Three key takeaways from the Bulls loss to the Nets
Allen Crabbe scored 41 points in a second straight Nets win over Bulls. Now, Chicago needs to lose to Detroit on Wednesday to seal the 7th worst record.
After a terrifying three-game win streak that knocked the Chicago Bulls out of the running for the third- or fourth-worst record in the NBA (and great tanking odds at a top-five pick), we recovered somewhat with two consecutive losses to the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets swept their three-game season series against the Bulls, winning 114-105 at Barclays. On Saturday, Brooklyn’s victory was never much in doubt, as they demolished Chicago to the tune of a 124-96 final tally. This time, things were uncomfortably close for Bulls fans. Happily, shooting guard Allen Crabbe scored a career-high 41 points (including eight three-pointers) against a wholly disengaged Bulls defense.
D’Angelo Russell logged 21 points and 11 assists, and former 2016 Summer Bull Spencer Dinwiddie scored 20 points. Former Net Sean Kilpatrick had 16 points and future Chinese Basketball Association point guard Cameron Payne notched 15 points for the Bulls. Starting shooting guard David Nwaba had his third double-double of the year, grabbing 11 points and 10 rebounds
Now, Chicago needs to lose to Detroit on Wednesday to lock in the 7th worst record. But anyway, let’s talk about the game. Here are your three takeaways.
Lackluster Lauri
Probable All-Rookie First Teamer Lauri Markkanen adhered to a minutes restriction that the Bulls have been imposing on him lately. The Finnisher played just 25 minutes. He had 10 points (on a rough three-of-14 field goal shooting percentage) and six rebounds. These numbers, though low for Lauri, were enough to help him hit the 1,000-point, 500-rebound mark. Markkanen is the first Bulls rookie to achieve this since Elton Brand in the 1999-2000 Baby Bulls era.
Markkanen did flash some of his surprising athleticism early. He had a nice flush off a Justin Holiday pass in the middle of the first quarter. He really does have the tools to be an All-Star pretty soon.
His other two field goals were a pair of triples. The only discernible reason to watch Chicago’s 82nd game of the season is to investigate whether or not Markkanen can hit another Bulls rookie benchmark. Markkanen is currently just two three-pointers behind Kirk Hinrich’s 2003-2004 team rookie record of 144 triples. NBA.com was all over these not-insignificant benchmarks.
Tankathon Notes
We entered last night sporting an identical season record with Brooklyn, 27-53. With a victory, Chicago would have tied the New York Knicks (who predictably fell 129-109 to Cleveland last night) at an unnecessary 28-53 record. This would have put us at even odds for getting the 8th or 9th pick in the 2018 draft. With the Bulls’ shiny new 27-54 record, however, Chicago moves into a solo 7th place. That gives us a 4.3% crack at the #1 draft pick, almost double the 2.3% shot New York has, according to Tankathon.
The 26-55 Sacramento Kings face the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. Unless Mike D’Antoni rests his entire roster, the Kings will lose. Chicago is probably locked into the 7th seed now — provided the Bulls fall to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons, at 38-43, have been eliminated from the playoffs, and have no reason to try at this juncture. Chicago really could win tomorrow. But it’s nice that they did the right thing and fell apart last night.
The final Knicks game will be against Cleveland once again. Cleveland is in a fierce battle with Philadelphia to secure the third seed and the right to demolish Boston in the second round. LeBron James wants to play all 82 regular season games for the first time this season, and then kvetch when he doesn’t win the MVP. The Knicks will almost certainly lose. Brooklyn, meanwhile, will be playing Boston, who are locked into the second seed, and seem to have their players get injured every time they suit up. There is a decent change that Brooklyn tries to win on Wednesday. Brooklyn’s pick, after all, will go to the Cleveland Cavaliers this summer.
Stacey King has yet to embrace the tank
King, the Bulls’ longtime television broadcaster, was highly critical of Chicago’s defense of Allen Crabbe, the Net primarily responsible for Chicago’s defeat yesterday. Is King not on board with Chicago’s tank? Porous defense on the opposition’s obvious hot scorer is the best covert tanking method in the book! I respect the argument against teaching Chicago bad habits. But at this point in the year, all that matters is sweet, sweet defeat. 81 down, one to go.