The Chicago Bulls looked to have turned a corner when the season began. The team was 6-1 and, for the first time in a while, seemed to be a contender in the Eastern Conference. However, a five-game losing streak followed by a seven-game losing streak has dropped Chicago to 9-14. They have now lost 13 of their last 16 games, making the playoffs look less and less likely. Head coach Billy Donovan did not hold back during his recent press conference.
Per The Athletic’s (subscription required)Â Joel Lorenzi, Donovan had a strong message for the team on Wednesday.
âPeople wanna sit there and say, âWell, you lost to New Orleans. They got a bad record.â Indiana, bad record. I donât think weâre any different from those teams. Weâre not just gifted to walk in there (and) if we show up, weâll win games. ⦠I do not view it that way at all when I watch tape,” Donovan said.
Donovan comparing the Bulls to teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers is harsh, but true. Chicago has not played good basketball lately, and it is easy to see the Bulls are closer to the Pacers than they are to the sixth-place Philadelphia 76ers.
Injuries Are No Longer To Blame for Bulls’ Struggles
This is not the first time Donovan has thrashed the team for losing. After the loss to New Orleans, the Bulls’ coach criticized the team’s play defensively. This time, Donovan admitted the Bulls are just not talented enough to walk into the gym and beat the bottom-tier teams.
The lack of talent on the court can be attributed to the injuries Chicago has sustained. Coby White has been banged up all year, and Josh Giddey missed a few games, while Isaac Okoro, Jalen Smith, and Tre Jones have all been hurt, as well. These are all important pieces to the team, and not having them healthy is a reason for Chicago’s inability to win games.
However, Donovan is not blaming the injuries for the lack of success the Bulls have endured. In fact, Donovan believes it is the little things being messed up that are leading to the losses.
âIâm not looking at film saying, âOh, Kevin Huerterâs out, Zach Collins is out. Boy, if HE was here, this would be different.â I donât believe that. Some of itâs, like, inbounding the basketball. What do these guys being out have to do with that? What is five guys running back in transition, talking and communicating, have to do with anybody being out?â Donovan told Lorenzi and other reporters.
These little things have to get cleaned up if the Bulls are going to start competing again. Chicago ranks 24th in net rating, 25th in opponent offensive rebounds per game, 26th in opponent second-chance points, 27th in opponent points in the paint, and 27th in turnovers forced.
These are things that losing teams do: not crashing the glass, not forcing turnovers, allowing multiple chances to score per possession, and giving up easy baskets. These are the little things Donovan needs his team to get better at.
Bulls Schedule Moving Forward
The next chance Chicago will have to end their losing streak comes on Friday against the 7-17 Charlotte Hornets. The Bulls play another winnable game on Sunday against the Pelicans at the United Center.
After those two games, the schedule gets difficult. Chicago will play back-to-back games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by two games against the Atlanta Hawks. The team will also have to take on the 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Minnesota Timberwolves to end the month.
If the Bulls do not start playing better soon, they could enter the new year well under .500.
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