Zach Lowe's 'Monday Musings' . . Defensive guru Tom Thibodeau has the Bulls defending wonderfully. They are allowing only 102.7 points per 100 possessions, a mark that ranks sixth and would have topped the league last season. The stat-tracking service Synergy Sports has the Bulls ranked as the second-stingiest team defending pick-and-rolls where the ball-handler finishes the play, and Chicago ranks at or above the league average in every situation other than defending fast breaks. The Bulls are also forcing more turnovers and fouling a bit more — both expected effects of Thibodeau’s system. Overall, a nice little read