Chicago Bulls: Takeaways from 114-102 Win over Raptors

Chicago Bulls Takeaways: 4-1 since Zach LaVine’s return

This is another takeaway that could be viewed in a negative light. Unlike missing the playoffs, though, this one can also be viewed in a positive light as the team looks ahead to the offseason and eventually next season.

The team was dealt a tough hand when Zach LaVine entered the league’s Health and Safety Protocols. There was nothing they could do, or LaVine himself could do at that point to get him back with the team.

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Instead of wondering what could have been or where they would have finished had that never happened, it makes more sense to move forward. What is done is done. Everyone should just be thankful he is OK and happy to see him take the court a few more times this season.

Since his return, the Bulls have won four out of five games. Their only loss came to the Nets, a game in which LaVine was just about the only player that showed up for the Bulls and almost stole them a victory over the Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving led Nets.

Now, to be fair, the Bulls wins have not come against the greatest competition. Still, they beat a few teams ahead of them in the standings like the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets.

It’s nothing to scream from the rooftops about, but it’s a nice way to close out the season. That is especially true for LaVine, who made his first all-star team this year and was having a stellar season that got derailed by health and safety protocols.

Seeing him close it out in equally impressive fashion is good for him and a nice reminder of what fans have to be excited about moving forward. LaVine may have been on his way to an All-NBA team if he didn’t miss the extended time and as a result, the Chicago Bulls won a few more games.

We may never know. One thing we already know, though, is that this team is top-heavy in talent that can win them a good number of games over the course of a full NBA season together. As they’ve gotten comfortable as a group and somewhat healthy, their play has moved in the right direction.

There is still a lot of work to be done moving forward, but the strong record since LaVine’s return is a positive development given the circumstances.