Losses from scratching the head accumulate. Ruthless performances continue to unfold.
The Bulls tried to address two goals when they made bold purchases at last month’s trading deadline. Improve your playoff position this season. And make a statement to the rest of the league and the imminent free agents, about the commitment to win and relevance.
But following the Bulls’ grim demonstration in Cleveland on Wednesday night, a 121-105 defeat in which they followed up to 33 points and committed 20 turnovers, fell to 12of in the image of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Remember that discussion about watching a sixth seed to avoid the play-in tournament? It is seven games away with 14 plays.
“IDon’t worry a little when you go out flat and don’t impose your will in the games you need at this time of the season “, said the veteran striker Thad Young.
The management’s trading deadline cannot be fully judged until further moves are made this season. But what kind of selling point will it be for management to pursue free agents if the Bulls fail to even qualify for the play-in tournament?
Of course, the Bulls are only halfway through the game behind the Raptors, a game behind the Wizards and have the tiebreaker over both teams. All you will need is a warm mini series to correct your playoff image.
But after shows like Wednesday, is there strong confidence that it will happen?
“I just didn’t have the energy and physicality to win an NBA game. I think we helped the game a bit and they took it from us “, Nikola Vučević said. “We just couldn’t answer and we got a little frustrated with the refereeing; that affected us a little.
“I just didn’t get the focus and energy to play an NBA game. Especially since we played these guys a few games ago, so we knew how to play them. I knew what their strengths were, but I just didn’t do a good job eliminating any of that.”
Maybe the management has a signing and marketing plan in place to land Lonzo Ball. Because, remember: Bulls sent two easily protected first round picks to Magic in business Vučević, whose best series of double-digit games ended at 106 with its nine-point technical foul night.
So the second round option, the only way to improve this team this season is through free agency or transactions. Especially since only two of the deadline purchases are in rotation —Vučević and Troy Brown Jr., who missed the loss with a sprained ankle — are under contract next season. The re-signing of Daniel Theis will make some salary cap maneuvers.
Of course, the busy trading deadline was not just this season. But part of the plan was to improve in the short term so that it could be improved in the long term.
Instead, the Bulls fell to 5-10 from the trading deadline and 2-2 from the loss of top scorer Zach LaVine in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols.
Following LaVine’s loss for at least 10 days, the Bulls talked about the need to play with a sense of despair. But that was the Bulls sleepwalker heading for a 22-point deficit in the first quarter. And it was the Bulls who followed guard Collin Sexton, who defeated them on two offensive rebounds and a comeback at the start of the second.
The Knights, not the Bulls, played as a desperate team down 20 points and looking for a place in the playoffs.
“It simply came to our notice then I think the boys understand what’s at stake here, “said Young. “But we get into games sometimes with cruise control. And we don’t have that kind of team where we can go there and say, “Oh, let me see how they play me today.” We have to get into games by saying, “Oh, I’m about to go to this guy.” Be aggressive and understand that every possession matters. And every game right now counts. ”
Thursday night against the Hornets would be a good time to show that I understand.
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