A lot of people don’t think the Chicago Bulls will make the playoffs this season. I’m going to give you three reasons why I think the Bulls will make the playoffs.
Training camp is nearing for the Chicago Bulls. It seems like a lot of NBA experts and NBA fans aren’t giving the Bulls a chance this year. Here are three reasons why I think the Bulls will make the playoffs this season.
Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen, and Zach LaVine
The Chicago Bulls made a huge trade last summer that jump started their rebuild. They got three young players for Jimmy Butler. In order for the Bulls to make the playoffs this season, Dunn, Markkanen, and LaVine are going to have to take the next step in their career.
Kris Dunn had a nice season last year, but his third season in the NBA is going to be very important. Dunn is up for an extension on his rookie contract next summer. It’s time for Dunn to show that he he can be one of the best point guards in the league.
Zach LaVine has a new contract with the Bulls and there are 78 million reasons why he needs to prove to the NBA world that he’s worth that kind of money. He’s finally fully healthy and is ready to showcase his skills. I expect LaVine to average at least 25 points a night. I also want him to become one of the leaders on this team.
Lauri Markkanen made his presence known last season. It’s going to be interesting to see how his second season plays out. The biggest key for all three players is that they all have to remain healthy. Dunn, Markkanen, and LaVine give the Bulls the best chance of making the playoffs.
Wendell Carter Jr.
There’s a reason why the Chicago Bulls drafted Wendell Carter Jr with the seventh pick in the 2018 NBA draft. Wendell has a lot of potential and with more playing time the more he will get better.
It looks like Robin Lopez will start the season at center, but don’t be surprised to see Wendell start at some point this season.
Watching Wendell play at the Summer League really showed me that he’s a player that takes it personal on both ends of the court. On defense he will do anything it takes to not let his opponent score on him. On offense he’s a player that can score from the three point line and also from inside the paint.
Fred Hoiberg has to find a way to play Wendell at least 20 minutes a game. He’s too good of a player to not get a lot of playing time.
With Wendell Carter Jr. on the court, it will give the Bulls a better chance of winning basketball games. I can’t wait to see the lineup of Dunn, LaVine, Parker, Markkanen, and Carter. Wendell Carter Jr. is only a rookie, but I believe that he’s more then ready to produce every single night.
Eastern Conference
Let’s be real here, the Eastern Conference is so weak. With LeBron James in the Western Conference, the East is wide open. The Celtics, Raptors, Wizards, Pacers will probably make the playoffs in the East. That leaves four spots.
The Bulls will have no problem scoring a lot of points, but the problem will be on defense. It’s up to the coaching staff to make the team play hard on the defensive side.
I truly believe that the Bulls will make the playoffs this season because the East is so bad. If the Bulls stay healthy, then hey who knows what they can do. This team could surprise a lot of people this upcoming season.