Bulls' Tanking Efforts Prove Fruitless with Thrashing Loss to Nuggets
The Chicago Bulls' attempts to tank the remainder of the season have fallen flat after a dismal 136-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at the United Center. What was supposed to be a night of subpar play from both teams ended up being just that – a poor showing by the Bulls, who struggled to find their footing against the Nuggets' high-powered offense.
Coach Billy Donovan's team looked promising in the first three quarters, putting together competitive performances from seven players who reached double figures. However, it was all for naught as the Nuggets took over in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bulls by 19 points en route to a resounding victory.
Nikola Jokic, the reigning MVP candidate, led the way with 22 points, 17 assists, and 14 rebounds, further cementing his status as one of the most dominant players in the league. Donovan praised Jokic's unselfish play, citing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.
For the Bulls, however, the night was a mixed bag. Collin Sexton led the team with 17 points, while Nick Richards and Anfernee Simons chipped in with 15 points apiece. Guerschon Yabusele scored 12, Jaden Ivey added 10 points, and Rob Dillingham contributed nine.
Despite the bright spots from some of their young players, Donovan took issue with his team's defensive lapses in the fourth quarter, particularly in spacing and play execution. "We're going to make some mistakes," he acknowledged. "The guys are all playing together; it's just a matter of getting better defensively."
In the midst of this rebuilding process, Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas has been vocal about the team's approach to the remainder of the season. However, Donovan took a different tack in his post-game remarks, citing the importance of growth and improvement.
When asked about the 15-5 finish to last season, which was seen as a positive indicator for the Bulls' rebuilding efforts, Donovan downplayed its significance. "We dominated meaningful games," he noted. "But when it mattered most, we got outplayed."
The win marked a significant statement from the Nuggets, who moved into first place in the Western Conference with the victory. Meanwhile, the Bulls continue to struggle, their losses serving as a harsh reminder that they have yet to find their footing under new coach Billy Donovan.
The Chicago Bulls' attempts to tank the remainder of the season have fallen flat after a dismal 136-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at the United Center. What was supposed to be a night of subpar play from both teams ended up being just that – a poor showing by the Bulls, who struggled to find their footing against the Nuggets' high-powered offense.
Coach Billy Donovan's team looked promising in the first three quarters, putting together competitive performances from seven players who reached double figures. However, it was all for naught as the Nuggets took over in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bulls by 19 points en route to a resounding victory.
Nikola Jokic, the reigning MVP candidate, led the way with 22 points, 17 assists, and 14 rebounds, further cementing his status as one of the most dominant players in the league. Donovan praised Jokic's unselfish play, citing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways.
For the Bulls, however, the night was a mixed bag. Collin Sexton led the team with 17 points, while Nick Richards and Anfernee Simons chipped in with 15 points apiece. Guerschon Yabusele scored 12, Jaden Ivey added 10 points, and Rob Dillingham contributed nine.
Despite the bright spots from some of their young players, Donovan took issue with his team's defensive lapses in the fourth quarter, particularly in spacing and play execution. "We're going to make some mistakes," he acknowledged. "The guys are all playing together; it's just a matter of getting better defensively."
In the midst of this rebuilding process, Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas has been vocal about the team's approach to the remainder of the season. However, Donovan took a different tack in his post-game remarks, citing the importance of growth and improvement.
When asked about the 15-5 finish to last season, which was seen as a positive indicator for the Bulls' rebuilding efforts, Donovan downplayed its significance. "We dominated meaningful games," he noted. "But when it mattered most, we got outplayed."
The win marked a significant statement from the Nuggets, who moved into first place in the Western Conference with the victory. Meanwhile, the Bulls continue to struggle, their losses serving as a harsh reminder that they have yet to find their footing under new coach Billy Donovan.
they had some good moments but then you turn around and they just fall apart defense wise it's like they're still trying to figure out who's supposed to be on the court 
and don't even get me started on the tanking efforts it's like they're just throwing in the towel at this point
what do you guys think is going on with this team?
I gotta say, this Bulls' tanking effort just didn't seem to work out 
. They were doing okay for a bit, but then got crushed by the Nuggets in that 4th quarter. It's like they couldn't find their rhythm or anything 
. And I'm not even going to get started on Jokic - dude is just on another level 
. Meanwhile, Donovan's all about growth and improvement, which is cool and all, but I think they need to focus on getting some wins under their belt too 
. The Nuggets' win was pretty statement-making, though. Maybe the Bulls should just take a step back and try to learn from this loss? 
. The Bulls were actually playing alright in that first half, but then they just kinda... stopped trying 
. And don't even get me started on Donovan's "we're gonna make mistakes" excuse - like, yeah, no kidding, coach! You think anyone doesn't see what's going on here? 
. 17 assists?! That's crazy 
.
. Coach Donovan should try a different strategy, maybe something more than just "we'll get better defensively"... like, what's the plan here? 
We need to see some real progress ASAP! 
we had a chance to actually play some decent ball and instead were outplayed by 19 points in the 4th quarter. jokic is just insane though