The Chicago Bulls are in a perilous situation in the East, and Zach LaVine knows they can't afford any mishap in their last four games of the season.
With the Bulls 11th in the East standings–three games behind the ninth-seeded Indiana Pacers and two and half games away from the 10th-seeded Washington Wizards–LaVine admitted that he's watching closely on the games and records of their two closest competitors. He also acknowledged the incredible streak Russell Westbrook is having for Washington, which he knows doesn't bode well for their play-in hopes.
“I’ve been watching, especially with what Russ is doing,” Zach LaVine said on the play-in race, per KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “I think a lot of guys are tuned in. And obviously congratulations to him on everything he has accomplished. The history he has made this year and throughout his career is incredible.”
The Bulls are in a do-or-die situation, and they really don't have that much control in their future. Should the Pacers and Wizards win at least twice in their final stretch of games, LaVine and Co. will be eliminated.
All the Bulls can do now is win their remaining four games to give themselves a fighting chance to make it to the play-in tournament.
Bulls’ paths to play-in:
Bulls go 4-0
Pacers go 1-3 OR Wizards go 1-2 OR Hornets go 0-4Bulls go 3-1
Pacers go 0-4 OR Wizards go 0-3Any other scenario and Bulls are eliminated.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 11, 2021
It remains to be seen what will happen to the Bulls should they miss the play-in and playoffs. After going all out to acquire Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline in what was deemed as a win-now move, things didn't really click for the team.
LaVine is right, though. They should be watching and praying hard for everything to go Chicago's way.
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