Chicago Bulls continue to spin wheels with short-handed lineup
Zach LaVine claimed to be at a loss for words after the Chicago Bulls lost Saturday in Minnesota.
But the problems facing the Bulls are no mystery. With four of their top players unavailable pretty much all season, they don't have the manpower to beat many opponents.
Of the Bulls' 5 victories, 4 were against Atlanta, Phoenix, Cleveland and New York - the teams with the four worst records in the league (besides the Bulls). The other was against 9-9 Charlotte, and Bobby Portis played three quarters of that game before injuring his knee.
As it stands, LaVine has done well as the team's go-to scorer and Jabari Parker seems to be getting more comfortable with every outing. Otherwise, the Bulls are asking a bunch of guys who should be role players to be major contributors.
Fourth-quarter fades, like the one against the Timberwolves, are going to happen frequently until the Bulls get some players back.
"It's tough. You can only say so much because we keep doing the same thing over and over again," LaVine told reporters after scoring 28 points against his old team. "I'm doing the best I can. We do some things out there just … you guys see it. It makes you turn your head, 'What the heck are we doing?' "
LaVine has gotten the bulk of the attention from opposing defenses but is holding steady at 25.5 points per game, which ranked ninth in the league as of Sunday morning.
Parker has helped bring some support. Over the last five games, he has averaged 20.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and shot 49.4 percent from the field. All of the sudden, it seems like Parker has a chance to succeed in his hometown after all.
Justin Holiday has been decent, and it helps when he's knocking down 3-point shots. Even after an off night in Minnesota, Holiday is shooting 45.7 percent from 3-point range in the last five games.
But point guard Ryan Arcidiacono, after getting off to a fast start, has hit a slump with his long-range shooting.
Antonio Blakeney is probably trying too hard to be the offensive threat off the bench. He's shooting 39.1 percent from the field in November and has 4 assists over his last 154 minutes of game action. Both those guys spent the majority of last season in the G-League.
"I tried to stagger the minutes and have at least one of Jabari or Zach on the floor at all times," coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters after Saturday's game. "Guys are playing heavy minutes. We're playing through Zach and Jabari, obviously, a lot.
"Those guys both had really good nights. But we go through lulls with certain lineups out there and you have to find a way to hang in there."
The Bulls will remain short-handed Monday when they host San Antonio. In addition to the long-term injuries, rookie forward Chandler Hutchison has missed the last three games with back spasms.
Lauri Markkanen (sprained right elbow) should be ready to participate in full practices any day now and could be back on the floor in a week, maybe sooner. Portis and Kris Dunn suffered knee sprains two days apart during the first week of the season. Dunn might be ready to join practice as well and is thought to be slightly ahead of Portis in his recovery.
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Bulls game day
Bulls vs. San Antonio Spurs, 7 p.m. at the United Center
TV: NBCSCH
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: The Spurs aren't used to these kind of starts. They are 9-10 overall, 3-7 on the road and just gave up 135 points in a loss Saturday at Milwaukee. … Newcomer DeMar DeRozan (24.9 points, 6.3 assists) and veteran PF LaMarcus Aldridge (17.9 points, 11.1 rebounds) are putting up good numbers. But the only other Spurs averaging in double figures are SF Rudy Gay (14.5 ppg) and SG Bryn Forbes (12.9). … C Pau Gasol is out with a foot injury, but two other ex-Bulls are on the roster in SG Marco Belinelli and SF Quincy Pondexter. … San Antonio lost at the UC last season but won the previous three years.
Next: Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, 7 p.m. Wednesday
- Mike McGraw