Rose on Bulls' lack of effort: 'It's f---ing irritating'

This is unfamiliar territory for the Chicago Bulls.

No, not Joakim Noah and Mike Dunleavy being sidelined. The Bulls have been one enormous, rotating M.A.S.H. unit, and they've made their way through myriad absences just fine.

Instead, it's a continued two-way struggle that is presently perplexing Tom Thibodeau's charges. The Bulls dropped a 108-94 decision to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, their sixth loss in eight games. Since that stretch began on Jan. 7, the Bulls rank 10th in offense but have cratered to 28th in defense.

That's largely inexplicable for a Thibodeau defense, as the Bulls ranked eighth before this stretch, ranked second a year ago, and fifth, first and first in the seasons before that. As has been the case for weeks now, the Bulls seem at a loss for answers.

"We've got to give a better effort," a fiery Derrick Rose said Monday. "It seems like we're not even competing and it's fucking irritating."

Rose pointed to communication issues on the floor, saying that players are uncharacteristically quiet up and down the roster.

"Everybody has to be on the same page," he said. "Until then, we're going to continue to get our ass kicked."

The Bulls have two days off to figure things out before continuing a hellacious stretch of schedule against the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks. After that comes a home game against the Miami Heat and then a six-game road trip that starts in Golden State. 

That's not exactly the best slate to work through issues against, so the Bulls could slide lower than their 27-16 mark before things turn around.