NEWSLETTER
Any momentum gained from the Bulls first home victory on Thursday didn’t make the 190 mile trip from the United Center to the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Indeed, despite the Pacers missing Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, and Myles Turner, the Bulls dropped their fifth game of the season, 108-95.
It’s hard to pinpoint any new problems for Chicago. The team still couldn’t rebound, shoot the three, or keep up on defense. And this, as I tweeted, might very well take the cake:
This might very well take the cake.
No Turner or Sabonis and the Bulls were still out-rebounded and didn’t win the points in the paint battle.
Also went 14-25 from FT line. https://t.co/zgyB6GaD91
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 4, 2019
I was in attendance for tonight’s game, and the only thing that stood out to me more than that was just how out-of-sync this team appears to be. Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter both had noticeable moments of frustration. And nothing feels more telling for how the night (or season) has gone than typing “Ryan Arcidiacono fouled out, and then immediately received a technical.”
Wendell Carter Jr. looked to be the only Bull playing with a sense of urgency, as he posted his third-consecutive impressive game with 20 points (9-10 FG) and 10 rebounds. Hey, at least that’s positive!
The Bulls just aren’t on the same page though. Heck they may not even be reading the same book. From coaching to execution, it all remains a problem.
Asked Thad Young what this team’s identity can be and why it’s not established yet: “I think we can be a tough, hard-nosed team. We need to come out ready to basically get on some guys’ (backside). That’s not what we’re doing.”
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 4, 2019
The lack of any identity is glaring. And the questions are endless …
Unfortunately, the answers are nowhere to be found. I mean, just listen to Zach LaVine:
Zach LaVine on the loss: pic.twitter.com/tQhxUlqSKZ
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 4, 2019
At least he sounds fed up, I guess.
The Bulls schedule only gets harder from here, with the Lakers, Rockets and Bucks all around the corner. Maybe – oddly enough – an even greater opponent will force them to rise to the occasion (I’m just thinking of any way to be hopeful).
Until next time …
