Following their loss to the Philadelphia 76ers at home at the United Center on May 3, the Chicago Bulls have now fallen short four games in a row. The Bulls have a losing streak dating back to last week, but the loss early this week was the least unexpected of all of them. Since the Bulls played without the star duo of shooting guard Zach LaVine and center Nikola Vucevic in the last couple of games, the team has suffered.
LaVine has now missed nearly a dozen games in the last few weeks for first-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls due to a violation of the league’s health and safety protocol. Vooch has also missed the last couple of games for the Bulls dealing with an adductor injury.
There is the possibility, though, that the Bulls get LaVine and Vooch back for their next game, which comes on the road against the Charlotte Hornets on May 6. Yet, it might be too little too late for the Bulls to get their stars back to try and make a push through the final stretch run this season for a spot in the play-in tournament later this month.
Chicago Bulls struggles decimate their chances for the play-in tournament
The Bulls now hold a record of 26-39 following their double-digit loss to the Sixers on May 3. They sit more than three games behind the Washington Wizards in the race to land the final spot in the play-in tournament in the Eastern Conference.
With just seven games total remaining for the Bulls regular season schedule, the chances of even making the play-in tournament are slim. That might lead them to shuffle the rotations down the stretch even further, which would make a lot of sense.
Here’s a look at three underutilized players who should get more playing time as the Bulls fade out of the postseason picture.
Devon Dotson, PG
The Bulls have two interesting players in their two-way contract slots this season. One is more familiar than the other to Bulls fans who also watched the team last season under the guidance of former head coach Jim Boylen. The two-way contract slots for the Bulls this season belong to former Kansas Jayhawks rookie point guard Devon Dotson and second-year shooting guard/wing Adam Mokoka.
While Mokoka did get more exposure playing in regular season game action for the Bulls in the last two seasons, Dotson got very limited minutes on the floor. Up to this point of the season, Dotson only played in seven games for the Bulls, tallying less than two dozen minutes on the floor. That’s not much exposure for the former Bulls undrafted free agent signing to make an impact.
A lot of Bulls fans would like to see what Dotson is able to bring to the table for them down the stretch. With the play of second-year point guard Coby White and combo guard Tomas Satoransky not showing much consistency at all this season, and backup point guard Ryan Arcdiacono struggling to find his way, the Bulls need to find answers elsewhere.
At this point, Donovan and the Bulls just don’t have much to lose in terms of what it would cost them to give more minutes to Dotson as opposed to other point guards in the rotation. If there is any thought with this new front office regime that Dotson might come back on a two-way contract (or better) next season, then he does need more game exposure under his belt down the stretch.
Troy Brown Jr., SG/SF
Once he’s able to return from an ankle injury for the Bulls down the stretch (if he even does come back in the first place), former Wizards 21-year-old shooting guard/small forward Troy Brown Jr. should get more minutes in the wing rotation. Brown Jr. is one of the more promising players that the Bulls have in the mix post-trade deadline.
Having now missed the last eight games struggling with injury issues for the Bulls, there’s not might time left for Brown Jr. to make an impact down the stretch. He wasn’t even listed as questionable for the Bulls in their meeting at home with the Sixers on May 3. Maybe he will be able to return for the Bulls at least by the end of the week.
When Brown Jr. was healthy for the Bulls this season, in just over a dozen games post-trade deadline, he showed some flashes. His counting stats and shooting percentages were both up in his 13 games played with the Bulls, compared to 21 games he played in with the Wizards prior to the deadline.
The wing rotation doesn’t have much depth to rely upon at the moment. Donovan has to get more creative with the three-guard lineups since he doesn’t have LaVine in the starting five. The options of playing shooting guard/wing Denzel Valentine at the three, and rookie forward Patrick Williams in more of a switchable role is what Donovan is opting for of late.
Javonte Green, SG
In just 11 minutes played off the bench in the loss to the Sixers this week, former Boston Celtics shooting guard Javonte Green was very good. He provided a spark for the Bulls on both ends of the floor and didn’t turn the ball over a single time. Green registered seven points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field and 1-of-1 from the free-throw line.
If Green can provide the Bulls’ backcourt rotation with some solid efficient production off the bench in the final games of the regular season, he might be able to make a case for himself to return for next season. Green is currently in the midst of the final year of his current contract, but he likely wouldn’t cost much to re-sign.
The 27-year-old 6-foot-4 and 205 pound shooting guard and former Virginia Cavalier is a good defender but has provided mixed offensive production at best in a couple of seasons played between his time with the Bulls and Celtics. But he never really got a chance in a second or third unit to get any sort of significant usage.
This might be the best opportunity that Green found thus far in his career to make a significant impact on any team’s offense. That is if Donovan and this coaching staff are willing to give him that chance. He’s only getting just over five minutes played per game in nine total appearances with the Bulls this season, compared to more than 13 in 25 appearances with the Celtics prior to the deadline.