Even though all that has transpired for the Chicago Bulls in the last couple of weeks was three preseason games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and a shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans team, the media narrative is apparently changing around this team. ESPN is one of the big doubters among those around the media landscape regarding the Bulls’ chances to make the postseason this season.
It’s hard to believe, but it was a common take from a number of ESPN NBA pundits that the Bulls would miss out on the postseason completely (including the play-in tournament) this season. Although the Eastern Conference is deeper this season compared to the past half-decade at least, the Bulls still definitely have a good enough roster to get into the postseason.
This would take a pretty massive meltdown from the Bulls, or some really unfortunate injury luck, to miss out on the postseason completely during the 2021-22 campaign.
Nonetheless, ESPN is starting to flip the script on the previous narrative they had of being very low on the Bulls heading into this season of late. In Zach Lowe’s entertainment rankings this season, he included the Bulls among his top 10 most exciting teams for the campaign ahead.
ESPN changing their thoughts on the Chicago Bulls this season
On ESPN’s “The Jump” last week, the likes of Lowe and Marc J. Spears noted that each thinks the Bulls will make it to the postseason. Lowe still believes that it will take the Bulls getting through the play-in tournament to make a playoff run. But Spears believes that this Bulls team can crack the top six seeds in the Eastern Conference.
It sounded like the crew over at The Jump were high on the Bulls following the impressive win in the preseason opener over the Cavs at home back on Oct. 5, which came by the final score of 131-95.
But it will take a few games in the regular season for the fans to start discovering what the real identity will be for second-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls heading into the thick of the schedule. The Bulls certainly do have potential to make some noise in the East this season. Yet, if you only listen to an outlet like ESPN, you would be very confused about what a realistic outlook would be for the Bulls heading into the regular season.
Whether it is shaking the image of how much the Bulls struggled on the hardwood in the last few seasons during the rebuild under the former front office regime of GarPax, or just having a lot of doubters in general since the offseason, this team should have a chip on its shoulders. Coming from an underdog mindset out at the outset of an important season like this one can be a powerful motivator for the Bulls.
The Bulls now own a record of 3-0 heading into the preseason finale. Their last game resulted in a narrow one-point victory over the Cavs on the road back on Oct. 10. The preseason finale comes at home at the United Center against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 15.