By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Chicago Bulls are on their way to a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and have shown that they can take it a long way in the postseason.
How far will they go? That can also depend on their playoff matchups, though Bulls star guard Zach LaVine believes that a healthy and focused Chicago team is the superior team in the Eastern Conference.
“When we get healthy and we do what we supposed to do, I don’t see anybody better than us in the East. That’s just my opinion,” LaVine said, per NBC Sports. “Competition-wise, you step on the line, you go throw the ball up, I don’t think anybody’s better than us.” The Bulls are currently missing key contributors Lonzo Ball (knee), Alex Caruso (wrist) plus Patrick Williams (wrist).
Chicago is 35 – 21 and tied with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. The club didn’t make any moves before the trade deadline, in contrast with several of their rivals in the East.
The Brooklyn Nets got Ben Simmons in the blockbuster James Harden trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, reigning champions Milwaukee Bucks added veteran big man Serge Ibaka while the Boston Celtics acquired guard Derrick White, along with center Daniel Theis.
“It’s the same thing that we have (as players),” LaVine commented. “They’re (the front office) gonna do their job, regardless. They’re gonna go out there and try to improve the team any way they can, you can’t get mad at that.”