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Chicago Bulls jump to no. 19 in The Athletic's Power Rankings

The Bulls are moving in the right direction.

Stephen Beslic

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The Chicago Bulls’ improved play has not gone unnoticed, as The Athletic placed them two spots higher in the latest NBA Power Rankings. After sitting in no. 21 last time, the Bulls have jumped to no. 19, thanks mainly to their terrific December run where they won 10 of 15 games.

What’s next for the Bulls?

The Bulls’ performances in December showcased an exciting style of play emphasizing quick ball movement and decision-making. The energy and unselfishness on offense also translated to the defensive end, with the team improving their defensive rotations and communication. 

As a result, they secured wins against tough opponents such as the Atlanta Hawks and the Philadelphia 76ers.

The team’s recent play also places the front office at a crossroads: Do they continue on this path or make changes to improve the team’s chances of future success further?

Zach LaVine’s return

With All-Star guard Zach LaVine’s return imminent, the Bulls need to make crucial decisions regarding their roster. While the team has been good of late, being merely good is far from enough to make the Bulls relevant again.

“Either lean into the current makeup or jettison everybody,” Zach Harper wrote.

“It’s too big of a sample size to ignore now. The Bulls are 10-5 since Zach LaVine went down with an injury. That’s a significant swing without LaVine. Is this sample size real? Is this indicative of what this team could be without LaVine? Should they just move him and stick with this, or move on from LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso to stockpile some assets to do a proper teardown?” Harper continued.

Billy Donovan reveals Zach LaVine could return to action as early as Friday

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Stephen Beslic
STEPHEN BESLIC

Stephen Beslic is a writer on Sports Illustrated's FanNation Network. Stephen played basketball from the age of 10 and graduated from Faculty of Economic and Business in Zagreb, Croatia, majoring in Marketing.

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