The attendance was announced as 14,775 Monday night at the United Center.
Actual bodies in the seats, however?
Not even close to that.
Since late-game meltdowns, so-called foundation pieces not playing to expectations, and now an 8-17 record hasn’t been enough for chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to make changes to this sinking ship, maybe, just maybe, thousands of empty red seats will wake the owner up.
Something has to.
On a night in which the Bulls shot a head-shaking 12-for-46 (26.1 percent) from three-point range and still had every opportunity to steal the game from the defending NBA champions, they lost 93-92, continuing to turn their fan base completely numb on a 2019-20 campaign that had playoff goals by the front office.
“I can’t speak for everybody or the fans,’’ coach Jim Boylen said after the latest loss. “I get a lot of positive feedback from our group. I think people understand what we’re trying to build. It’s disappointing when we don’t win games, it’s disappointing when we don’t win home game.’’
Which they haven’t a lot, now 4-9 at the UC this season.
And a lot of these losses look the same.
For the second time in as may home games, Zach LaVine had a chance to win the game, and fell short. It was a missed three last week, and against Toronto it was attacking the paint, despite a double-team that came his way, missing the attempted baseline game-winner.
“This team is playing hard, and they’re competing and they’re growing,’’ Boylen continued. “I think people can see that too.
“I’m not going to let those things deter me from understanding who we are and what we’re trying to do and what we’re building. I’m not, I’m not. I can’t control [fans opinions]. I’m not going to do it.’’
Boylen again praised the effort, but there was no way he could say anything positive about the execution. Neither team could.
Turnovers, missed lay-ups, and the three-pointers. Those awful, over-shot three-pointers that both teams settled for all evening long.
By the end of the first quarter, the Bulls were 3-for-11 from three, with the defending champs slightly better with a 5-for-12 clip. By the half, the Bulls were 6-for-27, while Toronto fell flat, going 6-for-21.
What the Bulls did have working for them, however, was LaVine, who was at least aggressive enough to get to the line seven times.
The clanking of the rim scared off no one as the second half started, however, with the Bulls all about trying to jam that square peg in the round hole, going 3-for-11 from three in the quarter.
Then Denzel Valentine happened, and he brought along a friend.
Fifteen seconds into the fourth, Valentine nailed a three. About a minute later, a second three from Valentine. Then came the alley-oop show, as Valentine had two picture-perfect passes for rookie Daniel Gafford to catch next to the rim and deposit with force.
With eight minutes left, the Bulls looked to be cruising and pulling away, up 85-77.
Then came four minutes of crickets. Not a basket, not a free throw. A fourth-quarter cold spell that this team has done far too often this season, specifically the starters.
As bad as Toronto (16-7) was playing, of course they were going to take advantage of it, as Kyle Lowry hit two free throws to give his team the lead.
But on a night in which neither team deserved the W, the Bulls found themselves in position to take it. After a Lowry missed shot was reviewed and the ball was given to the Bulls with 8.1 second left, it was hero time for LaVine.
The cape again had a rip in it.
“It’s tough,’’ Valentine said. “Hopefully at some point we’ll figure it out.’’
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December 10, 2019 at 11:08AM
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If losses won’t wake up Bulls ownership maybe empty red seats will - Chicago Sun-Times
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