Eastern Play-In preview

CHICAGO BULLS

Prediction: 34-48, No. 11 in the East
Actual: 39-43, No. 9 in the East

What went right: Everything, I had a wonderful season. The Bulls played hard, didn’t turn the ball over, and didn’t shoot a lot of threes. It’s not like the Bulls took a lot of threes and missed a lot of threes, silver linings.

Let’s call Zach LaVine’s trade demand reversal, “playing through injury.” Let’s call the times LaVine played through injury, “Chicago’s medical staff collaborating with its players.” Let’s call the games LaVine wore street clothes “the best of the season by far,” the ball moved, the Bulls defended, Zach LaVine is a good guy and a hard worker but he doesn’t aid wins unless he’s on a team where everything runs correctly, this franchise never runs correctly, even when it drafts Michael Jordan. The Bulls were 10-15 with LaVine in the lineup.

The Bulls experienced good health from the workers who mattered most — DeMar, Alex, Coby, Ayo — and played the most overtime games (11) and by a lot (Portland was the only team with eight), free basketball from my favorite team. All you can ask for is a chance at it.

C: Nikola Vucevic — the league’s worst roll defender saw his three-point shooting dip to 29 percent this season despite 313 attempts, but at least he never got to the line. Rarely turns the ball over, which is good, because someone may have stormed the court after one Nikkup too many. I know the Bulls don’t boast the throaty in-person support they used to but the team still sells every seat, all it takes is one ticket-holder. One jump hook spinning in and out. Better increase security for Wednesday night.