Mediocrity for an NBA team isn’t all bad.
Christmases off, for one. Avoiding the pressure of nationally televised games week after week. No being scrutinized by the talking heads on ESPN’s “NBA Today.”
For the Bulls, the seats at the United Center stay filled and the Michael Jordan statue remains a photo op, even as they seem to be on a path back to the Play-In Tournament with the release of the NBA regular-season schedule Thursday.
It starts with a wake-up call on opening night Oct. 22, when the Bulls host the up-and-coming Pistons — one of five home games in their first seven games.
The real grinds come in late January and late March with a pair of five-game road trips. And if the Bulls wind up in contention for something meaningful, they can thank the NBA for scheduling a game against the Suns and two against the Wizards in Washington in the final week of the regular season.
The Bulls will be on national TV just three times, playing at Orlando on Peacock on Dec. 1, at Brooklyn on ESPN on Jan. 16, and at Toronto on Amazon Prime on Feb. 5. They’ll play no nationally televised games at home.
To wrap up the season, they’ll host the Magic on April 10, then finish in Dallas against heralded Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg two nights later.
Here’s a look at what should be the Bulls’ five most pivotal games this season:
Oct. 31 – New York at Bulls
One of the few NBA teams more dysfunctional than the Bulls comes to town for the first pool-play game of the in-season tournament. It’s quite fitting that it’s on Halloween night, considering the Knicks’ front office has been trying to disguise itself as a functional after firing successful coach Tom Thibodeau, who took them to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in a quarter-century, and finally hiring Mike Brown last month.
Nov. 10 – San Antonio at Bulls
This game should be a quick breath for the Bulls during a busy travel time. After plenty of games at home to open the season, they start a back-to-back in Milwaukee and Cleveland on Nov. 7. Coach Billy Donovan brings the crew back home for a Monday night game against Victor Wembanyama and the young but talented Spurs. Then they’re right back on the road for a four-game tour that hits Detroit, Utah, Denver and Portland. They’d better take advantage of this game against the Spurs on their home turf.
Dec. 7 – Golden State at Bulls
Any time Steph Curry comes to Chicago, it’s an event. And he’ll have a few friends with him, starting with former Bulls standout Jimmy Butler. Could this also be an opportunity for the Warriors to get another look at Nikola Vucevic, who might be a fit for their team by the trade deadline? Sure, why not?
Feb. 5 – Bulls at Toronto
Why would a cold day in Canada mean anything for the Bulls? Because they could have a new-look roster by then. The trade deadline falls on Feb. 5. Count on the Bulls to at least try to be active leading up to it. Plus, it’s their only game on Amazon Prime this season.
April 1 – Indiana at Bulls
Arturus Karnisovas, executive vice president of basketball operations, seems to have himself fooled that the Bulls are built comparably to the Pacers. Why not have a laugh about it on April Fool’s Day?
