Late Season Play Determining the Bulls’ Bleak Playoff Fate
By Nick Jordan
Apr 5, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Maybe this is the run that will finally get them going heading into the playoffs. But maybe this will be another time this season they play well before sputtering downwards. It’s not like they have nothing to play for. Chicago is fighting to play a Bucks team in the first round that is going to finish around .500 instead of a Wizards team that beat the Bulls in the playoffs last year and always plays Chicago well.
The Warriors are a team that actually has nothing to play for. They wrapped up the top seed in the West weeks ago and are still trying to beat everyone. As of Sunday evening, they are 14-2 in their last 16 games, winning by an average margin of over 11 ppg. They know that even more important than having rested players for the playoffs is having a team that is peaking for the playoffs. The Spurs are also playing their best basketball of the season right now. Do you really think that is a coincidence?
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The Bulls aren’t playing well now, and there is plenty of evidence that says they can’t turn it on right before the playoffs start. They have a nice record when the starters play, but again, they have played less than 25 games together. How are they all going to make it through two months of playoff basketball—when you have to play basically every other night, and the games are much more physical? Seems unlikely.
Next: What to Make of the Season