Zach LaVine has lost a lot since arriving in Chicago. Friday night may have represented post-game behavior as dejected as he did as a Taurus.
“We folded,” said LaVine. “There is not much to talk about.”
But there is much to look at since the Bulls lost 127-125 in overtime for Thunder, which, according to ESPN Stats & Info, scored only the second time in 2,932 occurrences in the last five seasons when a team exploded an advantage 10 points in the final two minutes of the regulation.
“I mean, we went up 20 points,” said LaVine. “We have to win this game.”
Twenty-two, actually, in the third quarter. And by 14 with 4:09 remaining in the regulation. And for 10 with 1:47 remaining.
As painful as the competitive losses in Los Angeles were for the Lakers and Clippers, the Bulls must be careful not to leave a lasting mark.
“This must hurt,” said Lauri Markkanen.
With 24 turnovers, the Bulls now have three of 10 NBA games this season, with 22 or more turnovers. After a stellar first half in which he recorded 17 assists and seven spins, the Bulls scored 18 field goals and 17 goals in the second half and in extra time.
“We just have to do a better job as an entire organization, because we can’t lose games like this. We lost a lot of games this year when we played well. Our performance in the fourth quarter has to improve. And I assume that for myself. I made a lot of mistakes in the fourth period, ”said LaVine. “It is extremely frustrating. Somehow, somehow, even if you play badly, you have to take these games out. “
When there is an epic breakdown of that proportion, there is a lot of guilt to share. To know:
- LaVine committed one of his six turnovers at that fateful 4:09 mark to start bleeding
- Wendell Carter Jr. missed Mike Muscala in a 3-point attempt with 1:47 left to go, leading to three free throws that reduced Thunder’s 10-point handicap
- Coby White and Lauri Markkanen committed offensive fouls, the latter setting a 26.9-second screen that led to Thunder leveling possession
- White fouled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a 3-point draw with 16.4 seconds left
- LaVine had to hoist a contested 3 points at the end of the regulation after Thunder blew up a middle pick-and-roll involving Otto Porter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen
- The Bulls repeatedly struggled to match snipers in the transition, and Muscala burned them by a point of 3 to open overtime
- For the third time this season, the Bulls did not have a time limit, so LaVine ran up after George Hill split two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining to attempt a 3-point basket for victory. Unfortunately, Denzel Valentine ran alongside LaVine, bringing an extra defender into the game.
“I think these guys are smart,” said Donovan. “They know that many of these things are self-induced.”
Bulls have very little margin for error. His 4-8 record, and Friday’s monstrous collapse, are evidence.
“Tyour group is very hardworking; it’s a good group of guys, ”said Donovan. “They want to win. They don’t know how. They are learning how to do it.
“Wwe all have to come together, work together and try to figure out why this is something these guys have been dealing with for some time. I have 12 games in it with them. And as a coach, you feel bad. You want to be able to do more, and I have to try to find a few different ways to try to help them as a group ”.
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