Chicago started having a magical season last year and eventually turned into an injury nightmare. Like teams in many sports, last winter was not kind to the Bulls. They got off to a hot start and led the Eastern Conference when a COVID-19 outbreak hit the group in December, practically put the entire list in of the tournament health and safety protocols.
After recovering from COVID, key players like Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso, Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vučević both suffered injuries that forced some to miss significant matches. The good news is that the Bulls bring back the same core group of players to start the year, minus Ball, who remains sidelined with a torn meniscus. Chicago was hit by lightning in a bottle early last season, which will be difficult to repeat in consecutive years.
Chicago is sixth and is losing after a gentleman’s sweep at the hands of Milwaukee in the first round of the playoffs. Other teams in the East have gotten better – like Atlanta and Cleveland mentioned above – then you have teams like Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Miami who probably aren’t going anywhere.
A top-six finish will be tough for the Bulls this year, and that hot start doesn’t seem feasible. Finished in the top seven-arrive-The 10 ranges for these Bulls are most likely this season, based on injuries, personnel and overall competition in the East.
