How could the Bulls choke away Game 4 to the Cavaliers on Sunday?
Because that’s what they have done in mind-numbing ways this season.
How could the Bulls choke away a home playoff game that would’ve given them a three-games-to-one lead over LeBron James, something they’ve never accomplished?
Because they let James do the same thing at the Game 4 buzzer that Derrick Rose did at the Game 3 buzzer.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which the Cavs coach is dumb enough to draw up a game-ending play calling for James to inbound the ball instead of receiving the pass?
Because these Bulls might be the least opportunistic roster the franchise has seen in I don’t know how long.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which James missed 20 of 30 shots?
Because Jimmy Butler missed 13 of 21, ragged seemingly from trying to rough up the one great Cavs player still relatively healthy.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which they failed to hold an 11-point lead late in the third quarter and early in the fourth?
Because this Bulls roster that’s supposedly the most talented they’ve had since Michael Jordan has zero killer instinct.
How could the Bulls lose a playoff game at home after such a dramatic win on their court two days earlier?
Because the Bulls reek of doubts that they have the heart of a championship team.
How could the Bulls give up a 16-0 run in a playoff game at home?
Because the softness of the Bulls’ roster — at time physically, at times mentally, at times both — gets exposed at some of the worst times.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which the Cavs turned over the ball six times in just the first quarter?
Because the Bulls committed five turnovers in the critical fourth quarter, three early in the period when they blew a seven-point lead.
How could the Bulls choke away a playoff game in which Rose slashed to the hoop to reach 30 points for the second straight game?
Because nobody else in their shooting-challenged starting lineup could hit even 40 percent from the floor.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which James took only four free throws?
Because the other Cavs took 20 while the entire Bulls roster managed only 12 trips to the line.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which the Cavs’ offense was stagnant and amateurish in the first quarter?
Because the Bulls got outrebounded when that’s supposed to be their deal.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which their defense held the Cavs to 38.7 percent shooting?
Because the Bulls shot even worse and did it while taking more shots.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which Joakim Noah grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds?
Because Noah missed what had to be a game-high number of layups again, and don’t forget his critical turnover when he forgot how much time was left on the shot clock.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which James turned over the ball and had a shot blocked in the last 14 seconds?
Because the Bulls couldn’t find the drive or execution to take a lead in the last 7:22.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which Kyrie Irving shot 2-for-10?
Because Nikola Mirotic missed eight of the nine he took and is a defensive disaster.
How could the Bulls choke away a game in which Iman Shumpert missed seven of eight shots, including five of six from three?
Because if Tony Snell can’t shoot the Bulls back into the lead, then apparently nobody else can.
How could the Bulls give up a 19-5 run in the first eight minutes of the fourth quarter at home?
Because the Bulls couldn’t make a stinking basket for almost four minutes to start the most important quarter.
How could the Bulls choke away Game 4?
That might be the question the Bulls ask themselves all summer.
