Cue up the slow, dramatic music and grab ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.
That’s right, it’s sad sports story time, and right now there are few teams in the NBA sadder than the 4-9 Bulls.
Where to start? With so many culprits of an early season gone wrong, the finger pointing can go in many directions. It starts, however, with an offense expected to be playoff worthy.
The numbers tell a much different story.
The Bulls entered Sunday ranked 27th in offensive efficiency (101.1), and have spent the first month of the season force-feeding the three pointer, ranked eighth in the Association in three-point attempts (35.5 attempts per game), but just 24th in three-point field goal percentage (32.5 percent).
There’s been a lot of standing around, a whole lot of stagnant moments, and finally some head-shaking explanations about it from the players.
Guard Zach LaVine was very careful not to come out and slam coach Jim Boylen’s offense after the latest loss to Brooklyn, but he did point out the problems with it.
“We get stagnant a lot out there,’’ LaVine said. “We’ll run one action and then everybody is staring at the person with the ball. We gotta get more fluid. I don’t feel a lot of people are in rhythm. When that happens, obviously everybody starts trying to do it themselves.
“It’s tough. I blame myself. I try to do that as well. I’m in the gym late. I’m putting up shots. I’m making sure I’m prepared so I can do everything I can to help. We gotta do a better job as a team.’’
LaVine did say that when he senses those stagnant moments, he has tried to get some more action going out there, insisting, “I try to call a pick-and-roll most of the time when that happens and then if nothing comes from that, I’m going to take the shot or pass it.’’
So why the lack of cutting? That’s where LaVine didn’t paint the prettiest picture of what’s exactly going on.
“I mean, it’s our offense,’’ LaVine said. “We have a five-out offense. So it gets tough when we get to those stagnant points because that’s how it’s supposed to be.’’
And it sounds like that’s how it’s going to stay, at least for the time being.
Boylen has been asked about the offense for more than a week, and again had to address what was going on after a 9-for-39 three-point shooting night against the Nets.
Specifically, if he had any changes planned, whether it was from a philosophy aspect or rotational.
“I think we’ve got to stay the course,’’ Boylen said. “I can’t play for them. They’ve got to come out and they’ve got to do it.’’
While LaVine and Boylen have a much better relationship than they did initially when Boylen first took over last December, don’t expect LaVine to take his concerns to the coaching office. Yes, he is the most talented player on the roster and a leader, but LaVine is staying in his lane in this one.
“Hey man, I’ve got to do whatever he says,’’ LaVine said of Boylen. “You know I’m going to give you that answer.
“We put so much work into [this offense]. You don’t just want to abandon something you’ve been working on consistently. We’ve been here since September working on it. You don’t want to call it quits so early. That’s their department. They go in there and create that, so I’ve just got to be prepared. We’ll be OK. We just got to get it done, get a sense of urgency.’’
