Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has made a noticeable shift in his late-game rotations, leaving Josh Giddey on the bench during crucial moments in recent games. The reasoning behind this decision appears tied to Giddey’s defensive challenges, a fact the young player has been quick to acknowledge.
“It was horrible from start to finish,” Giddey said about a recent performance. “I think defensively it was just – and I’m talking about me – it was a mess from the jump. They put me in action, I have to be way better, whether it’s coverage or sitting down and guarding somebody.”
Giddey was particularly hard on himself, admitting he wouldn’t have trusted his own performance. “I don’t even blame it on the fouls. It was part of it, but everything else was just as bad,” he stated. “I wouldn’t have played myself if I was Billy. I was bad on both sides of the ball.”
What makes Giddey’s frustrations more acute is his belief that he had been improving on defense prior to this slump. “It pisses me off to be on that side of the ball and be like that,” he confessed. “I thought I was making steps in the right direction. To have a night like I did tonight kind of kills your confidence.”
Despite Giddey’s self-criticism, Donovan has maintained his faith in the young wing. “I’ve still got confidence in him,” Donovan said. He also reassured that Giddey will have opportunities to return to closing lineups, stating, “Expect to see him back in those moments eventually.”
Giddey’s acknowledgment of his shortcomings and Donovan’s backing set the stage for potential growth as he works to tighten his defense and regain his role in the team’s critical moments.
Josh Giddey Says His Lack Of Defense Is Keeping Him Off The Floor https://t.co/qhXSG7rvgI
— RealGM (@RealGM) November 16, 2024
