Bulls vs. Warriors Game Recap: Slow Start Dooms Derrick Rose and Chicago

Many expected the Chicago Bulls to struggle with the frenetic pace of the Golden State Warriors in the second portion of a back-to-back.  If 20 turnovers for the Bulls do not tell the story, then how about Derrick Rose and C.J. Watson combining for 26 points on 7-for-27 shooting. 

Another slow start in the first quarter did them in.  Rose didn't seem to play with the aggression that helped him win the MVP last season.  He was primarily a facilitator on offense and the Bulls struggled to score while going down by eight to end the quarter.  The production and energy never picked up until eight minutes left, but by that time the Warriors lead had swelled to 19 points.

Against the Lakers, Rose was the hero, but against the Warriors, he was the goat.  Every three-pointer he shot (1-for-8 from three-point range), I cringed, as his shot seemed to be flat.  Rose had three turnovers as well but a plus-one in point differential while he was on the floor.

Rose isn't solely to blame for the loss, Carlos Boozer's scoring was completely nonexistent.  Seven shot attempts for a player making $15 million a season is absolutely unacceptable.  Taj Gibson played much of Boozer's minutes down the stretch but his miscues in the fourth quarter had fans asking for Boozer to come back out and bless us with his matador defense. 

Here's a telling stat line: 4 points, 1-for-4 shooting, 2-of-6 free-throw shooting, 4 rebounds and minus-16 in point differential.  Who is this mystery player?  Ronnie Brewer.

I am not down on Brewer but there usually is a sign when a player doesn't have "it" and Ronnie Brewer didn't have "it."

There is no reason to panic, because it is only one loss against a very competitive Golden State Warriors team. 

When the Bulls play Sacramento on Thursday, can someone tell the team that the game starts at 9:00 p.m. CST?