Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen wasn't too pleased with the team's overall effort in Friday night's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Following the game, he said that they didn't play for a full 48 minutes.

Article Continues Below

“We just got a little sloppy and careless in the third quarter. We played 24-26 minutes of real good basketball and we have to play 48,” Boylen said per ESPN.

It is a common theme for a young team like Chicago to struggle with consistency. Nonetheless, this should be a learning lesson for this Bulls squad.

The Bulls played well in the first half, as they went into the intermission with a six-point lead. However, the Clippers flipped the switch at the start of the second half, going on a 19-4 run out of the gates.

The Clippers turned on the defensive intensity and forced the Bulls to seven turnovers and just 7-of-17 shooting in the third. Los Angeles ultimately outscored Chicago 45-21 in that period and held on to win despite a 37-point fourth quarter effort from the Bulls.

Boylen wasn't there to support and guide his squad in the second half. He had a heated exchange with Clippers coach Doc Rivers at mid-court during the third quarter, leading to their ejection. The hot-headed coach was reportedly frustrated with the picks set by Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell, thinking that their tactics were “dirty.”

The loss gave Chicago its fourth consecutive loss and their sixth in seven outings. With nothing but the lottery to look forward to at this point, the Bulls should just absorb every learning they can as they try to get better finish their 2018-19 campaign on a strong note.