Nikola Vucevic says the Chicago Bulls vividly remember their lopsided loss to the Boston Celtics back in November

"We hit a really low point."

© David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

As the Chicago Bulls prepare to take on the best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics, on Thursday, starting center Nikola Vucevic said the team doesn’t have to look far for motivation. Chicago only has to look back to their game versus Boston last November 28 when they suffered a humiliating 124-97 defeat.

The Bulls hit rock bottom with that crushing defeat, marking their eighth loss in nine games, plummeting to a 5-14 record. Following this setback, the team received news of All-Star guard Zach LaVine's indefinite absence due to foot inflammation. That point of the season was gut-check time for the franchise.

Bulls hit a low point

That loss marked an inflection point for the team. Vooch remembers everyone on the team being aware that there were only two ways their season could go: they could either let the defeat and injuries define them, or they could come together and fight back.

“I just think for us as a team, we hit a really low point, and we understood that we just can’t continue that way, and something has to change, or it’s going to get really ugly,” Vucevic said.

“We changed a little bit the way we played and our approach.”

Vooooooch!@NBCSChicago | @NikolaVucevic pic.twitter.com/DilwWwLsfB

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 11, 2024

Turned their season around

Since that loss to the Celtics, the Bulls have played much better, compiling a stellar 21-15 record. Chicago has played better defense and has also rebounded the ball well. The Bulls hope to continue that trend as Bulls coach Billy Donovan trusts his double-big combo of Vooch and Andre Drummond more.

“I think we’re getting more comfortable with it,” Vucevic said, referring to his team-up with the 6-foot-10 Drummond.

“I think offensively, we’ve been pretty good at finding ways to exploit that, especially having a smaller four and trying to attack inside high-low and also offensive rebounding. Defensively, we can get better. We have a tendency to get back to the paint, doing what big men do. And when there’s two of us, one of has to be the four.”

With Patrick Williams and Torrey Craig both out, be prepared to see more Andre Drummond/Nikola Vucevic lineups going forward.#BullsNation | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/00OKfN7wB0

— Bulls Nation (@BullNationCHI) February 21, 2024

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