Chicago Bulls: Lack Of Fourth-Quarter Scoring Continues To Be An Issue
Thanks to the lack of fourth-quarter scoring, the Chicago Bulls have dropped three consecutive games, putting their playoff hopes in danger.
The 2016-17 version of the Chicago Bulls continues to be a mystery of sorts. It wasn't that long ago when the team appeared to be turning the corner when they beat the Golden State Warriors by a seven-point margin back on March 2.
Since that game, however, the Bulls have been beaten in each of their last three outings, dropping them to two games below the .500 mark at 31-33. What is the one factor that has been constant during their recent losing streak?
The lack of fourth-quarter scoring.
Let's start with the outing against the Los Angeles Clippers on March 4. After taking a 61-55 lead into intermission, the Bulls came out flat in the third quarter and were outscored to the tune of 27-12.
Additionally, the Bulls were held to just 18 points in the final frame. As a result, the Clippers left the United Center with a 101-91 victory against a Bulls squad that had won five of its previous seven contests.
Along with that, Jimmy Butler attempted just seven shots, which should have been a point of emphasis being that he is the Bulls' No. 1 scoring option.
A few nights later, the Bulls faced off against a Detroit Pistons team that trailed them by just one game in the standings. As was the case against the Clippers, the Bulls managed to jump out to an early double-digit lead early, only to go down in flames during the game's final 12 minutes.
With the score tied at 79 after the first three quarters, the Bulls imploded in the fourth quarter. Over that stretch, they converted just six of their 20 shot attempts and were outscored by a 30-16 margin. The loss dropped Chicago into the last spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
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On the heels of two disappointing losses, the Bulls were hoping to turn things around on Wednesday night against an Orlando Magic ball club that had won just 23 games this season. And in a game they absolutely had to have, the Bulls came up short once again.
As was the case against the Pistons, the game was tied heading into the final frame. Unfortunately for the Bulls, their inability to produce in the fourth quarter came back to haunt them once again.
Butler, who wasn't feeling well prior to the game, was held scoreless on 0-for-5 shooting.
While it may be tempting to put this recent loss squarely on Butler's shoulders, it is worth noting that the team as a whole converted just five of its 23 attempts, including a woeful 2-for-10 from three-point range.
The Magic didn't exactly set the nets on fire either, as they connected on eight of their 28 attempts (28.5 percent). But despite that fact, they were able to hold off the Bulls, who had shot 53 percent during the first 36 minutes of the contest.
So to recap, the Bulls have scored 18, 16 and 14 points, respectively in the final period of their last three games. If you care to do the math at home, that is an average of just 16 points in the fourth quarter during that stretch.
"Obviously, fourth quarters have been a huge issue for us this last week and if we want to have any chance of playing beyond the regular season we're going to have to get better," coach Fred Hoiberg said, via the Chicago Tribune. "The biggest thing is work our way through it. The only thing that's going to get us out of it is to stick together through this tough time that we're going through … and hopefully start playing better, full 48-minute games."
Looking ahead, the Bulls have a tough schedule over the next week. In fact, they will face playoff teams (Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards) in four of their next five outings.
With just a half-game lead over the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks, the eventual return of Dwyane Wade (strained left quad) and Rajon Rondo (ankle) cannot come soon enough.
The question is, will they return to the lineup in time to help the Bulls keep their playoff hopes alive?
