Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards: Instant Analysis of Bulls’ Loss

The Chicago Bulls looked to build off their beatdown of the Detroit Pistons against the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. Could the Bulls make it two straight against the woeful Wizards?

Next: Welcome back, Nikola Mirotic

Since the Washington Wizards eliminated the Chicago Bulls in five games during the first round of the 2014 postseason, the two teams have faced each other eight times in the regular season. In those eight games, each team has won four meetings.

On Wednesday night, both the Bulls and Wizards — who have struggled throughout this season — head into their second matchup of the year on a positive note. The Wizards have won five of their last seven games after losing 13 of their 20 games. The Bulls had lost three games in a row before a big victory over the Detroit Pistons this past Monday night in Chicago.

But, it was the John Wall show and the Bulls were just audience members on Wednesday night. Here’s a quarter-by-quarter look at the Bulls’ 107-97 loss to the Wizards.

First quarter

It took the Bulls a bit to get going out of the gate, but once they did, the run seemingly didn’t stop.

The Bulls shot a shade under 61 percent for the quarter and led 33-22 after the opening frame. Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler led the way for the Bulls with 17 combined points on 8-of-10 shooting.

That’s a pretty good play, Jimmy.

A season-long trend that continued for the Bulls was the rebounding. The Bulls outrebounded the Wizards in the first quarter, 18-3 (!), with six on the offensive end alone.

Not only did the numbers look good, but the bench looked good right off the bat. Nikola Mirotic hit an open triple in the corner off a Robin Lopez drive-and-kick, Doug McDermott scored off a nice baseline cut with a good Rajon Rondo pass, and Fred Hoiberg played nine guys in the first quarter alone.

When the Bulls can get production from everyone on the floor, it makes them a much better team moving forward. (Of course, they looked great to start the Minnesota game last week and everyone saw how that one turned out.)

Second quarter

Why did I mention the Minnesota game? Because that’s pretty much what happened to the Bulls in the second quarter again.

The Bulls outscored the Wizards by 11 points in the first quarter, then the Wizards did the same to the Bulls in the second frame. The pace quickened and the visitors took complete advantage of that, racing out to points in transition to trim (and then take) the lead.

John Wall finished a fantastic first half for the Bulls, shooting 5-of-6 from the field with 12 points, six rebounds and three steals — his 16th straight game with a steal — but the Bulls got 38 combined points from Gibson, Wade and Butler to cling to a 56-55 halftime advantage.

(Also, turn down the music when Jimmy Butler is shooting technical free throws.)

Third quarter

Coming out of the break, things were a little strange.

It was just the quality of the game (which was bad), but the fact that Otto Porter Jr. was nowhere to be found for the Wizards coming out of the locker room.

(He did not return to the game.)

The Wizards once again won the quarter against the Bulls (22-21), but the game was tied at 77 after the quarter. Neither team really took control of the action. The Bulls couldn’t get much from their stars throughout the quarter, but Doug McDermott hit a pair of 3-pointers to keep the Bulls in the game late in the frame.

Rondo had 10 assists inside the first three quarters, but missed seven of his eight shot attempts. It took 16 shots for Dwyane Wade to rack up 15 points. Jimmy Butler had eight rebounds and four assists, but just 16 points on 16 shots.

Could the Bulls get anyone to step up in the fourth quarter, better known as their kryptonite this season?

Fourth quarter

That’s how bad it’s been for the Bulls (and Wizards) in the final quarter of games this season.

And, it didn’t get any better in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night. The starters closed the game (for the most part), isolated everything offensively, couldn’t stop John Wall, and lost their third straight quarter and the game.

What made no sense about the fourth quarter: Fred Hoiberg waited until the Bulls went down 10 points inside of the final minute (or so) to bring in some help off the bench.

The Bulls got ran out of the gym (32-14 in transition points), ran out of gas, couldn’t get stops and paid the price.

Thoughts

Once again, the Bulls started hot and couldn’t close the deal.

This was a poor performance off one of their better performances all season on Monday night. Giving up 32 transition points to a team that has arguably the fastest player in the league in John Wall is just a recipe for disaster.

A notable aspect was the coaching of Fred Hoiberg in this one. There was a weird substitution that was just laughed off by him that costed the Bulls a possession in the first half (14 turnovers on the night), followed by riding the starters in the fourth, which made bringing in reserves with the game out of reach a nonsensical move.

The Wizards had been playing well coming in, but this was a bad loss for the Bulls. (One of many already this year.)

14-14 feels about right for the Bulls.