Chicago Bulls turn in ‘worst game’ of season with turmoil surrounding club
CHICAGO – As the late, great Darryl Dawkins famously put it – and as the Chicago Bulls lived it over 48 hours this week – “When everything is said and done, there’s nothing left to do or say.”
After two days of sniping and melodrama that opened an emotional and energy sink hole in their hardwood, the Bulls had little left on the court and even less left for the locker room afterward. With every reason to play angry or at least avoid further embarrassment, they produced what coach Fred Hoiberg called their “worst game we played all year.” Final: Miami 100, Chicago 88.
The night began with stars Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade sitting on the bench, a secondary penalty for going public with harsh criticism of teammates after a collapse against Atlanta Wednesday (Butler, Wade and Rajon Rondo reportedly also were fined). It ended with no one making any rhetorical points, never mind scoring enough points at all.
As a way to prepare to play at their sport’s highest level, how the Bulls spent Thursday (Rondo’s rebuke of Wade and Butler plastered on Instagram) and Friday (a team meeting, followed by serial ‘fessing up to assembled media) ranks just shy of jetting off NFL Giants-like to Florida for fun and sun.
“It’s been an emotional 48 hours,” Hoiberg said, while refusing to use it as an excuse. “A lot of guys talked about not sleeping the last two days just thinking about everything that has gone on with our team.”
Hoiberg held Butler out only for the game’s first 5:07. He subbed in Wade 28 seconds after that….
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