Life for the Bulls is as bad as it has been in several years.
They are the NBA’s poorest-shooting team and rank second from the bottom in scoring. They don’t have a player in the top 15 in any of the major offensive or defensive categories, and they have trailed by at least 20 points in three of their last six games, including Saturday night’s 116-98 home loss to the Rockets. They have the NBA’s seventh-worst record at 9-16 and have lost 11 times by at least 10 points compared with 15 all last season.
But thanks to Artis Gilmore, no one is about to be fired, cut, traded or released.
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It was 20 years ago Monday when one of the most popular players in Bulls history was released on Christmas Eve because of then-NBA rules that forced teams to waive players Dec. 24 or pay them for a full season. The so-called guarantee date subsequently was moved into January.
The organization was overwhelmed with negative publicity and community condemnation for dumping Gilmore, which makes the Bulls organization perhaps the most sensitive to the personal aspect of the holiday season.
Hey, guys, continue with your holiday shopping, but no one should relax.
In falling behind by 25 points to a struggling Rockets team in the midst of a four-game trip, the Bulls perhaps hit rock bottom.
And they play next in San Antonio on Wednesday night.
Trying to make the best of an apparently deteriorating situation after Saturday’s game, Bulls coach Scott Skiles was asked about what might be done or what changes could be made.
“I’m going to contemplate getting some rest,” Skiles said.
Yes, it seems everyone is getting weary, to say nothing of confused.
“It is much like it has been at the beginning of other seasons,” Skiles said in a constant refrain from the Bulls about a series of slow starts. “[But] this is leaking into the middle of the season. That is what is concerning.”
Yes, this is different.
The Bulls have started poorly and recovered two of the last three seasons. In 2004-05 they were 0-9 and won 47 games. Last season they were 3-9 and won 49 games. But they were able to correct themselves in December. Last season they were 14-3 in that month. And in 2004-05 the Bulls won eight of their first 13. The defense was improving and the play was growing more consistent.
Not so this season. The Bulls had a bit of a run and looked as if they were turning things around after the circus trip, when they won five of seven, including one in Detroit. But the team has regressed badly since. Not just with four losses in the last six games, but with the manner of the losses. They haven’t been competitive in blowouts, in which they appeared to be either intimidated or disinterested.
Selfish play has crept in with less ball movement and players looking off teammates to get shots up. The defense, though respectable at 11th in opponents’ field-goal percentage, has been declining in recent weeks. One particularly worrisome sign is the poor coverage of three-point shooting.
The Bulls don’t double-team much, yet teams have dominated them shooting threes, which suggests a lack of effort and hustle to the perimeter to close out on shooters. Luther Head and Shane Battier blitzed them with threes Saturday, even when center Yao Ming was sitting.
Teams have attempted more threes than the Bulls in nine of the last 11 games and have a better percentage from beyond the three-point line in five of the last six games. Three-point shooting has been a major weapon for the Bulls, who were second in the NBA last season and have been better than their opponents every season under Skiles. This season the Bulls are 28th in the league in threes.
“Losing is always frustrating,” Ben Gordon said after Saturday’s loss as players continue to offer little in explanation. “We have to figure out a way to turn it around. Until we do, it’s the same story every night. We didn’t do this, we didn’t do that. I don’t think guys are losing confidence. Guys are getting a little discouraged because we’re not playing as well as we can. That’s disappointing.”
Despite the performance, major changes right now could be counterproductive because this team is better than it has shown.
Quitting? Turning on the coach? Distracted by personal agenda? Realizing they just aren’t good enough?
No one has a good answer.
The Bulls were a legitimate 49-victory team that kept its core and only should have benefited from Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefolosha being a year older. But both have been in and out of the rotation and are seemingly losing confidence. Aaron Gray provided a bit of a lift, but with extended play, teams zeroed in on him and the Rockets quickly took him out of the game. The shooting, especially of Gordon and Kirk Hinrich, has been inexplicably poor. Ben Wallace never seems to have recovered from some training camp bumps and bruises.
“At times we’re looking like strangers out there,” Wallace said Saturday. “We’ve got to care more for each other and play for each other. We can’t go out there and have a hidden agenda. We have to respect each other.
“Right now everyone has to look at himself and say what he’s bringing to the table is not enough. You have to hold yourself accountable. I’m speaking for myself. Right now I think this locker room is a little bit relaxed. We have to get it done with a chip on our shoulder. Right now we’re going through the motions.”
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Maybe 10 to 15 more games and then the Gilmore Rule will have expired and someone could be out the door.
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