Bulls' Late Game Struggles Continue to Haunt Them as Magic Take Down Chicago 125-120
The Bulls' recent surge was short-lived, as they succumbed to their old nemesis in the Orlando Magic. A 15-point deficit in the third quarter seemed insurmountable at one point, but a late rally from both teams kept the score tied heading into the final stanza.
However, it was Desmond Bane's clutch shooting that ultimately sealed the deal for the Magic, as he scored 18 of his game-high 37 points in the fourth quarter. The Bulls' inability to close out crucial plays and contain Bane's scoring spree proved to be their downfall.
Coach Billy Donovan cited a lack of key stops as the main issue plaguing his team late in games. "You just got to stay together when those runs come," Bulls point guard Matas Buzelis said post-game, highlighting the need for the team to get a kill – three consecutive stops that can disrupt an opponent's momentum.
The physicality of the Magic proved to be a major hurdle for the Bulls to overcome. Despite having more offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter, two crucial plays by Orlando ultimately swung the game in their favor.
"It's all about who's more physical and defends better," said guard Josh Giddey. The Bulls' struggles in this area have been well-documented, particularly as teams begin to adapt to their fast-paced offense.
Coach Billy Donovan acknowledged that pace is no longer a significant advantage for the Bulls. "We scored more transition points than any other team in the last 10 years of the NBA," he said on media day. However, the shift towards faster games has highlighted the importance of physicality and half-court defense – areas where the Bulls have struggled to improve.
Despite the loss, Donovan remains optimistic about his team's growth. "That's where our growth is... how well can we be better defensively in the halfcourt and can we be better offensively in the halfcourt?" The Bulls' struggles will continue to serve as a test of their ability to adapt to an ever-changing NBA landscape.
The Bulls' recent surge was short-lived, as they succumbed to their old nemesis in the Orlando Magic. A 15-point deficit in the third quarter seemed insurmountable at one point, but a late rally from both teams kept the score tied heading into the final stanza.
However, it was Desmond Bane's clutch shooting that ultimately sealed the deal for the Magic, as he scored 18 of his game-high 37 points in the fourth quarter. The Bulls' inability to close out crucial plays and contain Bane's scoring spree proved to be their downfall.
Coach Billy Donovan cited a lack of key stops as the main issue plaguing his team late in games. "You just got to stay together when those runs come," Bulls point guard Matas Buzelis said post-game, highlighting the need for the team to get a kill – three consecutive stops that can disrupt an opponent's momentum.
The physicality of the Magic proved to be a major hurdle for the Bulls to overcome. Despite having more offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter, two crucial plays by Orlando ultimately swung the game in their favor.
"It's all about who's more physical and defends better," said guard Josh Giddey. The Bulls' struggles in this area have been well-documented, particularly as teams begin to adapt to their fast-paced offense.
Coach Billy Donovan acknowledged that pace is no longer a significant advantage for the Bulls. "We scored more transition points than any other team in the last 10 years of the NBA," he said on media day. However, the shift towards faster games has highlighted the importance of physicality and half-court defense – areas where the Bulls have struggled to improve.
Despite the loss, Donovan remains optimistic about his team's growth. "That's where our growth is... how well can we be better defensively in the halfcourt and can we be better offensively in the halfcourt?" The Bulls' struggles will continue to serve as a test of their ability to adapt to an ever-changing NBA landscape.
, Bulls are having major issues closing games out... 
Like, how many times do they need to blow leads? 
DesBane's 37 points were insane! 
But seriously, physicality is key in these fast-paced games. They need to work on that half-court defense ASAP 
Coach Donovan is all about growth, which I'm with 
The Bulls just gotta step up their game... or should I say, step up their D 
. I mean, coach Donovan is right on the money with that whole physicality thing - teams are adapting to your fast pace, and you're still getting outcoached 
.
Bulls are struggling to defend, but I think they just need to get that next guy to step up & take some big plays 
. I mean, I know injuries and fatigue can be tough, but it's like they're still finding ways to trip over their own feet. 
Physicality and half-court defense are key right now, and it seems like they need a major overhaul to get there. Still, I gotta keep faith in Coach Donovan – he's always been one of the most positive dudes in the league 
. And hey, maybe this is just what they needed – a wake-up call to focus on those areas where they've struggled 
. Until they fix their defensive half-court game, all that optimism won't be enough 
... I mean, I knew the Magic were gonna take it from us but still... 15-point deficit in the third quarter? That's just mental 
... but nope, we couldn't even get that right 
... Coach Donovan said it's about who can defend better, but I think he's just being polite 
... because if you watch the game, you'll see that we got beat on both ends of the floor 
... and I'm all about growth and improvement 
... Coach Donovan said it's where our growth is, but what does he mean by "better defensively in the halfcourt" 
and it's crazy how one guy can single-handedly take over a game like that. The Bulls need to work on their half-court defense ASAP 
, 'cause teams aren't afraid of their fast-paced offense anymore. Coach Donovan is right, physicality is key 
. If they can figure that out, they'll be a force to be reckoned with in this league 
. But honestly, who hasn't said that before? It's all about following through, you know? They can talk about being better in the half-court forever, but if they don't actually put in the work, it's just empty words 
.
. If the Bulls are gonna try to keep up with all these fast-paced teams, they need to be able to match them physically 
. It's not like they can just outscore everyone and hope for the best 
. They need to develop a more well-rounded game if they want to compete against the likes of the Magic 
.
. The guy's a straight-up shooter 
I'm so frustrated with those Bulls! They just can't seem to close out games when it matters most 
That's just too much for them to handle. And you're telling me they need to stay together and not give up runs? 
. Coach Donovan is on the right track with his post-game analysis and the team's growth is gonna be awesome 
. and what's up with bane's shooting? 18 points in the 4th quarter? that's just too much for them to handle