The NBA is unique in American professional sports where below-average teams like the Bulls can find a prize in either direction.
Many would argue the better result is to win the draft lottery, but the Bulls have set their sights on advancing past the play-in tournament.
The Bulls officially clinched their third-straight play-in spot by rolling to a 137-118 victory over Toronto on Tuesday at the United Center, sweeping the four-game season series against the Raptors.
Fresh off being named Eastern Conference player of the month for March, Coby White led the way with 28 points, while Talen Horton-Tucker added 27.
While there was some satisfaction in bouncing back from an ugly blowout loss in Oklahoma City on Monday, Toronto clearly had little interest in winning this game. The Raptors made certain to skip the play-in and stay in the lottery. Bulls coach Billy Donovan was realistic about the Bulls' scenario.
“I get where we're at in the totality of the league, OK,” Donovan said after the game. “The reality is we're at the bottom of the league in the East, but we're fighting for an opportunity to have to win one game or two games (in the play-in). Now if that happens, you're in the playoffs.
“These younger players that are going through this, they need to feel what this feels like in those moments, in my opinion. We don't want to lose that opportunity for their growth and development.”
The Bulls have dropped behind Miami into 10th place in the East, but should be able to finish strong, with just one playoff opponent in the final six games. The Bulls host the Heat next Wednesday and have already clinched the season series.
As a quick reminder, the play-in tournament starts with the No. 7 and 8 seeds squaring off, along with seeds 9 and 10. The winner of the first game gets the seventh playoff spot, while the loser of the first game hosts the winner of the second with the No. 8 playoff spot-on the line.
In each of the past two years, the Bulls were the 9 or 10 seed, won their opening game, then lost to Miami for the chance to snag the eighth seed.
“It's tough, especially to lose to the same team twice,” White said. “But this is the path we were given, this is our own personal journey as a team. So we've got to make the most of it.
“I think it would be exciting for us to make the playoffs. It's single-game elimination, just like March Madness. How can we be ourselves, but also ramp it up to a while new level?”
White is the NBA's 12th leading scorer since the all-star break, averaging 25.2 points. He won player of the week twice, making player of the month a natural progression. White is the sixth Bulls player to win the monthly award and first since DeMar DeRozan.
White said he got congratulatory texts from former teammates DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso.
“I try to stay humble in the moment,” White said. “I don't take this stuff for granted. I'm blessed, but I can't do anything without my teammates continuing to find me and instilling belief in me and push me to be better.”
In the big picture, the Bulls would be better off losing the play-in and taking their rightful spot as the eighth-worst team in the draft lottery. If the Bulls make it to the playoffs, their 2025 draft pick would be locked in at No. 15 overall.
The Bulls were without Dalen Terry (right calf contusion), Julian Phillips (right quad contusion) and Jevon Carter (shoulder). Before the game, Donovan said Lonzo Ball (wrist) is still hoping to play again this season, but missed his 16th straight game on Tuesday.