Getting blown out by the Thunder in a rebuilding season on a night when Russell Westbrook posts a triple-double and Carmelo Anthony and Paul George combine for nine 3-pointers and 41 points isn’t that offensive.
Not competing like the Bulls had through their first four games is, which is why an uncharacteristically angry coach Fred Hoiberg warned the team’s hardest practices of the young season are coming this week.
“We took a huge step in the wrong direction,” Hoiberg said. “We didn’t compete. We didn’t stay together. We didn’t fight through adversity as a team. We were careless. We were stagnant. They got to loose balls. That can’t happen with this group.
“It’s very disappointing coming off the encouraging win against Atlanta by doing all the little things — winning the 50-50 balls, dominating the glass. We had none of that. And our body language sucked. Things weren’t going well and we just dropped our heads and gave in. You can’t do that as a young team.”
Players said Hoiberg gave them an earful at halftime. And those practices will feature an open competition at point guard after Kris Dunn, in his season debut, outplayed Jerian Grant.
“We’re going to compete and see who wants to play,” Hoiberg said.
In his first action since suffering an open dislocation of his left index finger on Oct. 6, Dunn overcame early rust to finish with eight points, five fouls, four rebounds, four turnovers, three assists and three steals in 22 eventful minutes.
“I definitely can play better,” Dunn said. “But I think what helped me is just playing hard.”
Grant missed all seven shots, including six 3-pointers, with four assists in 21 minutes. Worse, Lauri Markkanen posted his fifth straight double-digit scoring game with 15 points and eight rebounds but got up just seven shots in 28 minutes. That’s more on the point guards than the rookie.
“We missed him on several occasions. He was standing out there by himself. And we tried to take extra dribbles and get through small spaces and turned the ball over,” Hoiberg said. “When Lauri has it going like that, we have to make a point to get him shots.”
Westbrook tallied 12 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in just 28 minutes, his first triple-double against the Bulls. He now has one against every NBA team.
The Thunder ran away and hid with an 18-2 run that featured the Bulls opening the second quarter by shooting 1-for-10 with six turnovers. The Bulls finished with eight points, tying their lowest quarter output in the last 14 years.
Dunn left late after reaggravating his injured finger.
“I jammed it a little bit,” Dunn said. “But it’s OK.”
The Bulls weren’t.
“We’re disappointed in ourselves,” Markkanen said. “It’s not just about the blowout win for them but how we lost. We didn’t compete.”
Layups: Asked about the Bulls picking up struggling guard Cameron Payne’s option, coach Fred Hoiberg revealed Payne left summer league to attend to his ill grandmother. Hoiberg also said Payne’s next CT scan for the bone he has broken three times and had surgery on twice is Nov. 3. The Bulls hope Payne will be ready around Jan. 1. “He could help this team when he gets healthy by getting into the paint and making plays,” Hoiberg said. …Hoiberg said Nikola Mirotic has yet to begin the supervised light activity that executive vice president John Paxson said could happen as early as Saturday. … Thunder coach Billy Donovan, on the team’s charter plane suffering nose damage, mechanical issues and a drop in altitude on the flight to Chicago: “I’ve been on a lot worse.”
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