CHICAGO — The consensus feeling in the Celtics locker room is that this team is talented enough to compete in the Eastern Conference. The issue is focus and coach Doc Rivers has challenged his players to be more consistent.

A listless 100-89 loss to the Bulls Tuesday night only added to their maddening inconsistency. The first 24 games have been unpredictable and the Celtics have dropped three straight, disappointing losses to Houston, San Antonio, and Chicago, in which they sparkled in one quarter and wilted the next.