Chicago Bulls: Reality check needed after loss to Magic

The Chicago Bulls loss to the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night proves this group needs a reality check. From head coach down to the end of the bench, everyone needs to take this loss personally.

Heading into the game, the Magic were one of the league’s worst offensive teams. The Bulls could have taken this opportunity to get something going in terms of their own defense, but instead, they got exposed by one of the weakest offenses in the entire league.

Right out of the gates they let the Magic score 32 first-quarter points, though that would not be their worst defensive quarter in the game. In the third, the Magic erupted for another 39 points. Those big quarters contributed to a 115-106 win for the Magic over the struggling Chicago Bulls.

Don’t let the final score fool you, either. The Bulls at one point trailed by 23 points to the team they made a blockbuster trade with just a few weeks ago. Since that trade, they are 3-11, with the loss to the Magic setting a new low.

Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic combined to score 59 points, while the other starters combined to score 20 points. Daniel Theis was a lone bright spot, dropping 16 points to go with six boards.

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LaVine and Vooch are in the same boat as everyone else. In need of a reality check sooner rather than later. Sure, they had great statistical outings but isn’t it time that stops mattering if the team loses? Especially if it’s a game they should easily win like tonight was.

As the stars of the team and faces of the franchise, it’s their responsibility to lead this group. However it gets done doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Simply put, they need to set the tone and wake up the team.

Losses like tonight are unacceptable. While losses that came before this could be chalked up to who they were facing or limited time together, tonight has no excuse that can be used. They played a significantly weaker team and got picked apart for much of the 48 minutes.

Someone needs to step up and make sure everyone understands this season is getting dangerously close to slipping away. Whether it be Billy Donovan, one of the team’s star players or a veteran player on the team, does not matter.

If this loss isn’t a reality check for the Chicago Bulls then there are far bigger issues within this group.