The Chicago Bulls’ record on their annual “circus trip” in the 10 seasons since Michael Jordan retired was 10-56 before their game Thursday night against the Los Angeles Lakers.
With jugglers, clowns and animal acts from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey filling the United Center, the Bulls have embarked on the annual road trip that is anything but the Greatest Show on Earth. The Bulls went 0-32 on the circus trip from 1999 to 2003.
Explanations vary. The trip occurs early each season, when the team is still meshing. It features strong Western Conference foes: all but two were conference semifinalists last year, including the N.B.A. champion Lakers.
“It’s hard,” said Vinny Del Negro, whose 3-4 record on his maiden trip as head coach last year was the Bulls’ best since 1997. Still, the coach offers no excuses. “We’re flying charters,” he said, “and it’s not like we’re staying in bad hotels with bad service.”
