The Chicago Bulls have become synonymous with mediocrity over the last three seasons; they’ve been just good enough to make the Play-In Tournament but not quite good enough to secure a playoff spot. A massively disappointing five-week stretch, however, has them low enough in the standings to miss the postseason altogether.
But with two games against the Cleveland Cavaliers and one against the Atlanta Hawks on deck this week, the Bulls (10-15) have an opportunity to put themselves right back into a familiar, cozy spot: No. 10 in the Eastern Conference hierarchy.
Chicago Bulls have Cavaliers, Hawks on the schedule this week
Cleveland currently owns the No. 7 seed in the East, but with Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Co. on the roster, it’s safe to assume it’ll be out of Chicago’s reach come April.
On the shoulders of new triple-double machine Jalen Johnson, Atlanta sits four games up on the Bulls in eighth. The Hawks also feel uncatchable for Chicago, but stranger things have happened. … Right?
Wednesday, Dec. 17: Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (and Friday, Dec. 19 at Cavaliers)
Chicago has a home-and-home series with the 15-12 Cavs on Wednesday and Friday. Two wins seem like too much to ask for from the Bulls in their current state, but maybe Billy Donovan’s team catches fire from three, or Cleveland builds a house of bricks, and Chicago can steal one.
Bulls vs. Cavaliers season series
Cleveland earned a 128-122 home victory on Nov. 8, which marked the second game of a five-game Chicago losing streak.
The Bulls had a 122-116 lead with less than two minutes remaining, but Mitchell scored eight points in the final 65 seconds, including the go-ahead bucket with 34 seconds left.
Isaac Okoro had 19 points to lead the Bulls in his return to Cleveland. Jalen Smith had 18 points and 11 rebounds in only 19 minutes, while Josh Giddey scored 15 to go along with his nine rebounds and six assists.
Chicago will need more from Giddey this time around, and hopefully, having Coby White can help stave off another potential late rally from Mitchell.
Sunday, Dec. 21: Bulls at Atlanta Hawks
A matchup against Johnson and the Hawks awaits the Bulls to close out the week on Sunday. The 24-year-old former Duke star is coming off a 12-point, 10-rebound, 12-assist triple-double — his fourth in a row.
Bulls vs. Hawks season series
Luckily for Chicago, it caught Atlanta on Oct. 27, the third game of its five-game winning streak to start the season.
Ayo Dosunmu had 21 points in the 128-123 victory. Nikola Vucevic scored 17 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Kristaps Porzingis (27), Trae Young (21) and Johnson (25) all had 20-point games for the Hawks.
The Bulls aren’t exactly a defensive juggernaut, ranking 26th in the league in points allowed at 122.4 per game. Over their last four contests, coinciding with Johnson’s All-NBA-type run, the Hawks are fifth in scoring, putting up 124.8 per game.
It won’t be an easy night for Chicago’s defensively challenged guards. And wings. And bigs. Yikes.