Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Zach LaVine calling out Bulls is last-ditch effort to save team before playoffs

By Thomas Carannante

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 01: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls during the game against the Orlando Magic at United Center on February 01, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - FEBRUARY 01: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls during the game against the Orlando Magic at United Center on February 01, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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How’s one more embarrassing loss for good measure? As if four since the beginning of last week wasn’t enough, the Chicago Bulls got blown out of the water in their home finale against the Charlotte Hornets, marking their fourth straight defeat.

The 133-117 loss put an exclamation point on the team’s epic failures over the last six weeks. At one point, Chicago trailed by 37 and was showered with boos from the crowd at the United Center. Could you blame them?

Zach LaVine certainly doesn’t. After allowing SEVEN Hornets players to score in double figures and shoot 50% or better from the field (Charlotte finished 60.5% from the field and 47.5% from 3-point range), the Bulls were aware of how unacceptable such a performance was.

Back on Feb. 24, this team was 39-21 and tops in the Eastern Conference. Since then, they’re 6-15, with 10 of those losses being by double digits, and have fallen to sixth place.

The Bulls were booed at the United Center in their home finale.

Though the Hornets are no slouches, to lose a game in this fashion when the Bulls are badly searching for any sort of momentum heading in the playoffs is embarrassing on so many levels, and only shows that their struggles to rediscover themselves on defense have only gotten worse.

Yes, missing Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso is certainly problematic, but there’s been plenty of time to adjust since the veteran guards have been hampered by injuries for quite a while now. And losing four straight games by 15 or more points against fellow Eastern Conference playoff teams goes to show everyone’s at fault for the Bulls’ fall from the top of the standings.

At this point, LaVine’s commentary, in an attempt to hold the team accountable, is a last-ditch effort to save the Bulls before the postseason, where they’ll likely be tasked with facing either the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers, all of whom have destroyed Chicago over the last five weeks.

The Bulls have largely lacked a vocal leader from one of their three stars (LaVine, DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic), so, while it feels too little, too late, any semblance of that is a positive, even if it feels like time is running out. The Bulls need anything and everything right now as they stare down the barrel of what could end up being the toughest first-round matchup for any of the lowest seeds in the East.

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