Prior to the start of the season, many people pegged the Chicago Bulls to be one of the better teams in the league. No one, however, expected them to be a defensive powerhouse early in the season. A huge part of their success was Alex Caruso, one of their major acquisitions of the off-season.
Caruso burst into the league as a meme player; the type of player that NBA Twitter loves to reference. He was a fan-favorite not because of his game, but because he didn't look like an NBA player. However, fans quickly realized that there was more to Caruso that just your average meme player.
During his stint in the Lakers, Caruso carved out a role as a defensive dynamo and solid off-ball threat. His intense defense on and off the ball was a key factor in the Lakers' 2020 championship run. During his time there, he also developed his point guard abilities, showcasing his athleticism and playmaking at times. All of these factors made it so much more surprising when the Lakers let him walk to the Bulls last off-season.
Alex Caruso's first game a stern reminder he's the true x-factor for Bulls title run
The Bulls immediately proved why grabbing Caruso from the Lakers was a massive steal for them. As a sixth man behind another former LA guy in Lonzo Ball, AC shone as a dynamic sixth man who can give an immediate impact on both sides of the ball. His presence also allowed the Bulls to run smaller lineups with Ball and Caruso to harass their opponents.
During the first two months of the season, the Bulls ranked seventh in the league in Defensive Rating, a measure of points scored by a team's opponent per 100 possessions. Injuries have plummeted their rating since then, but it was a small glimpse into their true potential on that side of the ball.
And then, tragedy stuck. During the Bulls' first game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Caruso took a hard fall after a controversial contest by Grayson Allen. The guard landed awkwardly on his hands, fracturing his wrist. As a result, Caruso had to miss a significant chunk of games.
So, how has Caruso' injury impacted the Bulls' defense? Well, since his injury on January 22, the Bulls have ranked 27th in the league in Defensive Rating, going from allowing 105 points per 100 possessions to 116.2. Other injuries have obviously hurt the Bulls too, but it became clear that if the Bulls wanted to contend seriously, they'd need Caruso back.
Alex Caruso's first game back from injury all but proved that theory. In his 2022 debut against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls guard had a rather standard box score for his standards: 11 points, 4 assists, 4 steals (!!!) and 1 rebound. However, as most Caruso fans know by now, his impact cannot be easily seen in the box score.
For the first time since Caruso's injury, the Bulls were able to hold their opponents to less than 100 points in a game. Holding any offense in today's NBA to below 100 points is a major win, and usually bodes well for a team's chances. It's no coincidence that Chicago's first sub-100 game since January 22 came during Caruso's debut.
The Bulls have a bevy of talented defenders in their roster even without Caruso: Ayo Dosunmu, Javonte Green, and Tristan Thompson are core members of their defensive lineup. However, Caruso clearly brings a leadership role to the team in terms of defense, perhaps owing to his time with the Lakers. With him leading the point-of-attack defense, the whole crew runs smoothly on that side of the ball, making things easier for their stars.
Alex Caruso's intangibles and his tenacity on defense make him the Bulls' biggest X-Factor coming into their title run. If he's on the team, they will always have a fighting chance of winning any playoff game.
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