Hoops Habit
Fansided

Can The Chicago Bulls Make The Playoffs?

By Allana Tachauer

Mar 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) shoots over Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) shoots over Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Chicago Bulls are currently sitting at the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference, so is there still a chance of them making the playoffs?

In the NBA, anything can happen.

But if you would have asked Chicago Bulls fans how their team would do this year, at the start of the season, I am willing to bet no one would have guessed things would go this poorly.

Currently, the Bulls are ninth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 30-30. Yes, you read that right. So far, Chicago has lost as many games as it has won. And with only the top eight teams in each conference going through to the postseason, the question of whether or not the Bulls will make the playoffs is something on everyone’s minds right now.

Although Chicago started off the year on a rocky note, with a new coach and one of the top players being forced to come off the bench, there was definitely potential. For awhile there, Derrick Rose looked like he had shaken off any and all health issues. Jimmy Butler was further developing into the star everyone hoped he would be. Pau Gasol made it clear he wanted to stick around. The Bulls were settling in into a new rhythm.

More from Chicago Bulls

When January came around and Chicago was sitting pretty at the No. 2 spot, fans and media alike thought maybe the inconsistencies were over. Maybe all the team and the organization needed was time.

But fast forward to March and well, clearly things really are as disheartening as they seem.

Coming off of a 102-89 loss against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, to most, the chances of the Bulls making the playoffs are looking slim. The team has lost four in a row as of Friday, and with Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic still out, as well as Rose still not acting like he player he once was, they can hardly be called a championship caliber team. In fact, many have already started saying that they should just go ahead and tank the season, in order to build a better future come the offseason.

But while it is clear that this group of guys have no business being in discussion regarding earning a title, logistically there is still a chance that their season will not be cut short just yet.

Being the conference it is, the East is still for the taking.

Right now, Chicago is only half a game away from landing the eighth seed. Jimmy Butler will return for Saturday’s game and the rest of their schedule is not particularly difficult either. They have 22 games left in total, 11 of which are at home and 11 that are on the road, and will only face a handful of top teams such as the San Antonio Spurs, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat.

"“Things don’t look too good right now,” Gasol said after Wednesday’s loss. “But hopefully we can change things around and get some momentum starting the next game at home. Every game that goes by we don’t get to win, it will be more difficult. So we have to play every single game like it’s our last one, like it’s extremely meaningful.”"

More hoops habit: NBA: 20 Players Turning Their Seasons Around

Gasol has the right idea. Things may not look too promising for the Bulls today, but if they are able to pull themselves together and start winning, all hope is not lost.

Home/Chicago Bulls