The Chicago Bulls suffered a 115-107 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night, putting them on the brink of elimination from play-in tournament contention. With the Indiana Pacers beating the Philadelphia 76ers, the 29-40 Bulls‘ only chance to make it to the play-in round is by winning their last three games (Raptors, Nets, Bucks) coupled with the Washington Wizards losing their last three (Hawks, Cavs, Hornets).
Bulls star Zach LaVine did his best to keep the Bulls alive against the Nets, pouring in 41 points. However, in a common theme in his NBA career, he didn't get enough help. LaVine has never made the playoffs in his career or even finished above .500.
Naturally, LaVine is frustrated, but he's taking accountability for Chicago's failures, even if it's tough to blame him for falling short yet again.
Via NBC Sports Chicago's K.C. Johnson:
“We didn’t do enough throughout the season to put us in position,” a dejected LaVine said postgame. “There were a lot of games that we could’ve won and we were talking about earlier where we’d be sitting here at this time of the year with some of the losses that we had that we should’ve won and the record that we should’ve had. It’s always what we should’ve did. Yada, yada, yada.
“We put ourselves in this boat. Obviously, I’m riding along in it. So it’s upsetting and you gotta be accountable. It sucks, though. Obviously, I want to be in the playoffs and be on that stage. Obviously, we’re just not there yet.”
The Bulls traded for Nikola Vucevic right before the trade deadline, seemingly clearing the way for a run at the play-in tournament or even a top-six seed. Instead, Chicago struggled in the aftermath of the deadline, with LaVine fighting through an ankle injury and then missing 11 games due to a positive COVID-19 test.
The Bulls will have greater expectations in 2021-22 with a full season of LaVine and Vucevic, plus hopefully some other key offseason moves. LaVine is bummed out now, especially given the improvements he has made each season as he has blossomed into an All-Star, but he vows that he's “going to get there” as Chicago sets its eyes on the playoffs in 2022.
2021-22 will also be a contract season for LaVine assuming he doesn't sign a contract extension this offseason, so that will add even more intrigue in Chicago.
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