Playoffs On the Line, Heat Culture is Real, Bulls Still Top 5 in Merch Sales, and Other Bulls Bullets

The Chicago Bulls will do something tonight that I can’t remember another one of my favorite sports teams doing.

With a loss, the frustrations of where this organization stands will consume me. With a win, the frustrations of where this organization stands will consume me. Neither outcome is likely to make me truly happy, which is a testament to the rare position Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley have put this franchise.

https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1781299357574213738

  • Part of me believes a loss is likely better for the long-term trajectory. If any outcome is going to persuade this front office that the team they currently built isn’t worth further investment, it’s a second-straight Play-In Tournament defeat. Part of me wants a win. It’s never fun to root for a loss, and I’d love to see both Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu play vital roles in a playoff series. Then again, would getting absolutely demolished by the Boston Celtics really be a valuable learning experience? And do we really want the front office to have the excuse of making two playoff appearances in three years? My head is spinning!
  • Hey, I guess there is no use thinking about the outcome until the game is played. While the Jimmy Butler injury certainly throws a big wrinkle into things, let’s not forget the Bulls are far below 100 percent, as well. Alex Caruso, Andre Drummond, and Ayo Dosunmu will each enter tonight as questionable. Let’s also not forget that Miami is … well … Miami. This is a team that has defied the odds multiple times in the last handful of years. They came into this season making three Eastern Conference Finals – two NBA Finals – in four seasons. Heat Culture is real. Erik Spoelstra is real. Miami’s depth is real. We haven’t been able to assume the Bulls have any game in the bag this year, and we can’t fall into the trap now.
  • Nikola Vucevic of the Chicago Bulls
    © Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

  • Tonight will be Tyler Herro’s chance to shine. He was out for all four of the Bulls-Heat matchups this season, so let’s hope the Bulls remember just how deadly of a shooter he can be. He’s shooting 38.6 percent on nearly 8.0 attempts from long range this season, and he’s also dishing a career-high 4.5 assists. The fact Caruso and Dosunmu are less than 100 percent should only make Herro feel that much more comfortable.
  • Nikola Vucevic is also going to have his work cut out for him with Bam Adebayo. The size advantage is something he must use to his advantage on both ends of the floor. Half of the battle with Adebayo will likely be making your presence felt physically, especially on the defensive end. I expect a lot of the offense to run through Adebayo. He’s a gifted playmaker who can help set up Miami’s shooters. Vucevic has to help deny entry passes and avoid letting the big man get into a rhythm. For more on what it might take for the Bulls to get this win, check out our post from last night …
  • If the Bulls’ film session didn’t revolve around the Heat’s zone defense, they’re in for a tough night. Nobody in the league turns to the zone more than this group, and it’s a big reason why they hold a top 5 defense in the NBA. For more on just how disruptive their D can be, BBall Breakdown did a great video on their performance against Philly. Check it out!
  • With all that said, Jimmy Butler still matters a lot! Kevin Anderson shared the superstar’s on/off numbers courtesy of Cleaning the Glass. Miami’s Net Rating sits at +5.5 when Butler is in the game compared to -2.7 when he’s on the bench. Not great!
  • Somewhere Jerry Reinsdorf just smiled. The Chicago Bulls are still top 5 in total merch sales, according to the NBA. They’ll never stop cashing in on those MJ years!
  • Honestly, it’s crazy how massive the Bulls brand is without a true superstar on the team. The NBA also released their top 15 selling jerseys for the 2023-24 season, and the Bulls missed the cut for what feels like the millionth year in a row.
  • I want nothing more than Stephon Castle to a Bull.
  • You NBA sickos!
  • The NBA will announce award finalists on Sunday, the league shared. The full expectation is that we should see DeMar DeRozan and Coby White mentioned for Clutch Player of the Year and Most Improved Player, respectively. But will either take home the hardware?
  • WHOA!
  • Don’t love that!
  • written by

    Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

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