"We can only control what's in front of us" - What Billy Donovan said of the chances of the Chicago Bulls possibly getting a higher seed
The Chicago Bulls’ impressive comeback win over the Sacramento Kings on Monday solidified their hold of ninth place in the standings at 29-32. While Chicago is two-and-a-half games clear of 10th-place Atlanta, they’re still a long way from catching up to the sixth-place Orlando Magic, who are have a six-game lead over them.
The no. 6 spot is crucial as it means the holder of that seed will avoid the play-in tournament and automatically clinch a playoff spot. So, where does this leave the Bulls? With just 19 games left in the regular season, they will need to continue their strong play and hope for some help in order to climb up the standings.
Can the Bulls still move up?
Theoretically, the Bulls still have a chance as they trail Indiana by three-and-a-half games, and Miami by four-and-a-half. However, Bulls coach Billy Donovan admits there are variables that are out of the team's control.
“We talked about that the other day at practice,” Donovan said.
“The biggest thing is how much we can move up or move down is predicated on how well we play or don’t play. If you’re fortunate to get into a situation where you’re able to have the opportunity to play after the regular season is over with, to cruise into that or glide into that? You want to playing well at that time of year.”
Focus on the game in front of them
With the postseason looming, the Chicago Bulls are focused on taking things one game at a time and not getting caught up in playoff scenarios. Currently sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, the Bulls have a chance to make a run for the playoffs but know that they can't afford to overlook any opponents.
“The biggest thing we have to do, and I know it sounds cliche, we have to worry about ourselves,” Donovan added.
“We can only control what’s in front of us. This road trip is going to be really challenging. We don’t need to be watching what’s going on around the league at this point.”