Sunday brought about another Chicago Bulls loss, but the 118-109 defeat at the hands of the Brooklyn Nets followed a different script than previous letdowns.
The Bulls followed a rare promising start with a major collapse, representing the most disappointing loss of the year.
Alternate Route, Same Destination
Throughout the season, early deficits have led to tense fourth quarters with the Bulls needing furious rallies to stay in the game.
But on Sunday, Chicago came out firing on all cylinders as Coby White converted on three of six attempts from beyond the arc in the opening frame. An even bigger surprise, Patrick Williams shot 4-4 from the floor, including 3 three-pointers of his own.
With a 38-19 lead after the first quarter, the Bulls had a prime opportunity to convincingly win a game and possibly turn a corner on the year.
But that scenario didn’t play out as the Bulls cooled off and managed just 19 points in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Nets shot 11-16 from downtown in the second quarter to build a 63-55 lead at halftime.
The Nets didn’t look back and the Bulls reverted to their typical bad habits of miscommunication on defense and poor, desperation-fueled shot attempts.
Chicago’s collapse in the scoring was so bad the Bulls became the second team since 1996-97 to lead by 20+ points in the first quarter then trail by 10+ points at any point in the second quarter.
Checked Out
Sunday’s loss brings the Bulls’ leadership question. With top defender and primary communicator Alex Caruso sidelined, Chicago’s defense was disoriented and vulnerable. No other player stepped up or took charge vocally.
Looking at the roster, the vocal leader should be Zach LaVine, who’s signed to a max contract. LaVine’s agency, Klutch Sports Group, has already hinted at getting the star out of Chicago by having him remove “Bulls Nation” from his social media profiles. Since then, the Bulls are 1-6.
LaVine does enough offensively to score 20+ points night in and night out. But there are multiple instances on defense where LaVine is entirely absent from the play. It typically happens on help defense when Nikola Vucevic has to rotate, leaving LaVine protecting the paint. Repeated instances enable a lackadaisical defensive identity, which spills over into offense.
What’s On Tap Next?
It doesn’t get any easier for the Bulls, who will complete a four-game road trip on Wednesday when they visit the East-leading Boston Celtics. The NBA In-Season Tournament game will tip off at 6:30 PM CT and air on NBC Sports Chicago
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