Is the Eighth Seed Reachable: Breaking Down the Bulls Playoff Push
As the 2024-2025 NBA regular season nears its conclusion, the Chicago Bulls find themselves in a heated race for playoff contention. Following a pivotal 119-111 win over the Miami Heat on April 10, the Bulls improved to 37-43, placing them just half a game behind the eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks. They now sit one game ahead of the Heat, making each remaining contest vital to their postseason hopes. Chicago’s recent surge has been powered by a trio of standout performers, including Josh Giddey, who posted his seventh triple-double of the season in the win over Miami. Since the All-Star break, Giddey has averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and nine assists, flourishing in a lead role after Zach LaVine’s departure and helping keep the team competitive down the stretch.
Coby White has also emerged as a major catalyst, especially since March, when he earned Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors. White has leaped in both scoring and leadership, averaging over 28.5 points and five assists during that stretch while knocking down clutch shots and making smart decisions with the ball. His development has given the Bulls a reliable backcourt engine and a crucial late-game scorer. Meanwhile, Nikola Vučević remains a dependable presence in the frontcourt, averaging 19.1 points and 10.3 rebounds while shooting efficiently from all areas of the floor. With this core trio clicking, the Bulls have turned into a dangerous opponent at just the right time.
Currently slotted as the ninth seed, Chicago would need to defeat the tenth-seeded Miami Heat and then face the loser of the Hawks-Magic matchup to earn a playoff spot. However, sliding into the eighth seed would offer them a safety net: two chances to win one game and punch their postseason ticket. That cushion could make a difference in a tightly contested tournament where a single cold shooting night can end a season. For the Bulls, every remaining regular-season game is a must-win—and with White, Giddey, and Vučević leading the charge, hope is far from lost. If they can keep this momentum rolling, the eighth seed—and beyond—may be well within reach.
