For the first time in five years, the Chicago Bulls have missed the NBA play-in tournament, a short postseason series to determine who will continue to the playoffs. As of March 27, the Chicago Bulls have been eliminated from postseason play.<\/p>\n
Since the full-time adoption of the play-in tournament in the 2021-22 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls have missed it once. Their lone absence came in the tournament\u2019s inaugural season, where the Chicago Bulls finished with a 46-36 record, the sixth best in the Eastern Conference.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following this season, the Chicago Bulls have been left in \u201cplay-in purgatory,\u201d says senior sports business major James Marchi. The only team to have played in three consecutive play-in tournaments without advancing to the playoffs, the Bulls have consistently been mediocre.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With star players like Zach Lavine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107 leading the way, fans expected better after the hot start they had in the 2021-22 NBA season.<\/p>\n
However, some found the organization became content with being mediocre.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe organization has been content with being in the play-in because the fans always show constant support,\u201d DePaul senior Frank Fritzmann says.<\/p>\n
Not everyone agrees with that criticism.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re in the play-in you always have a chance to be in the playoffs and win at the highest level,\u201d Marchi said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Other Bulls fans who were against the play-in from the beginning found missing the play-in to be great, including DePaul senior Christian Hoffman who said, \u201cI\u2019m glad they missed it this year. I was like \u2018Finally, it happened.\u2019\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
From the beginning of this year, things seemed different, but after a 5-0 start to the season, the Bulls fell back down to earth. By the time the trade deadline came around, they held a 24-27 record, tied for 10th best in the Eastern Conference.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instead of sticking with the philosophy they have had the past three seasons, the front office did something different. They traded away fan-favorite guards Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets, respectively. They also traded Vucevic, the only remaining starter from the 2021-22 roster, to the Boston Celtics.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In these trades, the Chicago Bulls got younger, picking up players like Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller, who both are in their first three years in the NBA. They also added nine second-round picks to their arsenal.<\/p>\n
Following last season where they parted ways with LaVine, the front office and ownership appeared to be moving in the direction of a rebuild. Now, the full roster teardown leaves fans with a bittersweet feeling, being forced to \u201cembrace the tank,\u201d as Hoffman, a Bulls fan, framed it.<\/p>\n