Chicago Bulls: It’s early, but Bulls are in the thick of playoff race

Though many didn’t expect much this season, Billy Donovan has the Chicago Bulls competing game-in and game-out.

Improvement was expected, but to a certain extent. These Bulls already look different than they did a season ago, and much can be attributed simply to the leadership and coaching Donovan brings to the table.

Thus far, he’s used a nice mix of veterans and young players in important moments. That’s something a great coach does. He’ll find the best group of guys who may not be the five most talented players, and they may not all be starters, but they’re going to close out important moments.

The Bulls currently sit 6-8 through 14 games and are a half game back from the 8th seed Atlanta Hawks. Not only are they a half game back from the 8th seed, but the Hawks also possess the same record (6-7) as the 6th and 7th seeds — the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.

So, the Bulls are actually right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race at the moment. By this time last year, fans were already looking ahead to the offseason in hopes that things might just change. Now, the feeling is different.

Donovan has the Bulls winning games against competitive teams, most recently teams such as the Dallas Mavericks who got a huge night from Luka Doncic. Chicago came out on top, though. In fact, they’ve won two in a row after beating the Houston Rockets Monday night.

One of the most impressive parts about this team is that, even though the reins still belong to Zach LaVine, the rest of the squad is doing their part. Currently, the Bulls have seven players averaging double figures in scoring, with LaVine leading the way at 27.4.

Chicago has played like a true team, and each guy is doing his part. Donovan has found roles for veterans like Thaddeus Young and Garrett Temple, the latter of which is extremely close to being the eighth Bull averaging double figures (9.9 points per game).

Lauri Markkanen has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence, as he’s gotten off to a strong start and is shooting the three ball at the highest clip of his career so far — 40.0 percent. He’s averaged a healthy 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in a crucial fourth year as a pro. It’s certainly the right time to break out, as Markkanen is in the final year of his rookie contract.

It’s a joy to watch this team play basketball again, even though they’re far from a finished product. The fact that they have a shot to make the postseason serves as a reminder that making those franchise-altering moves at the top this past offseason was completely warranted and worthwhile. Here’s to seeing what Donovan’s group can do to push the playoff envelope even further.