The Tom Thibodeau Bulls were built on their defensive identity.



Thibodeau revolutionized pick-and-roll defensive schemes across the NBA. For years, the Bulls could be counted on to try to avoid bringing help on the strong side of the ball, guard the 3-point line as if their lives depended on it, and hear a constant barrage of Thibodeau’s “ICE!” screams in their dreams.



But what is the defensive identity of the Fred Hoiberg Bulls? We’re about to find out.



Although Thibodeau departed last season, Hoiberg and his top assistant Jim Boylen opted to keep Thibs’ defensive schemes largely in place. The result wasn’t abject failure, but the Bulls did slide from 11th to 15th in defensive rating.



That scheme underwent major changes during the Bulls’ summer league showing, and those changes carried over into the Bulls’ first preseason game, a 93-91 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday...