The Chicago Bulls’ first game of 2023 didn’t go as they wished. A 102-103 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers was probably more painful than all the losses they suffered throughout last year.
And that wasn’t it all. After leading the Cavaliers to win the highly competitive game on 1st January, Donovan Mitchell went ahead and sunk the Bulls once again.
Mitchell dropped an incredible 71 points to give the Cavaliers their first overtime win of 2023 while also delivering to the Bulls their second loss of the year. The Cavaliers have so far registered 5 OT wins this season.
The Chicago Bulls somehow managed to rise and have since registered three consecutive victories, including a win over the Brooklyn Nets, who are in position two in the Eastern Conference. Remember, before they fell to the Cavaliers, the Bulls had registered two straight wins — against the Bucks and Pistons.
Three wins in a row 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/NbhDQjsePS
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 8, 2023
Bulls Struggling to Find Their Place Early in the Season
The Chicago Bulls have gone through a lot of struggles in the early phase of the season. Honestly, the Bulls are one of the most respected teams in the NBA. And whatever they’ve undergone (or are undergoing) is damning for a franchise of Bull’s resources and ambitions.
They finished last year sitting at position 10 in the Eastern Conference with a 16-20 record. They’re currently at position 9, behind the Heat, at number 8 in the Eastern Conference.
But that’s even better because, before their eye-opening win against the Heat on 21st Dec, the Bulls had suffered a four-game losing streak.
You see, losing is acceptable and a common thing in any game, but it becomes unacceptable when a team like the Bulls suffers four consecutive losses. Remember, until the 2015–2016 Warriors, the Chicago Bulls were the only NBA team to have won 70 games or more in a single season.
The 1990s and early 2000s were exciting days to be a Bulls fan. Scenes of jubilant fans pouring out of a packed United Centre while dancing to jazz music after Bulls victories were common those days.
But not anymore. That music stopped literally after the franchise traded Jimmy Butler. And what followed was a four-year downturn that saw the Bulls register the NBA’s worst winning percentage.
After onboarding Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso, the Bulls jumped to a hot start last season. Fans had another reason to smile, and memories of the blaring saxophones and jazz music returned. But it was short-lived. Ball’s knee injury brought an end to all that.
Zach & DeMar combined for 71 points last night 💪@Plus500 | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/Tx7NrhlHee
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 8, 2023
Bulls’ Early Schedule Was The Toughest in the League
According to Basketball Reference, the Bulls had the most brutal start of the season compared to any team in the NBA. That’s not to underrate them or anything, but based on their current standard, most of the teams they were paired with were either above them in the league rankings or had a long history of defeating them.
Of the 20 games they played at the start of the season, ten were against teams ranking in the top 5 on either side – Eastern or Western Conference. Being that they emerged victorious against some of those teams doesn’t still rule out the fact that they were a hard nut to crack.
But then, we’re yet to establish whether the schedule wasn’t fair for them or they’re just a team on its deathbed. Because if indeed the schedule wasn’t in their favor, the Chicago Bulls should start registering victories after victories. They’ve already managed three consecutive wins, but that’s not enough to tell whether they’re on the right track.
Their top gun, DeMar DeRozan, has been doing his best and is one of the league’s top scorers. DeRozan has played 40 games this season and has an average of 26.4 points per game, putting him at number 5 in the league’s total point leaders.
BULLS WIN.
BULLS WIN.
BULLS WIN. pic.twitter.com/knQtqKDfRN— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 8, 2023
There are Still Hopes
After a rough start of the season, Donovan and the Bulls must have strategized and are ready to give their fans a reason to smile in 2023. They have won all their last three games. And are now in position 9 after finishing 2022 at position 10 in the Eastern Conference.
There are also hopes that their guard, Lonzo Ball, will make his 2022-2023 season debut in the next few weeks. And if that comes to pass, then the Bulls might be the fans’ favorite again.
The Bulls appeared in the playoffs last season after a four-year hiatus. And they finished as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference after losing 5 games of their series against the Milwaukee Bucks. The 2021-2022 playoff appearance was the 36th in the history of the franchise which has played in the NBA for a total of 57 seasons.
Credits on Featured Image: Tony/Flickr/Commercial License Allowed
