Chicago Bulls vs Orlando Magic: Relax, Butt-Kickings Happen to Champions Too

I'm not going to tell you that I didn't hope, or even think, that last night's demolishing at the hands of the Orlando Magic would go differently. You'd think that after last night's game though it was time for the Bulls to start rebuilding again.  

Settle down Chi-Town. Take a breath. Let me take you back to the year 2006. The date, February 9. The game is between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks. 

The Mavs jumped out to an early lead and by the end of the first quarter they were already ahead by eight. By halftime, the Heat were down by 13. The deficit doubled by the end of the third quarter. And by the time all was said and done, the Mavericks obliterated the Heat, 112-76. 

This one of those TNT Thursday night games, prompting Dwyane Wade to say, "Anytime you lose a ballgame, it's painful. When you get blown out, embarrassed, especially on live television, it's terrible. You put your hat on and walk out of here cause nobody's got any reason to hold their head up. We got our (butts) kicked tonight." 

It happens. Everyone gets their butts kicked. The reason I point to this particular butt-kicking is that just a few months later, on June 20, 2006, the results were slightly different. Down 14 points the Heat had a second half comeback and ended up beating the Mavs, 95-92. Only this win was a little more important. This win secured the Miami Heat their first, and to whit, only NBA Championship. 

The point being, sometimes butt kickings just happen. Don't get too excited about it. Today on the radio callers were saying everything from it's time to cut Ronnie Brewer to Carlos Boozer will never be the same, to Vinnie Del Negro was a better coach than Tom Thibodeau. When you start saying things like that, it's time to ease up on the panic button and settle down. 

This is still the same team that had the winning Circus trip. They are the same team that beat the Nuggets, the Mavericks and Trailblazers. They are still the only team in the history of the NBA to have two 23-point comebacks in the same season. They didn't suddenly all forget to play basketball overnight. 

I'm not gong to tell you that last night's game wasn't horrible, it was. Deng lost track of the shot clock. The team look discombobulated on both ends of the court.

There were several just plain awkward minutes on both ends of the court, including that moment when the only one who seemed to be aware that the shot clock was expiring was whatever fan was shouting "THREE SECONDS LEFT!!!" at the top of his lungs. Luol Deng didn't seem to hear that either though. The clock expired. 

Even the announcing of the starters went wrong, with the announcer saying "At 6'9", from Duke..." and Deng ran out as the announcer said, "Carlos Boozer!" I guess it hadn't occurred to anyone that there were two 6' 9" forwards from Duke playing for the Bulls now. And that was probably the highlight of the night. 

So don't get me wrong. I'm not making excuses. I'm not apologizing. The team played horrible in just about every aspect of the game. But that happens. Just breathe. Wait for Friday. Then another game will be the last game they played.

It's December 2. The season isn't over. Boozer will get the strength back in his hand. A lot of the awkwardness had to do with the team adjusting to playing with him. I think Rose was trying to hard to get him involved. I think some of those weird standing around and waiting for Noah to figure out what to do might have something to do with broken plays. This'll get worked out. Trust me. Noah will get another rebound this year. 

And if you really get depressed. Just remember. History is on our side.