It’s safe to say the Chicago Bulls never felt they’d be in their current dire predicament, or, one assumes, they would have shown a sense of urgency a lot sooner.
As it stands, with the Bulls (36-36) currently two games out of the playoff picture as a result of a humbling three-game losing streak, there is simply no more room for error. In execution, in effort, in focus.
“It’s a do-or-die week for us,” veteran Mike Dunleavy said succinctly on Easter Sunday.
After losing a home-and-home set to the New York Knicks on Wednesday and Thursday, the Bulls were pounded by the Orlando Magic 111-89 on Saturday. The Magic, who were without their two leading scorers, had lost six in a row and were playing on the second night of a back-to-back. It was an inexcusable loss for the Bulls and one that reeked of indifference.
When a team playing for nothing but pride is missing offensive anchors Nikola Vucevic (17.8 points per game) and Victor Oladipo (16.0) and still shoots nearly 54 percent from the field, it’s fair to question the mental resolve of the Bulls.
In the aftermath of that loss, the team held a team meeting on Sunday among just players and coaches. What was said remained private, but coach Fred Hoiberg called it productive.
“That was a big part of what (today) was about, getting in there and talking about some things and hopefully airing some things out,” Hoiberg said. “I think (guys were honest). And that’s what it has to be when you go through those things. You have to have honest communication where things aren’t taken personal. I thought it was productive from that standpoint.”
Games this week against current playoff teams Atlanta, Indiana, Houston and Detroit will effectively determine the Bulls’ season. Chicago is chasing both the Pistons and the Pacers in the standings, but what kind of resolve do they have left?
“I don’t think anybody’s quit,” guard Jimmy Butler said after the loss in Orlando. “We’ve just hit adversity at the wrong time, and we’ve got to fix it.”
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