Chicago Sports Exchange: Bulls’ Playoff Push Stalls, Hawks’ Could Gain Steam
The Bulls’ season of one-step forward, two-steps back continues; Hawks still within range of final playoff spot
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Upgrades made to the front court and along the bench last month were meant to spring the Bulls from the shadow of doubt that comes with a play-in tournament berth and into the thick of the playoff chase.
But they’re, instead, still bringing up the rear.
Few and far between practice time, beefier opponents and an unforgiving wave of games have played a part, for sure. But these are not the results Artūras Karnišovas envisioned when he refashioned the roster at the trade deadline in order to “win” now.
The Bulls need to make hay out of their next handful of games—and Zach LaVine’s scoring outbursts—before the caliber of their competition spikes again.
HOLD — Bulls Drop Second Straight Game, Lose Ground On Pacers
And so the Bulls’ season of one-step forward, two-steps back continues.
A 121-117 loss to Minnesota Sunday is their second letdown in as many games after they fell one half short of securing the franchise’s longest winning streak in four years against Atlanta Friday.
“We’ve got a lot of work [defensively] ahead of us, I’ll tell you that,” Billy Donovan said in his post-game news conference after watching Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell notch 27 points apiece and three of their teammates also reach double figures.
“There’s times we made progress and strides, but the challenge for us is when there’s multiple ball-handlers. We have a hard time physically a lot of times controlling the ball. Both the guards and the bigs. We just do. There’s no way around it.’’
The Bulls (22-30) still have a two-game advantage over Toronto for the tenth seed in the Eastern Conference, but now trail ninth-seeded Indiana by three games with just over a month left in the regular season.
Their five-game road trip comes to a close tonight at Memphis (26-25). They’ll welcome Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr. and the Orlando Magic (17-36) to the United Center Wednesday for the first of three straight games at home.
HOLD — Blackhawks Still In Position To Crash The Playoff Picture
If the Hawks are going to photo-bomb the NHL playoff picture, now’s the time.
After gutting out a 4-3 victory over Columbus Saturday, the Hawks (19-18-5) sit four points behind Nashville for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Central Division.
Taking care of business against the Blue Jackets again tonight and last-place Detroit Thursday and Saturday is crucial to the Hawks closing that gap, especially given the fact that nine of their final 11 games are against teams ahead of them in the standings.
Take it as read that this is the Hawks’ last favorable stretch of the season.
The runway for them to build a head of steam appears promising. So, too, do their chances of getting a boost elsewhere with the Predators set to play the two best teams in the division in Tampa Bay (Tuesday) and Carolina (Thursday and Saturday) this week.
It’s unknown when Brett Connolly and Riley Stillman will make their debuts for the Hawks. The duo was dealt to Chicago from Florida along with a seventh-round pick and the rights to Henrik Borgstrom in exchange for Lucas Carlsson and Lucas Wallmark Thursday.
“[We’ll] just try to get them up to speed so that as much as possible they can prepare so when they do get in, they can play on instinct,” head coach Jeremy Colliton told reporters before Saturday’s game in which Mattias Janmark, who is expected to be traded before today’s 2 p.m. CT deadline, was a healthy scratch.
Meanwhile, Calvin de Haan’s status is uncertain after he suffered a hip pointer in the second period Saturday. Though Colliton said he didn’t think the injury had longterm ramifications, he’s taking a wait-and-see approach to de Haan’s return.
BUY — Fire Readies For Season Opener
And.
Here.
We.
Go.
After wrapping up the last two friendlies on their preseason docket (a 2-0 victory over Forward Madison FC Wednesday and a 3-2 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC Saturday), the Fire are set to open the MLS regular season against the New England Revolution at Soldier Field Saturday.
The team hasn’t qualified for the playoffs since 2017 and only once in the past eight years.
“Everyone’s super anxious to get back on the field, to have an official game under our belt,” Fire defender Jonathan Bornstein told reporters after the loss to the Whitecaps dropped the team to a 3-2-1 preseason record.
“We have really high hopes for this Chicago Fire team this season, and I can’t wait to get started on Saturday.”
BUY — Red Stars Take Draw Against Defending Champs, Meet Early Front-Runner Next
Playing Houston to a scoreless draw in the opening match of the National Women’s Soccer League preseason Challenge Cup wasn’t the result Red Stars head coach Rory Dames had hoped for.
But, he’ll take it.
“We came and played the defending champs on their field” Dames told the media after the rematch of last year’s Challenge Cup final Friday. “I think anytime you can do that and get a point, you’ll take the point. Especially in a tournament.”
That result was pushed aside after Red Stars defender Sarah Gorden published a thread on Twitter Saturday that alleged she and her boyfriend, who are both Black, were racially profiled by a BBVA security guard while he enforced COVID-19 protocols after the match.
The NWSL is looking into Gorden’s allegations.
The Red Stars are tied with the Dash for second place in their grouping. The Portland Thorns, whom the Red Stars host Thursday, have a two-point edge in the standings after beating Kansas City.
BUY — Sky Look To Add To What Could Be A Championship Roster
Courtney Vandersloot is something like a phenomenon.
The Sky’s table-setter has slung more assists than any other player in the WNBA each of the last three seasons and came as close as she ever has to joining the 50/40/90 club last season, her 10th in the league.
But she’s not a machine.
That’s why head coach James Wade has his sights set on finding Vandersloot a suitable backup with the eighth-pick of the 2021 WNBA Draft Thursday.
There are several solid prospects to choose from, including Arizona’s Aari McDonald, Louisville’s Dana Evans and Stanford’s Kiana Williams, who helped lead the Cardinal to its first national championship in 29 years earlier this month.
“It’s a good year to get a good one,” Wade said recently, “and we feel confident we will.”
Drew Stevens is a Senior Writer for WARR Media, he lives and works in Chicago