Chicago Bulls: Takeaways from 114-102 Win over Raptors
The Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors squared off in what was the 70th game of the season for both teams. This year’s shorter schedule for the NBA regular season, 72 games, means both teams have two more games remaining as they head into the weekend.
The Bulls picked up a 114-102 victory behind a well-rounded offensive performance that saw six different players reach the double-digit scoring mark. It helped that the Raptors were severely shorthanded in this one, as they played without Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby.
The Bulls, meanwhile, were missing Daniel Theis and Troy Brown Jr. It was a potentially important game in regards to the Bulls (slight) playoff chances which remain intact as of now. We’ll discuss those chances and how things would need to play out. We’ve covered some potential ramifications of missing the playoffs, as well.
That being said, most of the takeaways from this game are positives as the team seems to be learning about themselves and taking solid steps toward being an improved team when next season rolls around.
Chicago Bulls Takeaways: Not impossible to make play-in, but improbable
Take this one with a grain of salt, as it sounds better than it truly is. That is the reason we’re getting it out of the way first before moving on to things that should actually have Bulls fans excited or at least optimistic.
By beating the Raptors, the Bulls live to see another day in terms of having a route to making the play-in tournament. Unfortunately, as most Bulls fans already know, they do not control their own fate.
The Washington Wizards need to win just one of their remaining two games and the Bulls are eliminated, regardless of the outcome of Chicago’s final two games. That means the Bulls could have their fate confirmed as early as Friday night when the Wizards take on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavs are 1-9 in their last ten games played. Additionally, they are 0-2 on the season against the Wizards entering Friday’s game.
Long story short: the Wizards would need to gift the Bulls a play-in tournament appearance by losing to both the Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets to close the season. The Bulls would also need to win their remaining two games, one against the Brooklyn Nets and one against the Milwaukee Bucks, to leapfrog the Wizards.
Don’t hold your breath, it isn’t happening. That is fine to accept.