Chicago Bulls: 5 Keys To Remaining In Playoff Picture

Feb 6, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) and forward Taj Gibson (22) react during the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 112-105. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 13, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Johnson (7) drives against Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) forward Pau Gasol (16) and forward Nikola Mirotic (44) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Players Returning From Injuries

During the 2014-15 campaign, the Bulls starters played in just 21 games together. As bad as that seemed at the time, the current injury situation makes that scenario look mild in comparison.

Mike Dunleavy has only appeared in three games. Joakim Noah is lost for the season following shoulder surgery. Nikola Mirotic has been out of the lineup since late January following an appendectomy and hematoma removal, and has not been cleared for basketball activities.

Along with that, Jimmy Butler will be MIA over the next few weeks due to a knee strain. The lone positive is that Dunleavy recently returned, but even with that, expectations should be tempered on that front because he will not be able to log heavy minutes right away.

Needless to say, this is not an ideal time for a team to have a rash of injuries. But if the key players return to the rotation and perform at a high level, the chances of the Bulls notching another postseason birth increase dramatically.

Next: Role Players Must Improve

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