The Bulls’ Next 15 Games Will Determine Their Future

Everyone agrees that the Chicago Bulls are not contenders — except for their own front office.

Chicago has battled in the play-in tournament for a chance at a playoff berth in each of the past few seasons, while its fans would rather see the team tank for a shot at the No. 1 pick.

After starting the season 5-0, the Bulls have gone 6-15 in their last 21 games and have lost eight of their last 10. Chicago has hit rock bottom, and its schedule only gets tougher. With the trade deadline looming, the Bulls have entered a grueling 15-game stretch, with 11 games coming against teams above .500. The stretch starts with back-to-back two-game series against the Cavaliers and Hawks, followed by matchups against the Magic, Timberwolves, Pistons, and Rockets.

Tanking On Accident

Chicago’s recent slump came during the easiest part of its schedule, and as a result, muddied the lottery odds of some of the league’s tanking teams. The Pacers have six wins, two of which came against the Bulls. The Pelicans have five wins, also with two against Chicago. The Nets and Hornets each have a win over the Bulls as well. While attempting to compete for the playoffs, Chicago has been accidentally better at tanking than teams actively trying to rebuild.

Now, the Bulls are entering the toughest portion of their schedule. For a contending team, a stretch like this would serve as a good litmus test to see how it stacks up against playoff competition. The Bulls will likely be favored in only two games during this stretch. They managed an improbable win against the struggling Cavaliers to open it, though that may say more about Cleveland than Chicago.

If the Bulls win just two of these games moving forward — perhaps against the Pelicans and Hornets — their record would fall to 13-28. 

Fans dreaming of a tank may soon get their wish, but in the worst possible way. The front office still believes this roster is one or two pieces away, when in reality it is light-years from contention. If Artūras Karnišovas doesn’t want to tank, his poor roster construction may end up forcing it anyway.