Bug-a-Boo Bites Bulls Again…Bad Loss

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

I’m going to throw some numbers at you “Pippen Peoples”. Write them down. 16-26-20-17 now add them up. If you got 79, gold star for you because that’s how much the Bulls scored last night losing to the Toronto Raptors 85-79. Luol Deng made his return to the lineup scoring 16 points to lead the Bulls. Jimmy Butler finished solid with 15 points. Taj Gibson had 12 but only two in the second half. Joakim Noah was a beast on the boards snatching 16 rebounds. The Bulls dropped to 1-6 in the United Center after starting 6-1 coming out the gate. This was a bad loss for the Bulls, they let this slip away.

Over the last week I have said the same thing over and over again. This team cannot score and this team can’t shoot. Sorry Bulls fans but the proof is in the pudding.  All you needed to do is watch the second half of this game. The Bulls scored 37 points. Total. That includes a malodorous 17 points in the 4th. Let’s give you the 4th quarter stats. If you are easily offended, I am going to give you time to leave the site. To the rest of you brave souls, here you go. The Bulls shot 4-24 in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Toronto shot 10-17 from the field in the quarter. Now before everyone starts thinking that defense lost it for the Bulls, stop. In my opinion you are wrong. In basketball, teams have to score  to win. That’s the object of the game. Score more than your opponent.  The Bulls have the 4th ranked defense in the NBA. Here’s the problem they are dead last in scoring. They did little to help the cause last night. Right now they average around 91 points a game. The problem is  they GIVE UP 93 points a game. When the Bulls are not scoring on the offensive end, they do not have time for the defense to get set. Furthermore the bricks from the perimeter leads to long rebounds that starts fast breaks for the Raptors. The offensive game for the Bulls was so bad last night the defense basically has to be perfect for the Bulls to win.

The Bulls shot a porous 36% from the field buoyed by the shooting of Carlos Boozer, Kirk Hinrich and Joakim Noah who shot a combined 4-27 from the field. Boozer missed his first seven shots and finished 1-8. Kirk Hinrich is basically playing like he needs to be sitting behind DJ Augustin who played more  efficient ball going 3-4 from the field finishing with 6 points and 3 assists. Look, I don’t have anything against Hinrich (other than his shooting 34%) but he’s not getting any younger in fact his birthday is tomorrow. Another point for “Father Time” who at last check is still undefeated.  Point is he has been in the league ten years and he has never reminded anyone of Allen Iverson with his speed and quickness. The Bulls HAVE to speed the game up to get easier baskets. DJ Augustin has fresher legs and can speed the tempo for the Bulls.

The Bulls need point guard help badly. Greivis Vasquez basically came off the bench and took the game over in the 4th scoring 7 points handing out 2 assists and blocked a shot. In a game like this, Chicago can’t afford a guy that is on his third team in a year to do this. Tune into Pippen Aint Easy tomorrow and I will tell you a guy that the Bulls should at least take a look at. At first you will think I am nuts, but after I explain maybe you will see things my way. Either way, at this point do the Bulls have anything to lose?

Boston is up next for the Bulls.