The Chicago Bulls have earned a position in the play-in tournament, but they should not be happy with their accomplishment. It is possible that the Bulls will advance beyond the play-in round this season. While the squad has been inconsistent, they produced one of their best performances of the season a few games ago against the Indiana Pacers.
Since then, they’ve lost three of their previous five games. This inconsistency casts doubt on the play-in tournament, especially because they lost to teams with poor records. However, there is still a glimmer of optimism. These are the three things the Bulls must accomplish to be successful in the playoffs.
Let Javonte Green “cook.”
The Bulls signed Green for the rest of the season on Thursday after he impressed during his 10-day deal. Green has been efficient since his first signing, but he’s been great in his last two outings.
Green started on Sunday night after scoring 25 points and 13 rebounds in 33 minutes against New York, and he followed up his breakout performance with a 15-point effort. While his scoring has been impressive over the last two games, it is his efficiency that truly stands out.
Green has scored 40 points in 55 minutes over his last two games, going 16-21 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc. If he maintains this level of production, the Bulls might pose a real challenge.
As weird as it sounds, having Green produce consistent offensive productivity makes the squad much more balanced. Green not only provides excellent offense, but he also has a combined seven stocks (steals + blocks) in his last two games. This is the type of two-way guy who can significantly improve the Bulls’ playoff chances.
Share the wealth.
While this statement can have a variety of meanings, in this case it refers to taking the weight off one person’s shoulders. Despite Green’s presence, the Bulls lack depth. It will be extremely difficult for a player like DeRozan to have an increased workload and continue to produce at a high level every night.
Fortunately, a few starters for the Bulls can contribute significantly to the team’s score, but this adds to the overall inconsistency. White has been outstanding this season, but he has recently struggled to shoot and score the ball consistently.
Green’s consistency is also in question, since he has only appeared in five Bulls games this season. Even yet, with so many viable scoring alternatives, no one should be under too much pressure to bear the task.
Assuming the Bulls face the Boston Celtics, taking one game away from them would be an accomplishment. However, it is entirely achievable if everyone plays to their abilities and contributes equally.
Use their secret weapon.
We previously wrote about the Bulls’ secret weapon, who helped Chicago pull off a surprise victory in last year’s play-in tournament. This weapon was DeMar DeRozan’s screaming daughter, who helped keep the Toronto Raptors’ free-throw percentage below 50% as a team.
The Bulls will need to use this weapon whenever possible, especially if they have to play the Miami Heat, who were fortunate not to have to confront it. Perhaps this year’s game against the Heat will have a different outcome.
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