Bulls vs. Rockets

11/25/21

The Bulls lost to a 1-16 Rockets team that had lost 15 games in a row leading into this one.

So what happened?

1. Complacency

The Bulls got complacent.  Bad publicity over the summer was probably the best thing to happen to them this year.  Everyone had something to prove.  DeMar was the worst signing of the offseason.  Zach couldn't win.  Vucevic was a bad trade.  The Bulls couldn't play defense. The Bulls were going to finish in the bottom third of the league.  They started the season with an edge because they all had a lot to prove.  Then, they started winning and the media stories began to change.  They proved themselves.  And then they exhaled.  And that's when other teams punched them in the gut.

2. Tired Legs

The Bulls have appeared tired mentally and physically for at least the last 3 games.  DeRozan and Lavine are both in the top 20 in the league in minutes per game and rank even higher in total minutes played on the season so this makes some sense.  They have been playing at least every other day for as long as I can remember.  It feels like one extra day of rest would do them very well.  But they won't have that until they play the Knicks December 2nd after 2 days' rest.  

3. Game Opponents

The Bulls have a target on their back now.  A bulls-eye if you will.  Teams are hungry to take them out.  Mix that with the fact that the Pacers were a terrible matchup for the Bulls, especially shorthanded without their starting center, starting power forward, and fill-in starter and toughest defender (Alex Caruso).  Plus, the Pacers are better than their record shows as they have not had all their guys together much before the game with the Bulls.  They will be a tough team to take down if they can stay healthy like they were when they crushed the Bulls.  

The Rockets, meanwhile, have talent.  And they were hungry as hell to win a game, especially off a top team like the Bulls.  So when they smelled blood in the water being in the game in the 4th quarter, they rose to the occasion and seized on their opportunity.  Any collection of NBA players can steal the occasional game when it comes down to the final 10 minutes.  Tonight it took bad luck (too many around-the-rim-and-outs to remember), bad play (unforced turnovers that led to open semi-break threes, plus more bad shots stemming from hero ball that were as good as turnovers), and bad officiating -- the Lonzo Ball three that was called a foul was terrible and no one can convince me otherwise (see below). 

The Rockets will beat more teams now that they're off the snide.  But no, they are not a great team and the Bulls just did not take advantage of their opportunities, but still... the Rockets aren't going to continue on a 1-16 pace, or anything close to it.

4. Small Size

The Bulls ran out a lineup where the tallest guy on the court was our 6'6" point guard and our center was 6'5" Javonte Green.  It didn't obviously hurt the Bulls like it did in a game like, say, Indiana's, but it's grueling to go up against bigger guys and have to fight for every rebound and battle for positions when you're undersized every night -- and that contributes to tired legs.  

5. Bad Decisions

DeRozan drove it into the teeth of the defense and either lost it via turnover or via horrible shot in 3 or 4 critical moments during the 4th quarter.  Hero ball is not necessary.  The Bulls were getting great looks most of the night, and though they missed a lot of chippy shots, especially at the start, they got the looks they wanted.  All they needed to do was swing it around until they got more of those open looks.  But they opted far too often to going one-on-one.

In another mark of poor decision-making, guys continue to take heavily contested step-back jumpers or fadeaways on one possession, and then overpass on another.  I'm still waiting for them to figure it out, but I'm getting more and more concerned that those basketball IQ's aren't as high as advertised.

Turnovers were also a problem.  No, the turnover total won't shock you (just 13), but they were costly, resulting in a whopping 35 points off turnovers.  35 points off 13 turnovers!  In contrast the Bulls managed only 25 points off a robust 22 Rockets turnovers.  This is where the war was lost.  The Bulls made unforced errors and those errors often led to wide open threes on the other end.  

6. Bad Defense

The rotations were slow.  Only a half-step slow but it makes such a big difference.  Way too many open threes.  A few critical missed assignments.  There were just too many missed opportunities on our end and give-aways on the other.  It added up.

7. Rotation

As the game was getting away from the Bulls, I was feeling the urgency for getting Lavine back in the game, as I often do.  But Donovan didn't go to him any earlier than usual, and I think it cost them in this one.

8. Coby White

Bad decisions, bad shooting, bad defense.  He was worse than a non-factor.

So are the Bulls a bad team, after all?

No, I don't think so.  But they also might not be the elite team we were beginning to think they were either.  They have too much talent to be bad long-term.  But obviously they are capable of being bad for at least a couple games once in a while.

I think the Bulls will come out with fire in their bellies against the Magic Friday.  I will be truly surprised and concerned if they drop that one.  

In the meantime, keep the faith.

Go Bulls

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