OKC Thunder: NBA Power Rankings week 10 – All-Star break edition

Chicago Bulls:

Week 10: 2-1
Won vs: Rockets 120-100, Wolves 133-126 (OT)
Lost to:  Suns 97-106
*Raptors game postponed due to health and safety protocols

Opponents this week: Nuggets, Pelicans

Offensive Rating: 111.3 (15th) | Defensive Rating: 111.9 (20th) | Net Differential: -0.6 (18th)

With some quality wins in recent weeks, the Bulls are playing at a level that would get them into the play-in tournament.

Chicago collected eight wins in the month of February. However, dive a bit deeper and seven of those wins came versus squads with sub .500 records. The one win versus a team with a winning record (Knicks) occurred with New York playing their second game of a back-to-back set.  Therefore, perhaps a bit of fools gold as the Bulls’ 20th ranked defense remains a big concern.

Zach LaVine will participate in the All-Star game having been voted a reserve by the coaches.

The burning question for Chicago is whether they are placated with being a team who can beat the lower tiers just to gain entry into a play-in tourney.  When Billy Donovan signed on as head coach he stated the Bulls were committed to contending for championships.

This raises a major question for the club as the trade deadline looms. Will they be buyers or sellers? And if the latter which players would be the focus of their efforts? — LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter Jr., and Wendell Carter Jr. are all names that have surfaced in rumors.