Well, this is fun!! The Chicago Bulls move to 5-0 on the young NBA season after a 135-125 victory over the New York Knicks. It is not that the Bulls are winning games, it is how this team answers the challenge every matchup so far. The first three wins of the season were against teams that not only have playoff aspirations but believe they can maybe make a run in the Eastern Conference (Detroit, Orlando and Atlanta). The Bulls took care of the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday at the United Center, and then beat a team that has finals aspirations in the first game of the NBA Cup.

How do they do it?

The streets are calling it “Billy Ball,” but it honestly just looks like good team basketball to me. The ball is never stagnant in a player's hand, and if someone does not have the ball, they are moving without it to set up the next pass or score.

You never know who is going to beat you on a given night, and on Friday it was Josh Giddey, who posted his first 30-point game with the Bulls and poured in 10 rebounds and 8 assists as well. The other night against the Kings, it was the potential future franchise player Matas Buzelis who scored 27 points in a variety of ways and made it look easy against former Bulls DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. Another factor contributing to this hot start is their new identity on the defensive side of the ball.

The Defense

According to ESPN, entering action on Saturday, the Bulls are third in defensive efficiency and sixth in opponent points per game. This helps the Bulls set up their offense, where they are ranked second in assists per game at 30.5, only behind the Denver Nuggets. Opponents are shooting a grizzly 25.6% from 3-point land, which is No. 1 in the league by almost 5%. Now, I stated it in my expectations article earlier that this team is going to be fun and win some games. I am not expecting a title, but this is something the Bulls can legitimately build on. I do not expect teams to shoot that porous against us all season, but if that number remains in the high 20s or low 30s, then this team has a chance to be a top-five seed in a wide open Eastern Conference.

Did I mention assists?

Yeah, I said it earlier, the Bulls are second in the league in assists per game. The combination of Giddey, Tre Jones and Nikola Vucevic operating at all different points of the floor has really kept all scoring lanes open for anyone to set up for a 3-point shot or a back-door cut to the basket. Giddey is averaging 7.8 assists per game, Jones is chipping in with 7.5 assists. Vucevic gets to operate in the high post and has always been an underrated passing big man, but now gets to shine in this new Bulls offense.

I do not know if this is sustainable, and I am keeping my expectations tempered, but man! This is so much fun to watch, and I am going to enjoy every Bulls game this season. Coby White andZach Collins still have to get back on the floor and gel with their teammates too. The Bulls are about to face some teams that will be not only in the playoff hunt but title aspirations as well. The next game for the Bulls is Sunday in New York against these same Knicks. I am curious to see how this team responds!