NEWSLETTER
One step forward. Two steps back.
The Bulls showed signs of life with two-straight victories for the first time this season earlier this week (Grizzlies, Kings). Then, with the 4-19 Warriors coming to town, the Bulls heart rate fell flat again. Beeeeeep! CLEAR!
Annoyingly – and of course – the Bulls looked competent throughout most of the game. Lauri Markkanen posted another 20 points performance, Zach LaVine hit his stride in the third quarter, Coby White tallied 14 points off the bench, and Wendell Carter Jr. hauled down 12 rebounds. All good things, but it just wasn’t enough.
The Bulls let the Warriors shoot 53.5 percent from the field, and this time let Glenn Robinson III take it to them with 20 points and 7 rebounds. Still, despite the Warriors making their shots, this is a game the Bulls had to have. Golden State is still carrying one of the worst records in the league and dropped four-straight against some weak opponents heading into this game.
The Warriors last six games:
-Beat the Bulls 104-90
-Lose to Heat 122-105
-Lose to Magic 100-96
-Lose to Hawks 104-79
-Lose to Hornets 106-91
-Beat the Bulls 100-98Good work, team.
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 7, 2019
Not a good look for the Bulls.
The momentum certainly shifted when Denzel Valentine got ejected with 7:50 to go in the game. He got his second technical of the night from yapping on the bench. The Bulls went on to score only 6 more points in that half, compared to the Warriors 12.
Down two, Zach LaVine rejected the Carter screen and went for the win on a 3. Bulls lose to Warriors, two of their five wins on the season now against the Bulls. pic.twitter.com/Rjx2h9j2UE
— Stephen Noh (@StephNoh) December 7, 2019
As you can see, the Bulls did have a chance – indeed, they had the ball in the hands of their best scorer with plenty of time on the clock – but LaVine couldn’t sink it and that was that.
I would’ve preferred LaVine drive to the hoop and use the ball screen drawn up for him (OT at home is a fine situation), but he’s also been one of the hottest 3-point shooters in the league over his last six games, so I can’t complain too much. I will say though, if he wanted to go for the game-winner, it would’ve been a lot better to draw something up for the final look instead of relying on iso-ball.
Anyway, here’s LaVine’s thought-process/explanation if you’re interested:
LaVine's explanation on the final possession: pic.twitter.com/507Yx8atge
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) December 7, 2019
The Bulls may have been able to close out a couple of games in the 4th quarter this week, but tonight reminded all of us late-game execution isn’t this team’s specialty. The Athletic’s Stephen Noh shared a couple of the Bulls’ final possessions, and let’s just say they aren’t too great.
The Bulls blew this one. They could only manage 15 points in the 4Q against the no. 26 defense in the league.
Aside from one aggressive LaVine drive, the possessions inside the last 3 min were pretty bleh. Poor late game execution has been a staple under the Boylen era. pic.twitter.com/kkUAHUDs3R
— Stephen Noh (@StephNoh) December 7, 2019
Bulls lose to a bad team. Again.
