Vucevic Blasts Bulls' 'Soft' Defense After Wizards Win

Chicago eked out a 121-120 win over the Wizards, but Nikola Vučević scolded the locker room afterward — "For three quarters or whatever, we were very soft," and "We just didn't play up to NBA standards." The Bulls surrendered 41 points in the first quarter to a 1-15 team, exposing a defense that ranks 20th (116.6). Vučević's 28 points and 12 rebounds kept Chicago afloat; they're 9-7 but fragile when effort slips. Merlin sees a veteran center wearing the conscience of this team. Vučević can swing games with offense and leadership, and his frustration hints at a coachable group: defense is a habit, not luck. If the Bulls convert that ire into attention to detail—rotations, communication, rebounding—they become a real Eastern threat. The season still bends toward those who defend.