That. Was. Ugly.
Less than 24 hours after an unlikely victory, the Heat took that personally and gave the Bulls their worst loss in quite some time.
Down as many as 54, the Bulls lost 134-91. It was their largest margin of defeat (43 points) of the year, tied their lowest scoring total (91 points), and was their worst three-point performance of the season (15 percent), and worst in franchise history when attempting 40 or more from deep.
Scoring just 40 points in the first half, the Bulls tied their second-lowest output in a first half all season and entered the second half down 22 points, their largest margin of deficit in a first half all season, per Basketball-Reference.
After shooting 20-of-40 (that’s 50 percent for the math majors out there) in their previous game, the Bulls completely fell off a cliff. They were just 6-of-41 from deep (3-of-32 through three quarters before extended garbage time), and a season-low 32 percent overall. They also turned the ball over 18 times.
Kevin Huerter (back) joined Josh Giddey (hamstring), Tre Jones (hamstring), Jalen Smith (calf) and Zach Collins (toe) on the injured reserve, but Coby White and Nikola Vucevic returned to action for the rubber match with Miami.
Tune into the CHGO Bulls postgame live:
Up next: The Bulls will head to Milwaukee on Tuesday for their final game ahead of Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline.
The Bucks (18-29) are in a freefall after a tumultuous season that has included multiple Giannis Antetokounmpo calf strains, not to mention a soft trade request. They are 1-5 in their previous five games, ranking 26th in point differential, offensive rating and defensive rating.
The Bulls continue to be extremely inconsistent, proving they can play at a high level with or without key rotation players, and at a low level with or without rotation players.
Ultimately, the Bulls play with enough effort, have enough capable rotation players, and within a system that generates high efficiency looks, that they will have a high floor regardless of who is playing. As such, and following their acquisition of Dario Saric plus two second-round picks in Saturday’s late-night three-team trade, the Bulls should be wide open for business.
The Bulls are $8.1 million below the luxury tax with seven expiring contracts: Vucevic ($21.5 million), Collins ($18 million), Huerter ($17.9 million), White ($12.9 million), Dosunmu ($7.5 million), Saric ($5.4 million) and Dalen Terry ($5.4 million).
With the team committed to building around Buzelis and Giddey, they have options to go in a variety of different directions around them. They have flexibility, expiring contracts, space below the tax and players that should be valued around the league. That lays the foundation for moves to be made. Now it’s time to establish a plan and execute it.
I had a feeling the Heat would respond a certain way after their lackluster effort in a homecourt loss to the Bulls last night. And…yeah. #HeatCulture showed up in a big way in the rubber match of these teams facing off for the third time in four days.
The Bulls had been on a tear of games, shooting 40-plus percent from downtown; you had to assume a regression was coming soon. They shot 2-of-21 from deep in the first half, and are 3-of-32 as of this typing as the fourth quarter gets underway. That is some serious regression.
Some people will likely try to make too much of the fact that the Bulls got worked in the game that saw White and Vucevic return to the lineup, a day after a very short-handed Bulls squad got the victory. While neither of them played particularly well, I think it had more to do with Miami actually trying in this game, and a woeful shooting night across the board for the Bulls.
Billy Donovan keeping White and Ayo Dosunmu in that game to begin the fourth quarter — given the score and that February 5th date looming — was definitely…a choice.
YukiMania Forever.
Sooooooooooooooooooo … Damn.
That was a mugging. Sheesh.
Miami took Game 2 pretty personally. They were in the Bulls’ jerseys on defense from the get-go. Wouldn’t let them do a damn thing. The Bulls actually rebounded well offensively but the Heat wouldn’t allow them to do anything with those extra possessions. Ran them off the floor.
Thank God for Yuki. Helped keep me interested in this game. His pointguardsmanship is awesome and he should see more time on the floor.
Patrick Lee Williams is Pure Ass.
I know the Bulls will be glad to be done with these three games but these injuries are piling up and the schedule is not getting easier. Charlotte is on their heels. Hopefully, Giddey will be back soon.
Is anybody excited about the Super Bowl? I keep forgetting it’s taking place in a week. Peace to the CHGO Bears crew who will be on Radio Row with cool interviews and insights. Tune in!
Happy Black History Month.
— Big Dave
