Chicago Bulls 86ed by 76ers, Home Win Streak Ends at 83-96

When you shoot .400 from the field, .600 from the stripe, and .125 from the arc, turn the ball over 15 times, and get out-rebounded, you're not likely to win, and that was the case tonight at the United Center as the  Bulls got flat beaten by the 76ers. 

All around it was bad games by the Bulls. Derrick Rose actually had a good shooting night, going 12 for 24, and scoring 31 points and adding five assists–but the 10 turnovers contributed to the loss. The rest of the team shot 21 for 56 for a measly .375 field goal percentage. 

Other Bulls contributed seven more turnovers to the party as well. Rose was 7-9 from the line, the rest of the team combined to go 11 for 20. 

They were out-rebounded 44-42. As a team they only had 18 assists, though that wasn't so much do to a lack of passing as it was a lack of making shots. 

In short, it was a horrible game for the Bulls. 

The silver lining here is that they weren't going to win out for the rest of the season and the Celtics lost too. They'd been coming out sloppy and giving up leads to inferior teams lately and then getting it back. Down 23 tonight at one point they closed to four points midway through the fourth quarter, but couldn't get any closer. 

Falling short could actually be a good thing. They'd been taking comebacks for granted and weren't starting off with that same killer instinct they showed lately, particularly the two games against Sacramento (who coincidentally beat Philadelphia last night). 

The loss should motivate them and remind them that this is the NBA and there are NBA teams that they play every night. It's better to learn this lesson now than in the playoffs. I'm sure Tom Thibodeau will use this as a teaching tool. 

I'm also sure that Derrick Rose will use it as a motivational tool. I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm just guessing, Minnesota is going to pay for the sins of Philadelphia. 

Boston lost as well tonight so they didn't lose any ground on the Eastern Conference. They have the tie breaker over the Lakers (if they beat Minnesota or Phoenix they clinch it) so while they drop into a tie they still have a lead in that race. 

If you had to pick a game for them to lose, it's a good one. Philadelphia's not a team they're likely to see in the playoffs, they didn't lose any ground, and they hopefully got some good lessons out of it. The game against Minnesota will tell us if they've learned.