NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bulls looked like they might do it.
Despite many blunders to start the year, the Bulls have played surprisingly well against some of the more well-respected teams in the NBA. And the 1st quarter of tonight’s game was no exception. Billy Donovan’s decision to replace Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams in the starring lineup with Alex Caruso and Javonte Green seemed to light a spark. Not only was the team flying around the defensive end and staying in front of a Warriors team that was beautifully moving the basketball, but they were also playing aggressively on the offensive end.
They found themselves in the bonus with over half of the quarter remaining, and they used this downhill attack to leave the opening frame down just two points. Then, after letting the Warriors go on a brief run to start the second quarter, the Bulls were able to lock back in and go on a 9-0 run to bring the game within striking distance. They looked prime to enter halftime in the thick of a one or two-possession game … but then the Bulls did some classing Bullsing.
This team is truly elite at shooting itself in the foot. A 3-point game with under a minute left in the 1st half turned into an 11-point lead for the Warriors in a flash. The Bulls fouled Curry on a 4-point play, fouled Looney on the next possession, and didn’t secure a rebound that led to a DiVincenzo 3 after that. It was just a brutal close to the half that ultimately bled into the start of the 2nd half.
Golden State went on to lead by as much as 19 in the 3rd quarter thanks to the Bulls inability to keep up with their timely shotmaking from downtown. But then the Bulls proceeded to do another textbook Bulls thing … they played really freakin’ hard.
With the game seeming completely out of reach, Chicago began to finally hit some big shots. Before we knew it, the Bulls were forcing turnovers, Goran Dragic was hitting some key buckets, and Zach LaVine was sinking a 3-pointer with 2:27 left to go to cut the Golden State lead down to just one point.
The momentum may have been entirely on Chicago’s side, but the odds still weren’t. We all know the Bulls have been one of the worst clutch teams in the league this season, so it came as no surprise to see the defending champs simply out execute them in the final two minutes. LaVine’s 3 was followed by a freakin’ Draymond Green make from downtown, which was proceeded by a trip to the line and midrange bucket by Klay Thompson. All in all, the Warriors were able to close it out with relative ease, sending the Bulls to Sacramento with a 9-13 record.
Similar to losing to the Phoeinx Suns, there is little shame to dropping a game on the road to the Warriors. Where the shame does set in, however, is when we consider that this was yet another performance where the Bulls had to fall behind by nearly 20 points to play their best basketball. Not to mention, they were outscored 60-27 behind the 3-point line. Yeah … you just aren’t going to win many games when that’s the case.
So am I encouraged the final score isn’t a complete eyesore? Eh, I guess a little. But the Bulls are supposed to be well past the stage of celebrating close loses.
Check out the full box score here.
