Bulls need more from their core as players disjointedly return from injury

Share

Minutes restrictions or not, it’s not a good sign when Coby White and Shaq Harrison combine to score half the Bulls' points, and Otto Porter Jr., Wendell Carter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen don’t combine to crack 20.

“We’re in this moment where we’re working guys back in and getting used to playing with each again and kind of fighting through it,” coach Jim Boylen said. “I think I gave the training camp reference in Minnesota. It’s almost like we’re in preseason with some of these lineups, situations. It’s nobody’s fault. It’s what it is. But it’s difficult.”

So is losing, which the Bulls did again Friday night 108-102 to a Pacers team playing without Malcolm Brogdon, Jeremy Lamb, Doug McDermott and T.J. Warren, and starting Brian Bowen II, playing in his fourth career game. They shot 50.7 percent and didn’t seem to miss a beat.

Meanwhile, the Bulls dropped to a season-worst 21 games under .500 as Markkanen tied his career-low with 3 points and shot a career-worst 10 percent on 1-for-10 shooting (0-for-5 from 3).

“I know he cares. I know he’s trying. He’s working his way back,” Boylen said of Markkanen’s struggles. “I don’t know if you can miss that much time and just come back and be where you were.

“I think Wendell is going through that, I think Lauri’s going through that, I think Otto’s going through that. But we need those guys to play and get into the game and get their sea legs back.”

Beyond Markkanen’s poor shooting night, he again endured stretches with limited or no touches. That’s been a season-long issue.

“Just try to find in our system the spots that I can get to and try to defensive rebound and push it. You get in a rhythm like that,” Markkanen said. “When you shoot like that, it’s not supposed to come to you either.”

At least Markkanen’s self-deprecating humor is intact, even if his confidence isn’t as he endures a trying season filled with injury, ineffective usage and inconsistent play.

“A little gassed but it’s part of the process. Trying to get my legs back,” Markkanen said. “You can try to do conditioning. But the game is always different. We’re doing shorter stints on the court. Game by game, I want to get my legs back on every drive and every shot.”

The Bulls played their first game since Boylen challenged them postgame Wednesday night in Minneapolis following a dispiriting loss to the Timberwolves. The Pacers, led by Domantas Sabonis’ 24 points and 12 rebounds, are a bruising team and only outrebounded the Bulls by one.

Progress?

“He’s telling the truth,” said Carter, who had eight points and six rebounds in 26 minutes. “They got a lot of offensive rebounds and you can’t blame it on no one but yourself. That’s not a coach thing. That’s nobody else but the players on the court. You gotta be tough. You gotta be a lot more physical.

“I responded to it well. I told him he can tell me what it is. However you feel about a certain situation, we just have a conversation about it. I feel like we have a lot of good-minded players who are all competitive. Especially with a coach like Jim, he’s going to push us. I feel like we all respond pretty well when he pushes us.”

But the Bulls need more from their core. No offense to Harrison’s career-high 25 points. But if that’s the main storyline, that’s not good.

Carter also had four turnovers.

“It’s been kind of tough as an individual. My legs have been kind of heavy very early in the game. It makes me a liability on the defensive end sometimes,”  he said. “Just getting my second wind back. I know I’m not going to pick up right where I left off from before I got injured. I have to be patient and keep working hard. It’s improved but it’s nowhere near where I was before I got injured. I’m still working towards that.”

All of the Bulls are.

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Bulls easily on your device.

Contact Us