Can the Chicago Bulls Make the Playoffs?
When the Chicago Bulls paired DeMar DeRozan, and Lonzo Ball with Zach LaVine, many thought this team could be somewhat of a contender in the East. That hasn’t necessarily been the case, as the team won 46 games and made the playoffs, but it was a quick exit as they would lose in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks. Last season, Chicago made the Play-In Tournament but lost to the Miami Heat, who eventually won the East and made the NBA Finals. The Bulls sit at 20-23, ninth in the East, and it's unclear what direction this team is trying to head towards.
There have been rumors flying around about a possible LaVine trade, but the two-time all-star hasn’t been performing as well as he has in recent years. He’s been held under ten points or less four times this season, and on November 28th against the Boston Celtics, Zach LaVine finished the game going one for nine from the field with just two points. The seventh-year Chicago Bull scored 51 points in the third game of the season against the Detroit Pistons, but since then it’s been he hasn’t gone on a dramatic scoring spree that’s helped the Bulls win a lot of games. Since helping the Bulls make the playoffs in 2022, Lonzo Ball has not played a single game, as he’s been suffering from an extensive knee injury. He hopes to return to the court soon, but the team is certainly missing his ball presence.
Chicago ranks 27th in points scored, 23rd in defensive rebounds, 28th in assists, and 25th in field goal percentage. While they’re 20-23, the Bulls do have some bright spots this season, and if they can adjust their game plan perhaps, they can win more games. First, since Lonzo’s been out, point guard Coby White has done a great job taking the starting role, if there’s ever a time when LaVine or DeRozan is struggling, Coby should be the third option as he’s averaging 19 points a game on 45 percent shooting from the field, and nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc. This team should also get center Andre Drummond more involved. The three times Drummond’s recorded 30-plus minutes on the floor, he’s recorded more than ten points, ten rebounds, a steal, and a block. On December 26th against the Atlanta Hawks, Andre had 24 points, while grabbing 25 rebounds, with three steals and two blocks during a 118-113 win. A few games later against the 76ers, the two-time all-star had 15 points, 23 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks in a 105-92 win. Can the Chicago Bulls make the playoffs?
