The Bulls fell to 22-10 following Tuesday’s home loss to the Nets. Here are three observations.
Nights like this happen in the NBA.
Derrick Rose said it. Everybody knows it. The Bulls had won seven straight, were finishing a back-to-back (so were the Nets) and won a game Monday in Indianapolis they probably had no business winning. (Thank you, C.J. Watson.)
Watch the film. Take Wednesday off (which the Bulls are doing). And come back with an edge Thursday to face the Nuggets.
“We have a smart group,” Rose said. “So we shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
The home record is troubling.
Somewhat offsetting the stellar, league-best 14-4 road mark is a pedestrian 8-6 mark at the United Center. Joakim Noah theorized the Bulls let their guard down and play with less of an edge occasionally at home.
That needs to be fixed.
“You don’t want to look at it as home, road,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I think the important thing is to understand what goes into winning. Every night you’re going to have different circumstances. And so you’re going to have to have a routine and put the necessary work into winning. Having a great understanding of how to prepare is very important in this league.”
Teams will keep daring Rose to shoot.
Rose is 7-for-35 overall and 1-for-12 from 3-point range in his last two games. He said teams are even going under screens on him at the free-throw line.
Ouch!
“I’m going to keep taking the open shots,” Rose said.
