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Chicago Bulls try to find helpful lessons in Golden State shelllacking

One image from Monday's record-breaking loss to Golden State summed up the Chicago Bulls' defensive experience well.

On one particular trip downcourt, point guard Ryan Arcidiacono was the first one back and clung to Kevin Durant for dear life under the basket, while frantically waving and shouting for a teammate to pick up Steph Curry.

By the time the other Bulls took a moment to figure out what they should do, it was too late. Curry dribbled into the lane and drained an uncontested jumper.

They say life comes at you fast. The Warriors come at you real fast. The short-handed, inexperienced Bulls were no match, needless to say.

"Just got to communicate better, understand that when we're in transition that you're not going to be able to match up with your own man," Bulls forward Justin Holiday said after the game. "That's the hardest thing because we're all used to running back, trying to get to the guy we're assigned and do our job that way, which is a good thing.

"But we have to understand against a team like this, you've just to get back, pick up somebody and go from there."

Here's a brief recap of some of the records set at the United Center:

• Golden State guard Klay Thompson established an NBA single-game record with 14 baskets from 3-point range, while scoring 52 points in just 27 minutes. Curry set the previous record two years ago with 13, while the previous mark for most 3-pointers against the Bulls was 9 by Rex Chapman in 1996.

• The Warriors finished with 149 points, the most ever in a game at the UC. The previous record was Detroit's 147 in a four-overtime game in 2015. Golden State's 92 points at halftime was the second-most in NBA history but actually well behind the record of 107 by Phoenix against Denver in 1990.

• The 92-50 halftime score was tied for the fourth-highest lead at intermission in NBA history. The Warriors set that mark with an 88-41 advantage against Sacramento in 1991.

It would be accurate to suggest the Bulls had no hope of slowing down the Warriors on Monday, but coach Fred Hoiberg expected better.

"The lesson is just they got too comfortable early, and once a team like that gains confidence it's hard to shut them off," he said Tuesday at the Advocate Center. "Then that team does as good a job as any at finding the hot man, getting the ball to the hot hand, and that's what they did to us all night."

Hoiberg said the plan was to hold individual film sessions so players could see what they need to do better and differently. They have another tough task Wednesday against Denver, which is off to a 5-1 start with a victory over the Warriors included.

Monday's game featured a bit of foreshadowing when former Bulls center Joakim Noah was shown on the videoboard and given a standing ovation from fans. Ultimately, the best way for the Bulls to improve their defense is to incorporate some veterans into the mix. Maybe not Noah, but someone.

It's almost unheard of for a group of young players to grow into a championship-contending team in the NBA. Even at full strength, the Bulls are likely to struggle on defense, and right now they're missing four regulars.

"It's unacceptable to go out there and start the game like that, especially against the defending champs," Zach LaVine said after the game. "We have to have better energy, better toughness. We just didn't have it. It's on us.

"It doesn't matter who it is, the defending champs or the worst team in the league, it's a big 'L.' You have to move on to the next game, know what you did and not let it happen again. It's a competitive sport."

• Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls

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