The Chicago Bulls suffered a stunning setback on Tuesday night, falling to the undermanned Atlanta Hawks in a 114-108 defeat that left fans and players visibly frustrated. After the game, Bulls star Zach LaVine didn’t hold back, candidly revealing the root causes behind the team’s ongoing struggles.

It’s not just about talent or effort,it’s about focus, LaVine said during the post-game interview. We’re losing games we should win because we’re not locked in, especially on defense. It’s frustrating because we know we’re better than this.

LaVine, who contributed 22 points in the loss but struggled with efficiency, pointed to a lack of cohesion and accountability on the court as major factors in the team’s recent skid. We can’t keep blaming it on a bad night or somebody being out, he continued. We’ve got to take ownership, myself included.

The loss to the Hawks, who were missing several key players due to injuries, exposed the Bulls’ inability to close games. Chicago entered the fourth quarter with a narrow lead but faltered in crunch time, allowing Atlanta to dominate on the boards and capitalize on turnovers. LaVine admitted the team’s late-game execution needs significant improvement.

You can’t expect to win if you don’t execute in the last five minutes, he said. We’ve got to stop beating ourselves.

The frustration wasn’t limited to LaVine. Head coach Billy Donovan also expressed concern, particularly over the team’s defensive lapses.  It’s the same story, losing focus in critical moments, Donovan said.  We’ve got to get better at the basics if we want to be competitive.

This defeat marks a worrying trend for the Bulls, who have now dropped four of their last five games and are teetering on the edge of falling out of playoff contention. Despite boasting a talented roster led by LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vučević, the team has struggled with consistency all season.

The post-game comments from LaVine may serve as a wake-up call, but they also highlight growing tension within the organization. Fans and analysts are beginning to question whether this roster has reached its ceiling or if significant changes are needed to turn things around.

As the Bulls face mounting pressure, LaVine’s willingness to speak out reflects his frustration, but also his determination to hold the team accountable. Whether his words spark a turnaround or deepen the divide remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: time is running out for the Bulls to save their season.