A 60-loss season–which the Bulls are both familiar and again are headed toward–have a tendency to numb the pain.
But certain losses stand out. Certain defeats still sting.
For example, take their 112-96 debacle Saturday night in front of 14,761 at Philips Arena. The first 28 points Atlanta scored were all in the paint. We’re talking layups, tip-ins or dunks–all of them. The Hawks shot 60 percent in the opening 12 minutes and 52.5 percent overall.
Coach Bill Cartwright has bemoaned the Bulls’ recent lack of defensive intensity, and Earl from the local rec center might have hit them for about 14 the way they played Saturday. In losing 11 of their last 12, the Bulls have been torched for more than 100 points in four straight games and seven of their last eight.
Afterward, Cartwright hinted at lineup changes to stop the alarming trend.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said. “We may change it in these last few games. I think we have to put our best defensive team on the floor. I’m not sure what that is. But it could mean [Charles Oakley].”
Jason Terry’s 23 points and 13 assists led Atlanta, which played without leading scorer and rebounder Shareef Abdur-Rahim, whose wife just gave birth to a baby boy.
The Bulls just give birth to an opponent’s offensive productivity. For the second straight night, seven opposing players reached double figures.
“You’ve got some young guys who haven’t played many games,” said Oakley, who likely will take minutes from Tyson Chandler. “When you come to a job, you have to perform. Not to put pressure on them, but it’s a lot of work. It doesn’t just start in games. It starts in practice and having the mental attitude to work.”
Jalen Rose, who scored a game-high 26 points, and Jamal Crawford, solid again with 14 points, led a fourth-quarter run that trimmed a 15-point deficit to four. But Atlanta countered–no surprise–with two dunks and two Terry three-pointers. Ballgame.
All of Atlanta’s easy baskets inside made Oakley positively philosophical.
“It’s like going to church,” Oakley said. “Some people drive themselves. Some people get a ride. The ones who can’t drive themselves are looking for somebody to pick them up. The preacher is going to be there. It’s up to the people in the audience to listen to him. [Cartwright’s] preaching it, but I don’t know if we’re paying attention.”
