CHICAGO _ For several days, Jim Boylen has answered questions about the Bulls' lethargic offense. On Wednesday night at the United Center, the focus shifted to the defense.
In a truly embarrassing effort, the Bulls trailed by as many as 30 in a listless, 112-84 loss to the Magic.
The Bulls have had their share of hide-your-eyes defeats this season, and you can place this one right up there with the worst of them. That it came after two days of mental and physical preparation since their last game made it stink all the more.
The Bulls took until the 9-minute, 29-second mark of the first quarter score and upped their inefficiency to open the third, missing their first eight shots and not scoring until the 7:10 mark on a Zach LaVine layup.
But offense, as bad as it was, wasn't the main issue. Defense was.
Boylen often talks about owning "Bulls" on the team's chest. The Bulls didn't own much of anything against the league's 26th-ranked offense, allowing the Magic to get comfortable time and again in shooting 57.9 percent, a season high for a Bulls opponent.
About the only thing missing was a five-man substitution.
"It's not just about the offensive end," Kris Dunn said. "We gotta bring it on the defensive side too."
Nikola Vucevic's 22 points and 12 rebounds and Aaron Gordon's flirtation with a triple-double (18 points, nine assists, seven rebounds) led the Magic, who never trailed.
Zach LaVine scored 16 points and Dunn and Lauri Markkanen each added 14 in just 28 minutes apiece because of the blowout.
Wendell Carter Jr. failed to score and played just 13:28 despite having only three fouls. Making Carter's playing time even more puzzling is that Boylen, speaking at the morning shootaround, lauded the rookie's ability to persevere.
"I like those guys that can start the game poorly and turn it around for themselves," Boylen said. "Whatever it is _ getting an offensive rebound, a put-back, get some free throws. And he's done that.
"He's very hard on himself. When he plays poorly and feels he let the team down, he struggles with that. I want guys like that."
