DENVER – They were ugly plays on Friday.
A day later while watching the film, it wasn’t like they got easier on the eyes.
While the defensive lapses by the Bulls were many in Friday’s loss to Brooklyn, the face of those lapses happened to be the financial face of the franchise in Zach LaVine.
That included LaVine making a poor decision on a steal attempt to mess up the rotation on Cam Thomas’ three-pointer with 2:18 left in the game in the eventual two-point loss, and then just over a minute later, Mikel Bridges wearing LaVine like a loose shirt before simply going around him on the baseline for a dunk.
The guard was asked about them afterward and didn’t do himself any favors in his response.
“I don’t think they were lapses,’’ LaVine told reporters. “We’re all out there playing hard. You go for a steal. … I thought we were doing good rotations.
“And Bridges made a good move on the baseline. That’s basketball. I don’t think they’re defensive lapses. It’s basketball.’’
Yes, bad basketball.
And maybe it’s that current mentality that explained why the Bulls finished in the top five in defensive efficiency last season, but – even with the small sample size – entered the Nuggets game down at No. 20.
LaVine, like the rest of his teammates, heard all about it during Saturday’s film session.
“We can’t play defense with four guys,’’ Donovan said. “(Alex) Caruso can’t run around and guard five guys. Torrey Craig can’t do that either. To me the disappointing part defensively was there was a lot of different breakdowns at a lot of different points, and I don’t think we did a good enough job protecting one another in situations where we got spread out, we were not in the right position, not in the right shits, we left each other on an island, and it wasn’t just Zach, it was everybody. Collectively we’ve got to be better.’’
Fortunately for Donovan, he’s seen a slow start by this group before.
Last year, the defense didn’t start tightening up until a few months into the season, and never let go.
The disappointment, however, was that LaVine has always been knocked for his defense. Not that he can’t play it, because in moments he’s very good. He just doesn’t stay consistent with it.
“I think the word right there is consistency, and it’s been the consistency with our team,’’ Donovan said. “We could not have been where we were last year defensively if (LaVine) was not very good. So he’s very capable. It’s not like he’s the only guy. Do I think he can do it? Absolutely.
“What I think about Zach is I do feel he’s always trying to find ways to get better. Is he going to be perfect? No, none of us are. But he knows there are things that he has to do.’’
Still MIA
Reserve guard Ayo Dosunmu did not make the trip to Denver, staying back in Chicago to deal with an illness.
As far as how long he will be sidelined, Donovan was still not certain. The Bulls will have an off day on Sunday, and then host Utah on Monday.
Dosunmu was averaging five points per game despite only getting 11.2 minutes per game.
Final say
There was early-morning chatter that DeMar DeRozan could sit out the Nuggets game, but DeRozan wasn’t having any of that.
According to Donovan, the training staff talked to DeRozan about where he was minutes wise, but he told them he felt good and that’s all that mattered.