"It doesn't really depend on us anymore" - Nikola Vucevic faces the reality of the Chicago Bulls potentially missing the NBA Playoffs

With time running out on the regular season, the harsh reality of the Chicago Bulls may not making it to postseason play is slowly dawning on the team's star center, Nikola Vucevic. After another frustrating loss to the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night, Vucevic told reporters that the Bulls' chances of making the playoffs might not be entirely in their hands.

"It doesn't really depend on us anymore," Vucevic said.

Slipping away

The Bulls were showing signs of a resurgence after the All-Star break. With the addition of newly-signed Patrick Beverley who provided a lift on defense, Chicago won three of their first four games after the break, including two dominant victories against Brooklyn and Washington. However, they have since lost two straight, including a 125-122 loss to the Pacers, falling to 29-36 and into 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Looked like the Bulls primary option was to go to Zach here, but Pacers wisely doubled and the Bulls couldn't get him the ball

Bulls fall 125-122. Now 29-36, now 12th in the East pic.twitter.com/05L9RFbvIR
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) March 5, 2023

Vucevic, who's playing in his 12th season in the NBA, says they have to find ways to win as many games as possible but alluded to the fact that even if they do that, it may not be enough to sneak them into the postseason.

"We have to win. But we're depending on the people in front of us, on how they do. So it's hard to say after 65 games we didn't figure it out. It's tough to believe that something's just going to click like that. We'll see. We're going to keep fighting, keep hoping something happens. But it's obvious we've put ourselves in a very difficult spot now."

The schedule's not getting easier

Bulls coach Billy Donovan added that the road ahead of them would not get any easier.

"Our schedule's tough, too," said Donovan.

The Bulls still have games against some of the league's best, including the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and the Los Angeles Clippers.