Are the Bulls destined for another series with Washington?
After quite an interesting week of basketball that saw the Chicago Bulls lose three of four games (and the only one they won was an overtime game against the Philadelphia 76ers), the Bulls’ injury issues and lack of rest during the final stretch of the season could lead to a tumultuous path through the Eastern Conference playoffs against a familiar foe.
Bulls fans won’t forget the five-game beating the Washington Wizards gave the Bulls in last April’s playoff series. Washington defeated the Bulls in five games, which was the least of Chicago’s worries.
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Joakim Noah, the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team All-NBA member, was playing against the physical frontcourt of Washington on seemingly one leg.
After offseason knee surgery, Noah has finally looked like the old Noah, despite a few minor bumps in the road on his path back to being one of the league’s best big men.
Even with Noah on the floor and playing, the Bulls have still been plagued by injuries down the stretch of the season, including to their starting backcourt of Derrick Rose (meniscus) and Jimmy Butler (shoulder/elbow) and to the Bulls’ sixth man, Taj Gibson (ankle).
Rose had surgery to remove the meniscus in his right knee on Feb. 28 — the day when the injury troubles began for the Bulls in their recent stretch. Butler and Gibson would be injured in the next game for the Bulls on Mar. 1 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Since the injuries to Rose, Butler and Gibson, the Bulls have lost five of their last eight games and have tumbled from second in the Eastern Conference to fourth, which would line them up with a first-round series against Washington.
Just in the last week alone, the Bulls gave up 100+ points to four of their five opponents and lost four of the five games. The Bulls’ only win in the past week came in a 104-95 overtime victory to the Sixers.
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Yeah, the 15-51 lottery-bound Sixers.
There’s 14 games left in the season and the Bulls look like a tired basketball team. Sure, positive things have come from this rugged stretch for the Bulls, including the emergence of Nikola Mirotic.
The 24-year-old rookie from Montenegro has been fantastic in this recent stretch for the Bulls, averaging 20.3 points per contest since Butler and Gibson went down on Mar. 1.
Despite Mirotic’s emergence as one of the best prospects in the NBA, the Bulls have been continuing to search for answers offensively, while riding Pau Gasol‘s continued run in his “fountain of youth” season.
Gasol continues to be the primary option, averaging 18.4 points and 12 rebounds per contest, but your top option in April, May and June can’t be a 34-year-old forward on the “back nine” of his career.
If the Bulls — and as always, it’s a big “if” — the Bulls can get healthy come playoff time around a month from now, they’re one of the best teams in the East and a viable contender to represent the East in the NBA Finals. But, despite their title window being open when their three stars return, the rematch with Washington still looms with a month left in the season.
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However, there’s a bright spot for the Bulls. The Bulls are tied for third in the East with Toronto, a team they’ve already beaten twice this season.
If the Bulls can grab the 3-seed, they would get division rival Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference’s 3/6 series. Despite a better match-up with the Bucks, the Bulls would still have to deal with the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round.
If the playoffs started today, Chicago would have the home-court advantage against the Wizards. The teams split their season series, with each team winning one on the other’s home floor.
A healthy Bull roster could spell a series win, but it won’t be easy. Washington doesn’t fear the Bulls and won three games on the United Center floor in last year’s playoff series.
It’s not a reach to say the Bulls could make the NBA Finals. To play devil’s advocate, it’s not a reach to say the Bulls could lose in the first round to Washington, Milwaukee, etc.
Injuries and bad stretches happen to every team. During their win in Los Angeles last night, Atlanta guard — and former Bull — Kyle Korver broke his nose. Korver’s been a vital piece to the juggernaut that is the Hawks this season.
When the playoffs begins in late April, the Bulls have to be fresh and ready to go for the playoff run. The biggest thing right now is to get their former MVP, their potentially max-contract two-guard and their sixth man back in form.
But for now, the Bulls just have to weather the storm and actually enjoy a couple days off until Wednesday’s final meeting with the Indiana Pacers back in Chicago.