The Chicago Bulls entered Monday’s home game against the Phoenix Suns, fresh off a disappointing loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. But Monday’s game won’t make them feel much better.
The Bulls blew a 16-point lead at the United Center and fell to the Phoenix Suns 103-10, dropping their record to 7-11 on the season. In both home losses, the Bulls led in the 4th quarter with chances to put the game away. On Saturday it was Nicolas Batum who scored 12 of his 24 points in the final quarter to doom the Bulls, an on Monday it was a shot from Mirza Teletovic that sealed the deal:
There’s a common trend in Bulls losses that’s starting to be a big problem and it seems like head coach Fred Hoiberg has figured it out. Following the loss to Phoenix, Hoiberg stated that the Bulls lacked the “killer instinct” to close out games:
Hoiberg: "You have to have that killer instinct. We have yet to find it this year."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) December 8, 2015
Fred Hoiberg on 4th quarter: "The urgency, it just wasn't the same."
— Cody Westerlund (@CodyWesterlund) December 8, 2015
He’s right. The Bulls seem to play down to their tempo in the fourth quarter and tend to relax a bit. It cost them another game and a shot to be No. 1 in the Eastern Conference again.
Hoiberg and the Bulls have time to fix it as there’s still 60-plus games left. But if they can’t, it’s going to be a long and frustrating season in the Windy City.
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