The Chicago Bulls are now trying to achieve just being relevant.
Although, that is what owner Jerry Reinsdorf has always wanted. He likes having a team that is competing in meaningful games late in the season.
"I think the important thing to fans is, while they want you to win championships, they want to know that when they get down to the last month of the season you still have a shot. You’re still playing meaningful games. If you can do that consistently you’ll make your fans happy."
— Blake Schuster (@Schustee) May 1, 2023
Reinsdorf’s comments were aimed at the other team he owns, the Chicago White Sox, but he has run the Sox the same way he has run the Bulls. He is very loyal to his underperforming management.
The Bucks on the other hand have had their fair share of hard times before Giannis Antetokounmpo showed up in Milwaukee. They still tried anything they could to get out of the NBA Lottery.
The Bucks went through three general managers during the entire time John Paxson and Gar Forman ran the Bulls. Heck, the Bucks even hired Scott Skiles and Jason Kidd to coach the team.
It was only after they brought in Budenholzer did the team start to achieve success. Now, he is out of a job because he got outcoached in four of his five playoff appearances. That is what needs to be done when a team has a generational talent like Giannis. The Bulls used to be like that when they had Michael Jordan.
Now, the Bulls are just happy to be relevant in early April.