One game after beating the Dallas Mavericks for – arguably – the team’s most impressive win of the season, the Chicago Bulls lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Honestly, I expected nothing less.
The Bulls have failed to carry momentum from one game to another all season long, and are now 3-18 following wins this season.
To give credit where it’s due, the Timberwolves had a pretty impressive shooting performance tonight. As a team, they shot 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from behind the arc. The scoring attack was incredibly well balanced with six of their players finding themselves in double figures, including a 24-point performance for Malik Beasley, who led the team.
However, with 26 points off the bench, Coby White actually scored the game-high in points, marking his 5th performance in the last six games with 20+ points on the board. The rookie also dished out six assists and continued to flash some solid progress on the defensive end.
Why should you be so excited about Coby White?
Let me show you: https://t.co/IUNT7VhdPp
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) March 5, 2020
Coby White has his 8th game of 25+ points this season, only Ja Morant (9) has more among rookies.
— Jeff Mangurten (@JeffGurt) March 5, 2020
Unfortunately, the rest of the team couldn’t say the same.
Otto Porter followed his 18-point performance on Monday with a 2-point dud (1-8 from the field), while Wendell Carter Jr. failed to really make his presence felt with only 6 points (he did have 9 rebounds though, which is solid).
The Bulls also had Lauri Markkanen (13pts, 4reb) to help out tonight, and though he did have a couple of positive moments attacking the rim, I certainly wouldn’t label him a “difference-maker” at this point. Although, with this being his first game since January 22nd, we can cut him a little more slack.
Overall, the Bulls offense just couldn’t keep up, and the defensive effort just didn’t feel as “gritty” as Monday night. I know Markkanen, Porter, and Carter Jr. are all still working out the kinks, but tonight showed how desperately this team needs Zach LaVine. No one on the floor felt like a legitimate threat, and as things currently stand, he and White are the only two players that can create their own shot.
Which means when White was off the floor, the Bulls just felt flat and uninspired on both ends … which is also how you can describe my attitude when watching the Bulls over the last four months.
Whatever, only 20 more games to go.