Bulls Game No. 37: Bulls run into a buzzsaw in D.C.

In probably the worst performance of the season for the Chicago Bulls, the Central Division leaders faltered in their second straight game of the week against the team that’s becoming their new nemesis in the post-LeBron James in Miami era.

Did you find yourself saying, “Well, it can’t get much worse for the Bulls” on Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz?

Live Feed

Betsided

A word of advice for Bulls fans: It can always get worse.

Have you not learned your lesson with Derrick Rose‘s injury past and Joakim Noah playing on one leg during last year’s postseason against the Washington Wizards?

Noah was playing against the Wiz on Friday, but even a performance from the 2013-2014 version of Joakim Noah wouldn’t have made much difference.

The Bulls were crushed by the “Wiz Kids” on Friday in D.C., 102-86, after another poor shooting night from Derrick Rose, on top of the worst showing from Jimmy Butler all season.

Butler shot 2-of-12 from the floor with four turnovers in the 16-point Bulls loss.

"“I thought he drove the ball hard. He didn’t get some calls. Jimmy scores so many different ways. He’s got to remember to run the floor and get some easy baskets…We’re putting a lot on him.”-Tom Thibodeau on Jimmy Butler, CSNChicago.com"

Although Rose shot 8-for-19 to continue his atrocious shooting slump, the youngest MVP in history did score 19 points and appeared to be finding his stride again with a few flashes on Friday night.

Tom Thibodeau made it clear that even with his point guard struggling, that’s not his major concern at the moment.

"“I’m concerned about the team being in a big hole early. If Derrick doesn’t shoot the ball well, and we win, and the team functions well, then he’s done the job. I’m not concerned about him as much individually as I am collectively with our team. We have to play better.”-Tom Thibodeau on his team’s early-game slumping, CSNChicago.com"

Why is Thibodeau so concerned?

The Bulls dug themselves a 30-13 deficit after the opening quarter.

Thoughts + what’s next for the Bulls

Coming into Friday night, the Bulls had only lost back-to-back games just once in their 25-11 start to the season.

Those losses came on the “Circus Trip” against Sacramento and Portland back in November, without Rose, Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson.

This two-game stretch happens to every team. In an 82-game season, teams will find themselves in funks and losing premier match-ups (like Friday night).

Plain and simple, the Bulls got outworked by the Wiz on Friday. John Wall was phenomenal again, logging his 17th(!) 15-point, 10-assist game of the season, which leads the NBA.

(Wall even threw a little jab at Rose towards the end of the ballgame.)

Remember Rose’s hop, skip and a jump celebration against the Wizards in their last meeting?

The Wizards and Bulls won’t see each other again until Washington steps on Chicago’s turf in … oh, look at that. The two teams meet in five days on ESPN’s NBA Wednesday doubleheader.

It’s safe to say that game will be intriguing.

The Bulls (25-12) move on to the second game of their current back-to-back on Saturday night against the upstart Milwaukee Bucks.

Chicago beat Milwaukee on November 5th, 95-86, behind 22 points and 14 rebounds from Pau Gasol

Tip-off from the United Center is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT.

More from Da Windy City

• Juan Soto appears headed to the Yankees which is not a big blow Chicago Cubs offseason
• 3 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks shootout loss to Nashville
• Chicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agency
• The Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei Ohtani
• Chicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidates

Next: Bulls Game No. 36: Ugly loss to Utah ends the Bulls' five-game homestand