NEWSLETTER
All right – words to say before we can all get back to some college football.
The Chicago Bulls dropped to 3-7 on the season tonight after getting blown out of the United Center in a 117-94 loss to the Houston Rockets.
We can’t pretend like we’re too surprised here, but it would have been nice to at least see a consistent competitive effort. While both teams played some ugly basketball in the first half, the Bulls were still able to hang around and dominate in the paint. Chicago started the game with a 24-2 advantage inside and put on a dunk show.
https://twitter.com/BN_Bulls/status/1193341271470956544?s=20
https://twitter.com/BN_Bulls/status/1193350944240668672?s=20
However, with the Bulls shooting bricks behind the arc, it was only a matter of time before James Harden and company pulled away. After entering the half up only one at 50-49, Houston came out and outscored the Bulls 36-18 in the third quarter.
Hey, look at on the bright side, at least the Bulls didn’t rope us into any 4th quarter disappointment! Ha. Ha. *sheds single tear*
James Harden finished the game with nine three-pointers and 42 points. So, you know, typical Harden stuff.
As for typical Bulls stuff, the team struggled from behind the arc, going 4-32.
Rockets 117, Bulls 94
Rockets outscored Bulls 57-12 from 3-point land.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 10, 2019
Not great.
Also, let me know if you’ve heard this before, but the lone positive for the Bulls: Wendell Carter Jr. The big man continued his great start to the season with 13 points and 16 rebounds (career-high). After only posting seven total double-doubles last season, Carter Jr.’s performance tonight was his sixth in 10 games. The guy continues to be the only Bull to show up night in and night out.
Wendell says he doesn't care about his stats when the Bulls lose.
But if you do, here they are. pic.twitter.com/JImilmg9aP
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) November 10, 2019
As a team, the Bulls did have seven players in double figures and force 24 Rockets turnovers, but, eh, none of that really matters when you let the other team destroy you behind the arc.
When all is said and done, nobody expected a Bulls victory tonight, but is not getting embarrassed too much to ask though?
Plus-minus not be-all, end-all NBA stat but helps explain tonight: Harden plus-36. LaVine minus-20 and Markkanen minus-18.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 10, 2019
