The Bulls` descent to rock bottom was as swift as it was embarrassing.
From the high of a nationally televised, emotional victory over Houston Saturday, the Bulls were blown out by lowly Indiana 131-106 Sunday in their worst performance of the season. Their record fell to 17-32, just ahead of the Pacers` 15-32, which is the worst in the National Basketball Association`s Eastern Conference. The Bulls have lost 9 of their last 11 games.
”There`s no explanation,” Bulls` coach Stan Albeck said. ”I don`t think there`s any way in God`s creation you can play a game like yesterday against a divisional leader and then play like this today. This is not a mentally tough team at all. All you have to do is look at us night after night. People have a very easy time scoring on us up front.”
The Pacers scored up front, out back and every which way. For the Bulls, it became a hopeless cause toward the end of the second quarter when the Pacers ran up a 67-40 lead.
Paced by guard Vern Fleming and center Steve Stipanovich, Indiana went on a 16-5 run from the outset of the second quarter, pulling out to a 51-29 lead midway through the quarter.
”We stunk,” said Quintin Dailey.
”I can`t explain it,” said George Gervin. ”Not in the words I know.”
The usually reliable, high-scoring guards were way off, shooting a combined 9-for-29 from the floor.
That`s just the beginning. There was plenty of blame to spread around:
— Center Dave Corzine, who was hampered by a sore back, scored the same number of points as the injured Orlando Woolridge, who watched the game from the bench in street clothes. Kyle Macy had one more than Woolridge.
— Gene Banks went from a triple-double against Houston (18 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) to a triple-single 24 hours later (5 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists).
— At halftime, the Pacers` front line had outscored the Bulls` 51-23.
— After trailing 69-43 at halftime, the Bulls never came closer than 19 in the second half, trailing at one point by 30.
The only redeeming quality in this sad affair was the continuing development of No. 1 draft choice Charles Oakley. Turning in his fourth straight solid performance, Oakley scored a career-high 22 points to head the Bulls` offense. Sidney Green had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and Jawann Oldham added 15 points and 8 rebounds.
Fleming led all scorers with 27 points and had 11 assists, Stipanovich finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Wayman Tisdale had 21 points.
Asked whether he just throws a game like this out, Albeck responded:
”Yes, I do. I would be absolutely into lunacy and everything else if I didn`t. I was concerned about this one. Normally when you come off a game like yesterday, you hit rock bottom.”
Banks had another explanation for the disgrace in ”Nap Town.”
”Let`s just say we didn`t wake up,” he said.
In an effort to keep Chicago-area TV viewers from falling asleep watching their sleepwalking team, announcers Jim Durham and Johnny Kerr took to entertaining their audience.
”In the fourth quarter, Johnny Kerr is going to sing his favorite Irish folk songs,” Durham said early in the third quarter.
Albeck got into the act late in the game, joking with referee Wally Rooney after the Bulls were whistled for an illegal defense for the third time.
”We`ve been in a 1-2-2 zone all period, and we`ll stay in it,” Albeck said with a laugh. When Rooney hit the Bulls with two more technicals in succession for an illegal defense, Albeck called out, ”I was just kidding about the 1-2-2, Wally.”
The Bulls were only kidding themselves Sunday.
The Pacers won their third straight, the first time this season that has happened. The 25-point margin was the largest ever by the Pacers over the Bulls.
”This team is confident, and that comes from the confidence in our defense,” Pacer coach George Irvine said. ”We did a good job on the fast break (17 for 30 points). We just got out there and ran.”
And ran the Bulls right out of town.
