NEWSLETTER
For the third-straight NBA trade deadline, Arturas Karnisovas defended the Chicago Bulls’ decision to do nothing.
The front office leader sat in front of reporters on Thursday afternoon and gushed about his 24-27 team. He practically used every variation of the word “competitive” to describe the pre-existing roster, harping that a push for the playoffs remains the organization’s goal.
“Last time, with a few of you, I spoke when we were 4-15. I was not very happy,” Karnisovas said. “I’m much happier now. I’d like to smile more. But, again, this team is very competitive in every game and we have aspirations to compete for the playoffs. Such a conference with parity, and each team is trying to get an edge. So I’m looking forward to watch these players compete with 30 games to go.”
Of course, Karnisovas is referring to his very brief statement to reporters back in November. The executive stated that the Bulls were frustrated with the team’s performance and that he would not run from problem. In his defense, Karnisovas is right. He hasn’t run from the Bulls’ problems … he’s sprinted.
While the Bulls have played better basketball since December, the team still sits 9th in the Eastern Conference and several games under .500. Both the standings and a long list of stats suggest this group isn’t any better than the team that got bounced in the Play-In Tournament one season ago. And, as far as most people are concerned, that’s a pretty big problem.
When pressed about the standings, Karnisovas only acknowledged the fact that the Bulls are still alive in the playoff picture. Concerns about whether or not the team is built for legitimate postseason success were non-existent.
“Well, I think we’re looking at the same standings, right? We’re three wins away from sixth place. We still have 30 games to go,” Karnisovas said. “As a competitor, obviously this group is playing better the last two months. I put faith in this group to make a push for the playoffs.”
The Bulls went 14-9 after the All-Star break last season, which Karnisovas noted in this press conference was among the best records in the league over that stretch. However, even then, the Bulls only managed to secure the No. 10 seed and win a single Play-In game. This idea that there is so much time to fly up the standings is extremely idealistic, particularly when we consider a majority of Eastern Conference teams above the Bulls decided to add talent at this deadline. Ya know, unlike Chicago.
I’d also be remiss not to mention that, no, the Bulls are not 3.0 games away from the sixth seed. The Indiana Pacers are 29-23, which means the Bulls are currently 4.5 games back from securing a first-round series. If the team were to make up a 3.0-game deficit right now, they’d merely move into the No. 8 seed and remain in the Play-In Tournament.
Regardless of the deficit and despite Karnisovas’ confidence, where the Bulls are this far into the season suggests they are not to be taken seriously as a competitive team. We all know that, but he’s hoping to convince fans otherwise:
“I’m selling a competitive group that is competing right now for the playoffs, and that’s just evidence,” Karnisovas told The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry, who asked what product the organization was selling its fan base. “You’re bringing up the standings, and we’re all bunched up in that area in the middle. So that’s what I see with this team at this point. Any adjustments will be made in the future, but this group is really good.”
I mean, that quote says it all, right?
