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Report projects Chicago Bulls to falter in the group stage of In-Season Tournament
Aside from trying to make its way back to prominence in the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls must also now navigate the inaugural staging of the In-Season Tournament. The Bulls are in Group C along with the powerhouse Boston Celtics, the revamped Brooklyn Nets, the Toronto Raptors, and the Orlando Magic.
Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz, though, didn’t give the Bulls much in the way of hope of advancing to the next round, saying the Bulls didn’t really move the needle all that much to put a dent in the Eastern Conference’s hierarchy.
Didn’t get better
Already one of the NBA’s best teams with their All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics added another dimension with the trade for All-Star big man Kristaps Porzingis. Although Marcus Smart’s tenacity and defense will be sorely missed, the Latvian big man gives Boston a new dynamic offensively and could be the difference in the Celtics’ title chase.
As for the Bulls, Swartz put it bluntly, saying the team “didn't really get any better.” The Bulls added two solid pieces in Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig, but it remains to be seen how much better the team will be with the two role players.
“The Celtics should easily come out of Group C. Their biggest competition, the Nets, got swept in the first round while the other three teams missed the playoffs altogether. Toronto got worse this offseason with the loss of Fred VanVleet, and Chicago didn't really get any better,” Swartz said.
Morale-booster
The Bulls would do well to take the In-Season Tournament seriously. Last season, Chicago finished with a 40-42 record and finished a win short of making it to the postseason. A superb showing in the In-Season Tournament would be a huge morale booster for the team and could potentially spur them to a better run next season.
