Chicago Bulls: 3 emerging stars that can help lead to the playoffs

On the night of Feb. 12, first-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls will take part in their first game action since their explosive and largely dominant double-digit win over the star forward duo of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans from back on Feb. 10. The Bulls get another tough opponent out of the Western Conference at home at the United Center to kick off the weekend.

Donovan and the Bulls will get another crack at the superstar pairing of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and the Los Angeles Clippers, at the United Center on Feb. 12. After the Clippers handled the Bulls in California earlier this season, Chicago will try and get even on their own home court. It will be the Bulls top (and currently healthy) players from their young core that can lead the way to get one of their bigger potential upset wins of the season so far.

As a whole, the Bulls are looking much better in their last few games. Despite a loss to the Washington Wizards at home at the United Center back on Feb. 8, the Bulls have played well in the last week or so. On Feb. 6, the Bulls looked good in a huge road win over the Orlando Magic by the convincing final score of 118-92.

That has led to the Bulls boast a record of 10-14 after winning two of their last three games. They also sit just 1.5 games back of the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference standings in the playoff picture. But to continue to make headway in the standings in the East, the Bulls will need to find more success in the win column on a consistent basis.

With all of this in mind, here’s a look into three Bulls players that must come through in a big way to help the team push for the playoffs this season.