Jimmy Butler after loss to Hornets: 'We were soft'

For Jimmy Butler, one word summed up the Bulls’ performance in a 130-105 loss against the previously winless Charlotte Hornets last night: soft.

“We ain’t been playing no defense,” Butler said after the game, via ESPN. “They put up 130 or whatever they did, we got to nip that in the bud now because that’s not winning basketball. It will never be winning basketball here and it never has been winning basketball here. We’ve always prided ourself on playing hard and not being pretty. Tonight, we were pretty, we were soft. Got our asses whipped.”

[nicelink url=”http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1070716/bulls-blown-charlotte”]

With 69 points at halftime, one would have thought team owner Michael Jordan had suited up for Charlotte. But instead, it was a combined effort as seven different Hornets scored in double figures.

Jeremy Lamb led the way with 20.

The 130 points were the most allowed by the Bulls in regulation since a 132-108 loss to Utah in March of 2010.

Chicago returns home to face Oklahoma City Thursday at 7 p.m.

12 photos of Jimmy Butler untucked

All stats via ESPN.

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