Chicago Bulls: 3 players that could spearhead surge up the East standings

The losing skid was finally snapped for first-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls on the afternoon of April 4. Facing a surging Brooklyn Nets team that had won four games in a row coming into this meeting with the Bulls at the United Center in Chicago to round out the weekend, there was reason to believe that they would not be able to snap their losing skid.

Donovan and the Bulls had lost six games in a row, and eight of their last nine, following an April 2 road loss at the hands of the Utah Jazz on the road. But the Bulls were able to top star point guard Kyrie Irving and the Nets on April 4, snapping their six-game losing skid and restoring hope for what’s to come down the stretch this season.

The Bulls now carry a record of 20-28 following their eight-point win over the Nets at home on April 4. This is a good sign for the Bulls, who will now prepare to take on the divisional foe Indiana Pacers on the road at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 6.

Where are the Chicago Bulls in the playoff picture?

At the moment, the Bulls sit only four games back of the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Bulls and Pacers are the two teams on the outside looking in behind the Celtics in the playoff picture for the eighth seed. That’s what makes the April 6 meeting between the Bulls and Pacers so important.

If the Bulls want to continue moving in the right direction down the stretch this season, which players need to step up and spearhead the effort?