Josh Giddey Says His Lack Of Defense Is Keeping Him Off The Floor

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan hasn’t had Josh Giddey in his closing lineup over the last week. Giddey knows that it’s his defense that’s keeping him off the floor.

“It was horrible from start to finish,” Giddey said of his play. “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. I don’t even blame it on the fouls. It was part of it, but everything else was just as bad. I wouldn’t have played myself if I was Billy. I was bad on both sides of the ball.”

Giddey felt he had been improving defensively, but recognizes he’s taken a step back.

“It pisses me off to be on that side of the ball and be like that,” Giddey said. “I thought I was making steps in the right direction. To have a night like I did tonight kind of kills your confidence.”

However, Donovan said he’s still “got confidence” in Giddey. The Bulls coach said to expect to see the young wing back in closing lineups eventually.