1. Will the Bulls be in the hunt for a playoff berth?
When the Bulls lured Hoiberg away from the collegiate ranks, he was supposed to be the missing link that would seamlessly help the team reach its full potential. However, things have not exactly gone according to plan, to say the least.
During his first year in the Windy City, the Bulls finished with a 42-40 record, but still failed to make it to the playoffs for the first time since the 2007-08 season. The following year, the Bulls nabbed the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
While they did manage to momentarily shock the world by beating the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the first two games, order was eventually restored, as the Celtics went on to win the series in six games.
With all of 27 wins on their resume last season, the Bulls missed the playoffs for the second time under Hoiberg. To be objective, though, they weren’t expected to be a playoff contender last year with so many unproven players on the roster.
Will the Bulls reach the playoffs next season?
Well, it’s difficult to give a definitive answer right now. At the same time, there are a few factors that could improve their chances.
For starters, LeBron James — whose teams have been to the Finals in each of the last eight seasons — is now in the Western Conference, which means that the conference playoff race is wide open.
Additionally, if the trio of LaVine, Dunn and Markkanen play well, along with Parker being effective at both ends of the floor, the Bulls do in fact have an outside shot at being in the playoff hunt next season.