The Chicago Bulls secured a spot in the play-in tournament despite a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. Their ticket to the tournament was punched courtesy of a loss by the Brooklyn Nets.
Now, the focus for the Bulls shifts towards securing the ninth place to host a game in the tournament. However, this task has become more challenging following their defeat to the Hawks.
Following the loss, the Bulls find themselves just half a game ahead of the Hawks in the Eastern Conference standings. The pivotal difference in Monday’s game was the three-point shooting, with Atlanta hitting 19 out of 40 attempts compared to Chicago’s 7 out of 28. Bulls’ head coach Billy Donovan acknowledged the impact of Atlanta’s sharp shooting, emphasizing the difficulty of winning against such efficiency.
Donovan highlighted the Hawks’ ability to exploit open opportunities and capitalize on Bulls’ mistakes. While the Bulls had their chances, they failed to capitalize as effectively.
One notable concern for Donovan was the Hawks’ success in making corner threes, an area he believes the Bulls must address urgently to strengthen their defense.
Looking ahead, this game holds significance for the Eastern Conference standings, as both teams are likely to face off again in the play-in tournament. The Bulls now recognize the areas they need to improve upon to ensure a different outcome in their future encounter.
