The Chicago Bulls have been playing like one of the best teams in the NBA all season long despite dealing with some Covid-19 issues. They have exceeded expectations through the first three months of the season as they are the number two team in the Eastern Conference and sit at 21-10. Many people expected them to be a very good team this season, but none expected them to be as good as they have been.

The reason that the Bulls are so good is that they have a lot of above-average role pieces and have their two stars in DeMar DeRozan and Zach Lavine. DaMar was brought in this summer and has certainly exceeded expectations as he's averaging the fifth most points in all of basketball at 27 points per game. Everybody knew what type of player he was, but nobody expected him to play like how he is right now.

If the Bulls want to have any success towards the back end of the season and in the playoffs, they're going to need to make some moves during the trade deadline and are certainly going to have to stay healthy. Winning the Eastern Conference is not going to be an easy task considering that they're going to have to take down the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks and then get by Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets. The reality is, this Chicago team does not have anybody who can defend Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant and that's certainly going to be an issue come playoff time.

Although the Bulls have been playing well this season, there are still things that they are going to need to do during the new year so let's take a look at three Bulls New Year's resolutions that Zach LaVine and Chicago can take care of.

Bulls New Years Resolution

3. A forward who can defend

Nikola Vucevic is a very talented center and he is certainly somebody that is going to be a major piece of the Bulls' future success. If he can play to the ability that he has shown he is capable of every night in the playoffs, the Bulls are going to be in a great position and are definitely not going to be a team that other top teams in the Eastern Conference are going to want to face.

Article Continues Below
More Chicago Bulls News
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan reacts to a call during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center.
3 players Chicago Bulls must avoid in 2025 NBA DraftScotty White ·
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) dribbles the ball against Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
DeMar DeRozan gets 100% real on playing with Lonzo BallJake Faigus ·
Rudy Gobert photoshopped in a Bulls jersey
Bulls offseason trade proposal for Rudy Gobert after Timberwolves lossBailey Bassett ·
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan stands during a time out against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center.
Bulls rumors: NBA Draft ‘focus’ as Chicago eyes Pacers modelScotty White ·
Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) gestures after making a three point basket against the Miami Heat during the second half at United Center.
Bulls rumors: Insider makes $120 million Josh Giddey projectionQuinn Allen ·
Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball (2) dribbles the ball against New York Knicks point guard Miles McBride (2) during the first half at Madison Square Garden.
Bulls’ 4 best trade scenarios using No. 12 pick in 2025 NBA DraftRohan Brahmbhatt ·

The reality of the situation is the Bulls desperately need somebody who can guard Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Vucevic is simply not that. There is nobody in the world who could slow down both of those guys but the Bulls are going to have to do their best job in order to beat those teams and try to contain both of those guys. If they allow both of them to go for 40-plus points a night, they have no chance of beating them in a playoff series. They're going to have to make it tough on both of these guys and at the moment the Bulls have nobody who can even be thrown at Durant or Giannis.

2. Some luck along the way

With every other championship that's ever been won, there has been some luck that has gone teams' ways. That's exactly what the Bulls are going to need during the playoffs if they are going to want to have the success that many expect that they can possibly have. They're going to need to avoid the Bucks and the Nets early on in the playoffs and hope that somehow one or both of them get knocked out before the Conference Finals. If Chicago can get to the Conference Finals and not have to play either of those teams, they will have a great chance of making the NBA Championship.

There's going to be some luck involved in every championship, so the Bulls can certainly use some help if they can get a few balls to bounce in for their side while the opposing teams have a few balls rattle out.

1. Health

The unfortunate reality of the NBA playoff is that there's usually going to be a big-name player who's going to get injured and it is going to cause the team to get knocked out earlier in the playoffs than others anticipated because they don't have one of their stars to help them out. The Bulls simply do not have enough talent outside of LaVine and DeRozan where they can have the luxury of guys being injured. Chicago did a great job this offseason by bringing in some role pieces that can accompany their stars, but the reality is if either of those guys gets hurt or any of their significant role players get hurt, they are not going to have a good chance of winning an NBA title if all the other teams remain healthy.