Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan are not giving up on playoff hopes

The regular season may be nearing its end, and Chicago Bulls stars DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine are not going down without a fight. Even though their chances for a spot in the play-in tournament took another heavy blow on Sunday with a 125-122 loss to the Indiana Pacers, the two remain hopeful that they can still make it to the postseason.

Not built that way

Analysts may already be writing the obituary for the Bulls’ disappointing showing this season, but LaVine says with 17 more games left on their schedule, the door is still open for them to make it to the postseason.

“You’re not going to go out there and say the season is over with,” said LaVine, who had 42 points against the Pacers.

“I don’t know how you (media) guys think, but we don’t think that way,” he added.

Bulls have to dig deep

DeRozan, on the other hand, is imploring his teammates to dig deep and find that extra motivation to not give up on the season at hand. At 29-36, the Bulls are 11th in Eastern Conference standings, a game and a half behind the 10th-place Washington Wizards who currently hold the last ticket for the play-in tournament.

“We still have the opportunity to make the most out of it,” DeRozan insisted. “We’ve just got to dig deep. We all have got to find something within ourselves to make something happen; the opportunity is still there. As long as you’ve got time, you’ve got a chance. That’s where we’re at.”

DeMar is on 🔥 tonight pic.twitter.com/87jZ1UTBcD
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) March 4, 2023