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The 2020-21 playoffs came and left with a lot of highlights. The Chicago Bulls were no pushovers and the Bulls stole some of the spotlights. However, they failed to reach the playoffs and LaVine still has to show us if he is an MVP-calibre player. But the next playoffs are around the corner and the question is can the Bulls go to the Eastern Conference?
The Chicago Bulls played their first season in 1967. The club have won the finals six times with 1998 being the last time they won it.
From 2010 to 2021, they have been in the playoffs seven times but never gotten past round 1 of the Eastern Conference. The last time the Bulls were in the playoffs was in 2017. They were beaten by the Boston Celtics.
The Bulls had a disappointing run at the playoffs, finishing 11th at the Eastern Conference. This was made painful by the opportunities created in the new playoff format.
The new format for the play-in tournament allows 7th - 10th seeded teams, to make grabs for the final two postseason spots. Despite this, the Chicago Bulls were unable to clinch a place in the playoffs. The Washington Wizards beat Cleveland Cavaliers to take the fourth spot and a chance at the Conference finals.
Missing the 2021 playoffs extends the Bulls playoff drought to four years since 2017. The longest drought the club has had was the six years stretch from 1998-99 to 2003-04. But the Bulls are moving in the direction to ending their misfortune.
Zach LaVine injury in the tail end of the season cost the Bulls the playoffs and they have taken care to avoid another mishap. The Bulls signed Nikola Vucevic at NBA Trade Deadline to add more stardust to their team. They also acquired point guard Lonzo Ball and defensive stalwart Alex Caruso.
Amongst new signings is four-time All Star guard Demar DeRozan who is to play a crucial role in games with LaVine. Chicago Bulls also got Derrick Jones Jnr in a three-way trade that saw Lauri Markkanen leaving the club.
The Bulls have made clear their intentions to build around LaVine while hoping to snag him for a while in the club by offering him a new contract this summer. With all these moves, the team is currently set to win.
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Here's a look at the Bulls roster which shows there is much to expected entering the 2021-22 season.
Lonzo Ball
Tony Bradley
Troy Brown Jr.
Alex Caruso
Tyler Cook
DeMar DeRozan
Ayo Dosunmu
Devon Dotson
Javonte Green
Alize Johnson
Stanley Johnson
Derrick Jones Jr.
Zach LaVine
Marko Simonovic
Matt Thomas
Ethan Thompson
Nikola Vucevic
Coby White
Patrick Williams
Besides the impressive signings and dogged measures made by coach Billy Donovan, the Bulls have other reasons to expect a spot at the playoffs.
Some players have recently had to wear the 'good stats, bad team' label on the NBA and LaVine is not excluded.
With a career-high record of 24.7 points, last season was filled with highlights for the ball handler. He also bagged career records in rebounds per game at 5.0 points and 4.9 points in assists. He finished the season with an All Star nod, but it did not mean success for the Chicago Bulls.
Phoenix guard Devin Booker smashed that label last season with amazing games in the playoffs. Trae Young of Atlanta Hawks had a similar stint with the label but managed to lead the Hawks to the Eastern Conference finals. With the star additions to the team, who is to say LaVine is not on his way to smashing the narrative next season.
Top knotch players have taken the point guard role since Derrick Rose left the Bulls but they have been more backup than starters. Lonzo Ball, since signing, has arguably been the best replacement for D-Rose.
Ball joins the Bulls after a year at New Orleans Pelicans. He finished at Pelicans with 14.6 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds a game.
LaVine and DeRozan would have less to worry with Ball on the pitch. With his impressive passing and shots, the ballhandlers would have more opportunities at shooting buckets.
It would not be a surprise if Chicago Bulls make a big leap from their 21st position in points from last season. DeRozan is one of the best isolation scorers in the NBA, which his performance at Spurs clearly shows.
Billy Donovan has more options at offense with all three on court. After four seasons missing the playoffs, Chicago Bulls are well prepared to get back and win. It is a good bet to say that they would clinch a spot in the East and even a run for the finals.
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