Slip-sliding Away

Stopped-clock Arturas Karnisovas appears to have gotten it right on guard Patrick Beverly, who’s given the Bulls some defensive backbone since his signing late last month. Only it’s too little too late. What’s ailing the Bulls is foundational. Last night against the visiting Sacramento Kings, they needed all hands on deck, especially with Alex Caruso—he and Beverly play a nice, old-school game of defense when they’re together—sidelined due to illness. Instead, they get Zach LaVine shooting 7-of-22 and Nikola Vucevic 8-of-22. Bulls lose a heartbreaker, 117-114, on a last-second three-pointer by De’Aaron Fox. It could just be me, but center Andre Drummond seems to be coming off the bench a lot for meaningful minutes the last few games. Drummond steps onto the floor, and the team defense improves immediately. The man fills up the paint to block shots and grab rebounds. He also knows how to set a screen. Vucevic, not so much. It’s actually painful to watch him—or any other Bull, for that matter—try. You’d almost think the front office made it their mission to find players who stand around and do nothing without the ball. That’s one way to describe a 31-37 team.