It wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement from Billy Donovan.
Then again, his Bulls team didn’t deserve one.
For the third time in the last six games, Donovan watched his defense allow 140 points or more. This time it was the undermanned Grizzlies, who strolled into the United Center and beat the home team 142-131.
“At some point we’ve got to hold our ground,” Donovan said, when discussing the defense and the idea of if it is fixable. “I said this before the season even started that defense was going to be a challenge, and it is. I think there are times that we have to look at the controllables.
“Is it fixable? Defense is a talent. It’s no different than offense in my opinion. There are guys that are talented defensively. We’re going to have to figure out a way to do it collectively. There are moments in time, moments of truth where you are going to be on an island, you are going to be by yourself. You’re going to have to make the guy make a couple different moves.”
That wasn’t the case for far too many Memphis baskets, especially for Scotty Pippen Jr., who scored a career-high 30 points and handed out 10 assists. He did all that on 13-of-17 shooting.
“Just take a stand, be more physical,” guard Coby White said of the defense trying to improve. “Take more pride. The whole nine. We just have to put more into it on that end of the floor.”
It wasn’t like the Bulls (7-11) didn’t catch somewhat of a break, either.
One of the concerning weaknesses on the defensive end has been guards that can simply blow-by defenders and get to the rim. There are few better at that than Memphis guard Ja Morant, but for the second time this season he did not play against the Bulls.
This time it was a pelvic muscle strain that kept him in street clothes.
They also avoided facing 7-foot-4 rookie Zach Edey, who was dealing with a left ankle sprain.
What the Bulls couldn’t avoid? More defensive breakdowns that allowed opposing teams to get way too comfortable both in the paint and from three-point range.
That’s exactly what happened in the third quarter as the visiting team seemingly scored whenever and however they wanted on the way to a 45-point quarter for the Grizzlies. Pippen Jr. did most of the damage with 14 points in the stanza, but as a team Memphis shot 18-of-28 (64%) from the field, scoring 20 points in the paint, while also shooting 6-of-11 from three-point range.
It wasn’t like the Bulls offense was that bad in the third, putting up 38 points on 13-of-25, but the defense? The nightmare continued.
“It’s just a process, man,” White said. “You can’t give up 140, but we do play at a frantic, high pace, so sometimes that can bleed over defensively because you’re trying to play so fast.
“We’re staying positive. I don’t have frustrations about it. We still got a long way to go. This season is all about continuing to get better and work on habits.”
If there was any good news it was the Bulls did have some offense highlights to build on, including rookie Matas Buzelis scoring a career-high 14 points, finishing a plus-10 in plus/minus, and having one of the better dunks of the season on a first-half breakaway.
Baby steps.
“I have not really seen much of a change in him in his attitude or his disposition,” Donovan said of his rookie continuing to develop. “The biggest thing I respect about him more than anything is I think he understands the importance of the little things. That’s an area of focus he has really been focusing on.”