The Chicago Bulls have had trouble winning games this season, but a recent winning streak has shown glimmers of hope for the future. The best method for winning, however, might come from drama.
January 26, 2017. This is the day the Bulls nearly fell apart.
The day before, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler had complained to the media about the younger player’s mentality and drive, essentially calling them out in front of the world.
The third member of the “Three Alphas,” Rajon Rondo, was having none of it. On the 26th, Rondo posted a defiant post to Instagram calling out Wade and Butler for their leadership.
If you followed the Bulls last season, then you definitely remember this moment. The team appeared to be in a complete funk… would Rondo be waived? Would Butler still have leadership over the team? How could Chicago function together now?
Rather than succumbing to the scrutiny and failing, though, the Bulls only grew stronger. Following their January 27th game versus the Heat, the Bulls proceeded to win eight of their next 12 games, and Rondo played increasingly well. Simply put, the chaos helped the Bulls steer the ship in the right direction.
Fast forward to the 2017-18 NBA preseason, October 17th.
The Bulls are already in a poor position entering the season due to a terrible roster, but in classic Bulls fashion, it only gets worse.
As a result, Mirotic was out for eight weeks and sent to the hospital. Portis was suspended for eight games. It appeared as though the two would never be able to co-exist any longer.
But it didn’t turn out that way.
When Portis returned from his suspension, he immediately was playing phenomenal basketball. He is averaging 12.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists with a solid PER of 20.42 in just 21 minutes per game.
At the same time, Mirotic, who now has four games under his belt after returning, is averaging 19.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and shooting 52.2 percent from deep.
Instead of facing an ultimatum of “pick me or him, you can’t have both of us,” the Bulls have happily been thriving since they’ve both been on the floor. I mean, for heaven’s sake, they’ve gone from having a 3-20 record to winning five games in a row.
In a recent win over the NBA’s top-seeded Boston Celtics, Portis poured in 24 points while Mirotic scored 23.
https://twitter.com/NBCSChicago/status/940430476321452033
The Bulls thrive under chaos
It’s great to see Chicago winning games and showing glimpses of what the future may hold. Eventually, though, this magic will come to an end, and we’ll once again see the old Bulls who are tanking for the first pick in the NBA draft.
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If, when it happens, Chicago wants to fix that and start winning again, the solution is simple. Create controversy!
Fred Hoiberg on the hot seat? Portis goes out and punches another player? Kris Dunn trash talks someone and gets into a heated fight?
Whatever the situation may be, in classic and strange Chicago Bulls style, it’ll probably end up helping the team, not hurting them.