Installed in the soft underbelly of the Eastern Conference and regularly surrounded by transfer rumors, especially Zach LaVine again recently, the Bulls are making their way, with three victories in a row. The last one is the most remarkable since it was won in Boston, with the reigning champion.
Thus, with its ninth place, Chicago is in the race for the “play-in” but also for the playoffs, having only two victories behind the sixth place, owned by Miami. So there’s no question of “tanking”…
“If there is one thing I know, it is that, for the players and for the coach, we are very competitive,” thus believes Zach LaVinewho is thinking about the playoffs, after his 36 points, his season record. “No one tanks. It won't happen. We are a good team and we are better than the pre-season predictions, than what people announced. When you play like that, you can beat anyone. »
What if they kept their first draft choice, in addition to playing the “play-in”?
However, the results of the Bulls' regular season will have an influence on the very short-term future of the franchise. Indeed, Chicago's 2025 Draft first round is protected 1-10. Otherwise, he will be sent to San Antonio. And after two months of competition, the Bulls have 13 wins and 15 losses, the 20th record in the league…
With a little luck, Zach LaVine and his gang will be able to finish with one of the worst records of the season and secure a place in the play-in, so as not to lose on any table. But it's still a long way off and the main idea, if the group remains intact, is to continue fighting.
“What I respect in this franchise, and it was already in the interviews at the end of last season, in the meetings, is that collectively, within it, there is an expectation on the competitive side, on the fact to go out on the field and give the best of ourselves”explains Billy Donovan.
With a new duel against the Celtics on Saturday, in which we will have to prepare for a response from the reigning champions, then two clashes against the Bucks, who have just won the NBA Cup, to experience in the next eight days, the players from Chicago will be able to test their competitive spirit.
