Bulls' Play-In Hopes Just Got a Lot Uglier
Well, that's just fantastic. Another season, another gut punch for Bulls fans. The team announced yesterday that Jaden Ivey and Jalen Smith are both done for the year, just as the playoff picture was starting to get interesting. Ivey's dealing with a sprained ankle, and Smith's got a knee issue. Just like that, two key rotation guys are out, and the Bulls' already slim chances of making noise in the Play-In tournament took a nosedive.
The Ivey Impact, Or Lack Thereof
Let's be real about Ivey. He hasn't exactly lit the world on fire since coming over from Detroit in the trade deadline deal for Zach LaVine. In 20 games with Chicago, he averaged just 9.5 points and 3.1 assists, shooting a pretty dismal 39% from the field. Sure, he had a couple of flashes, like that 22-point effort against the Pacers on March 15th. But mostly, he struggled to find a consistent rhythm playing alongside Coby White and Alex Caruso. The idea was to bring in a young, athletic guard who could grow with the core. Instead, he looked a bit lost at times, turning the ball over 2.5 times per game. His absence means more minutes for Ayo Dosunmu, who’s been solid, and probably some extra run for Dalen Terry, which isn't exactly inspiring confidence for a team trying to win now. This team needed a jolt, and Ivey just never quite delivered it.
Losing Smith's Grit on the Boards
Jalen Smith's loss, though, feels a little more significant for what this team is trying to be. He wasn't a star, but he brought some much-needed size and rebounding off the bench. In his 25 appearances, Smith averaged 6.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in about 16 minutes a night. He had a few double-digit rebounding games, too, like the 11 boards he pulled down against the Kings on February 28th. That's the kind of dirty work that wins you a few extra possessions, especially against bigger teams. Now, without him, the frontcourt depth behind Nikola Vucevic and Andre Drummond is paper-thin. Torrey Craig will get more minutes at the four, and frankly, he’s not a natural rebounder. This team already struggles on the glass, sitting 20th in the league in total rebounds per game at 43.1. Losing Smith just makes that problem worse. Good luck trying to contain guys like Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Bulls somehow make it further.
A Wasted Opportunity for This Bulls Squad
Here's the thing: the Bulls are currently sitting at 37-40, ninth in the Eastern Conference. They're only a game ahead of the Hawks for the final Play-In spot. This injury news isn't just about two players; it's about the erosion of depth at the worst possible time. The schedule ahead isn't exactly a cakewalk, either. They've got the Knicks, Magic, and Sixers still on the docket. Those aren't gimmes. This team, for all its flaws, has shown flashes of competence. They beat the Timberwolves 109-101 in overtime on March 26th, a genuinely impressive win. But they’ve also dropped games they shouldn’t, like the 113-101 loss to the Wizards on March 29th. Losing Ivey and Smith just makes a difficult path even harder. They needed every available body to scrape into the postseason and maybe, just maybe, pull off an upset. Now, I don't see it happening.
Bold prediction: The Bulls will lose their first Play-In game, ending their season and sparking a full organizational teardown this summer.