It’s there for the entire locker room to see.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan has made sure of that.
“We put the standings up on the board,” Donovan said, when discussing the jockeying for position that’s gone on in the Eastern Conference the last month. “Miami jumped us (for ninth). We have six games left, so there’s been no talk with the front office of we’re going to start resting guys, pulling guys out.”
“I thought we lost how we were playing (in Oklahoma City on Monday) and I don’t want that to happen these last six. We need that time, instead of, ‘Hey we’re locked in. Let these six or seven games go by the wayside and then we are going to try to turn it on.’ I don’t know if we can do that because it’s somewhat of a new group with the additions. So we’ve got to continue to try to improve and get better.”
The good news for the Bulls is they somewhat control their own destiny for the No. 9 and No. 10 spots, hosting the Heat at the United Center next Wednesday, and already winning the season series.
Plus, Miami still has Memphis and Milwaukee on the schedule before the trip to Chicago.
And if Atlanta or Orlando slip up, hey, the Bulls would love to grab the No. 7 or No. 8 spot and make it a one-game win-and-you’re-in scenario rather than having to win two games from the bottom two spots to see the postseason.
“It’s a single game elimination like March Madness, so how can we be ourselves but also ramp it up to a whole new level?” guard Coby White said of what’s in front of the Bulls. “It will be exciting for us to make the playoffs the way we’ve played this second half of the season. Obviously, if we have the opportunity to only play one game to make the playoffs, I’ll take that any day of the week.”
What’s not being posted on the board or discussed by Donovan or any of his players? Even if the Bulls can get out of the play-in and get some postseason experience, the window for any real staying power next season can close quickly.
Trades can always be made this summer, but a majority of the roster is under contract for one more year — some sketchy contracts at that — so the idea that winning a play-in game or two makes the Bulls a team on the rise next season just isn’t the case.
And there’s three reasons why: Philadelphia, Toronto and if another team in the East like Charlotte, Washington or Brooklyn lands Cooper Flagg.
A healthy 76ers team with Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, what rookie Jared McCain was showing before his injury, and now a potential top draft pick can easily turn into a 50-plus-win team for the 2025-26 campaign.
The Raptors can quickly get interesting with Scottie Barnes, a healthy Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and also adding a talented player from the 2025 draft.
Then there’s wherever Flagg goes. It might take a year, but expect his impact to be felt immediately.
So as fun as the ride has been for the Bulls the last few weeks, they better make sure to take advantage of it now. Momentum carrying over from season to season is often a myth.
“I get where we are at in the totality of the league,” Donovan added. “The reality is we are at the bottom of the league in the East. But we are fighting for an opportunity to win one game or two games or whatever it may be. And if that happens, you’re in the playoffs. So these younger players who are going through this, they need to feel what that feels like in those moments. So we are definitely talking about it.”