Sloppily Needing a Break

Years from now, people may be questioning whether tonight's game against the Boston Celtics actually existed.  It was that ugly.  Neither team had broken 40 at the midway point of the third quarter, which the Bulls won only 13-8.  In the end, it turned ugly enough for the Bulls that they were sent reeling into the All-Star break with a 71-69 loss.  Those 71 points were the fewest the Bulls have ever surrendered in a loss and it was tough to keep your attention occupied during much of it.

Both offenses finally came alive in the fourth, but as is typically the case in basketball, the team with the fewest turnovers came out on top.  The Celtics had 12, but the Bulls' 22 was the most since Tom Thibodeau took over.  The worst of them came down the stretch, allowing Boston to go on a run that would just be enough to push them over the top.  They also made more clutch shots, many of which came during masterful passing sequences that left the Bulls' defense baffled and scrambling to recover, which mostly went for naught.  Plus, once the home crowd got going, any mental edge the Bulls previously held disappeared.

Brandon Bass led all scorers with, believe it or not, 14 points.  With Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry not far behind on the Celtics with 12, this was an offensive game for them to forget.  Whatever the outcome for either side, nobody was going to leave TD Garden completely satisfied with the persona this game took on.  It's the end result that counts though and the Celtics will make no apologies for that.

Marco Belinelli made the game-winning bucket during the Bulls' last trip to Boston.  This time, he was merely their leading scorer with 12 points.  Jimmy Butler had 11 while Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah had respective double-doubles of 11/11 and 10/16.  The starting backcourt of Nate Robinson and Rip Hamilton hurt as they shot a collective 3-of-13.  Robinson had six assists, which is nice, but I have to imagine Kirk Hinrich would have provided just a little more scoring despite his own shooting being suspect throughout the year.  The Bulls are missing his services right now.  He hasn't suited up at all in February and if he were healthy, things might be looking more up at the moment.

It was clear from the opening tip that the Bulls were more into merely staying in the game than taking control.  While they had a nice mini-run in the fourth quarter, you could tell the mental state just wasn't where it needed to be.  That bit them against the Spurs and the effect repeated itself tonight.  With the injury bug rearing its ugly head and the constant push under Thibodeau's helm, this group is gassed. 

Noah and Luol Deng will do their best to represent Chicago in Houston on Sunday.  For the rest however, they need to take their minds off basketball for a little while.  Whatever the reason for this recent slide, showing up under-prepared against quality opponents is not helping.  This loss has knocked them to fifth in the East behind Brooklyn.  If they don't get back to what they've been doing for most of the year, that playoff position could drop further in the second half, when everyone will be watching the conference standings nightly.

The NBA may be taking a few days off from regular competition, but I won't stop writing.  A special post will come Sunday to commemorate Michael Jordan's 50th birthday, followed by a midseason report for the current crop.  The action picks up again Tuesday as the Bulls play the New Orleans Hornets for the final time.  The Pelicans will replace them and there's a chance the Hornets will return to Charlotte.  That's all in the future though.  Get back on track in the present.