The Chicago Bulls just had a nine-game winning streak snapped against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Despite the loss, the Bulls are still in first place in the Eastern Conference with a 26-11 record, which is two games clear of the second-place Brooklyn Nets. The vibes are good in The Windy City.

Mostly.

While the Bulls are having an incredible season, one concern has cropped up of late, even throughout that nine-game winning streak. That concern is a defense that has slipped in a noticeable way since the start of the season when Chicago was playing at a top-five level on that end of the court.

Over the last 10 games, the Bulls boast the best offense in the league, per NBA.com. The defense, on the other hand, ranks down at No. 20. On the season, Chicago is fifth in offense and 13th in defense, which is a bit more in line with expectations from before the season.

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On the latest episode of Blue Wire's Cash Considerations podcast, discussion centered around the Bulls' slipping defense and if there's any legitimate concern moving forward as they try to contend for a championship. While there are some red flags here, especially with the personnel, there's some good news: the impending return of Alex Caruso and then Javonte Green down the line should help turn things around.

Caruso has been playing defense at an All-Defensive Team level this season, while Green isn't too shabby in his own right. Their energy is infectious and often helps set the tone on that end. Caruso has been out for a while, though, which has hurt the defense. Green's current absence and a recent Lonzo Ball absence also haven't helped matters.

There's a good chance the Bulls look to make roster upgrades at some point this season, which could help mitigate the defensive weaknesses. This Cash Considerations episode talks about the possibility of trading for a defensive ace like Jerami Grant, or perhaps there's another move out there for a big wing who can defend and help slow down superstar players.

Listen to the full Cash Considerations episode here:

Cash Considerations: A Chicago Bulls Podcast is part of the Blue Wire Podcast Network. The pod can be found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts.