In a hotly contested race in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls must pursue the number one seed.
Although last season’s NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns featured two teams who did not finish first in their respective conferences, the fact remains that more often than not, one or both of the top seeds in the playoffs make it to the championship round.
In a surprising turn of events, the Bulls are not just a playoff team this season – they must be included in any serious discussion of Eastern Conference contenders. That is why pursuing the best record in the East should become a priority for the team this season, though.
The Chicago Bulls are in a tight race for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. They must not shy away from pursuing the number one seed.
So far, the battle for dominance in the Eastern Conference has featured the usual suspects – the Brooklyn Nets, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat. All three teams have been hit with injuries to key players, as well as lineup changes due to health-and-safety protocols.
However, Chicago’s insertion into the conversation cannot be seen as a fluke. Monday night’s win against the Atlanta Hawks was their fourth in a row. If they were going to suddenly disappear, they would’ve done it by now. Chicago’s ability to win games is not an apparition, it’s their new identity.
The theory often circulated among NBA fans and pundits is that the regular season doesn’t matter. Those who feel this way explain their position by saying that simply making the playoffs is enough; once the postseason begins the rest goes out the window.
The Chicago Bulls cannot listen to this type of chatter. If they plan to go deep in the playoffs, having homecourt advantage gives them the best shot at doing so. Let’s take a closer look at why the Bulls should actively pursue the number one seed in the East this season.