive team.

I cannot imagine that when they do start playing to their full potential, that they do not vault back to the top of the league defensively.  

Richard Hamilton Is a Better Defender Than Keith Bogans

The acquisition of Richard "Rip" Hamilton has numerous offensive implications and, despite some early struggles, Hamilton finally seems to be integrating into the Chicago Bulls' offense. 

Where the Rip acquisition really helps the Bulls is on the defensive end. 

While Hamilton is not a great defender, he is an upgrade over last year's starter Keith Bogans. Bogans is no doubt a capable defender. However, over their careers, Hamilton has proven statistically to be the superior defender. 

Rip holds a career number of 1.6 Defensive Win Shares per year, while Bogans comes in at 1.5.

This is not a huge discrepancy, but shows that Hamilton is indeed an upgrade. Hamilton also has more size and length, which helps him against some of the larger guards in the NBA.

Jimmy Butler Is Another Defensive Weapon off the Bench

Chicago Bulls' rookie Jimmy Butler has not seen floor time yet in 2011-12, but once he does, Bulls fans will see Butler is more than a capable defender; He is a good one. 

Butler has great length at 6’7”, which will allow him to guard some of the bigger wing players in the league. Butler also possesses decent speed allowing him to take on small, faster guards as well. 

The biggest difference is Butler proves a significant upgrade to Kyle Korver. Korver had a career best 2.4 Defensive Win Shares last year, but has struggled guarding swingmen that are more athletic. Butler will not have similar struggles. 

Once Butler gets himself into the Bulls rotation, we will see increased defensive efficiency out of the small forward position off the bench. 

Luol Deng Is Proving Last Year Wasn't a Fluke

Luol Deng completely reinvented himself last season. Always an above-average player, Deng shot himself up the ladder and became a potential NBA star.  Always a capable defender, Deng became one of the league's best last year under first-year head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Deng's 5.2 Defensive Win Share was near the top of the NBA—even more impressive since most nights Deng matched up with the opponent’s best offensive weapon. 

We are seeing early on in 2011-12 that last year was not a fluke: Deng continues to look like one of the better defenders in the league. 

Deng showed the type of defensive presence he can have on the Christmas Day game against the Los Angeles Lakers. He had two key defensive plays down the stretch, including the block of Kobe Bryant's game-winning shot attempt.

Tom Thibodeau Is Still the Chicago Bulls Head Coach

Tom Thibodeau is still the Chicago Bulls' head coach. That is obvious.

What I mean by that, though, is Thibodeau teams simply do not struggle defensively. In fact, they are usually some of the best defensive teams in the league. 

Last year, the Bulls ranked first in the NBA in Team Defensive Efficiency: This is not new ground for Thibodeau. In the previous three years, the Boston Celtics (where Thibodeau was associate head coach), ranked fifth, second and first respectively in defensive efficiency.

In 2006-07 as a member of Jeff Van Gundy's staff, the Houston Rockets were fourth in the league in Team Defensive Efficiency. 

Plain and simple: Thibodeau coached teams are elite defensive teams.

With most of the key defensive players returning and the additions of Hamilton and Butler, there is no reason why the Chicago Bulls will not remain the NBA's best defensive team.