The NBA regular season is over, and some games near the end became more important than others.
The Chicago Bulls benched their four leading scorers in the first game of a back-to-back because they prioritized winning the second game more.
That second game was against the Miami Heat, and heading into it, both teams had identical records and were battling for the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Bulls have already clinched a spot in the play-in tournament, so seeding was the only thing to play for. Not only did Chicago win the game against the Heat, but the loss also dropped Miami a full game behind. Seeding was why the Bulls prioritized a win against the Heat over the Cavs.
The Bulls have clinched the ninth seed, but a win against Cleveland would have kept them in contention for the eighth seed. There is a massive difference between the eighth and ninth seeds in the play-in tournament.
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PLAY-IN TOURNAMENT BREAKDOWN
At this point, it’s practically tradition for the Bulls, Hawks and Heat to meet in the play-in. This will be the third straight year all three teams participate.
The tournament began during the NBA’s 2020 bubble to compensate for a shortened schedule. Initially, the eighth and ninth seeds played for the final playoff spot. In 2021, the format expanded to include the seventh and 10th seeds, and by 2022, it was adopted as a permanent fixture of the postseason.
Seeding plays a critical role. The seventh and eighth seeds play each other, with the winner earning the No. 7 playoff seed. The loser of that game then plays the winner of the 9 vs. 10 matchup for the No. 8 playoff seed. That means the seventh and eighth seeds get two chances to win one game, while the ninth and 10th seeds must win two straight to make the playoffs.
Chicago will once again be in the 9 vs. 10 matchup. As the No. 9 seed, they’ll be competing for the final playoff spot.
If they make the playoffs, their reward will be a first-round series against the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers.
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FAN BASE DIVIDED
While the Bulls are clearly pushing to win and make the playoffs, fans are split on whether that’s best for the franchise’s future. Making the postseason provides valuable experience for the team’s young core, and head coach Billy Donovan has emphasized the importance of playing in meaningful games for player development.
But making the playoffs gives the Bulls a pick outside the top 14, removing them from the lottery. The play-in tournament does not impact lottery odds for teams that miss the playoffs. Those odds are based strictly on regular-season record.
The lottery only determines the top four picks, with the rest of the order based on record. The Bulls have a 1.2% chance at the No. 1 pick and a 5.7% chance at a top-four selection, according to Tankathon.
Chicago won the last game of the season, even with the playoff standings set. The Bulls finished with the same record as the Mavericks, who lost their last game of the season. This caused the Bulls to drop from the 12th pick to 13th, unless they get a top-four pick in the lottery.
Adding a top player through the draft often helps a franchise more than a brief playoff appearance. The Oklahoma City Thunder were a No. 10 seed in 2023, and by 2024, they had climbed to the top seed in the West, largely thanks to adding Chet Holmgren.
Playoff experience can help transform contenders into champions, but top draft picks can turn play-in teams into legitimate playoff threats.
No matter what happens at the end of the season, the Bulls have some decisions to make in the offseason for the future of their rebuild. It should be a busy offseason full of scouting and contract negotiations.
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