The Chicago Bulls can’t seem to get past the Miami Heat when it matters most. They have now lost to the Heat in the Play-In Tournament for three seasons in a row. It’s only the third time since 2010 that a team has lost to the same opponent three consecutive years in the postseason. And this year’s result would have disappointed even Michael Jordan, believes Skip Bayless.
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More than the defeat, it’s the mediocre manner in which the Bulls performed with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread that’s upsetting Bayless. They were outscored 47-71 by halftime and couldn’t recover in the remaining two quarters. They eventually lost 90-109.
Josh Giddey (25/10/4) and Nikola Vucevic (16/12/1) tried their best, but did not deliver outstanding performances either. None of the other Bulls managed to match up with the Heat players, led by Tyler Herro, who scored 38 points. He was complemented well by Andrew Wiggins, Bam Adebayo, and Davion Mitchell.
After the game, Bayless posted on X, stating that the outing was so mediocre that Jordan must be looking at this team and shaking his head in disbelief.
“Somewhere, Michael Jordan is shaking his head and thinking, ‘They should be ashamed to be wearing that uniform,” he wrote.
However, it’s unlikely that MJ is even paying attention to what’s happening around the league, let alone watching the Bulls games.
Somewhere Michael Jordan is shaking his head and thinking, “They should be ashamed to be wearing that uniform.”
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 17, 2025
Since retirement, he has distanced himself from the game itself and has only been involved in the business side of the NBA.
However, if he watched the Bulls game, there’s no doubt that he’d be disappointed. The once-celebrated franchise has lost all its glory in recent years.
What’s next for the Chicago Bulls?
The Bulls are in a basketball limbo. They’re not good enough to contend for championships, yet not bad enough to land a high lottery pick. This is arguably the worst place to be in today’s NBA, and it’s been the story of the Bulls for years now.
But for the hardcore fans of the franchise, all hope is not lost yet. The Chicago franchise went through some massive changes this season.
Most of those changes have been proven detrimental to the franchise’s cause. Not retaining DeMar DeRozan was one of the biggest mistakes made by the organization.
Josh Giddey, acquired in the controversial Alex Caruso trade, has a unique playmaking skillset and is still just 22. Matas Buzelis, their recent lottery pick and a Chicago native, brings scoring and defensive potential to the team.
And although Coby White is inconsistent, he averaged 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds this season. His numbers can possibly improve with some more work on his game during the offseason.
Overall, the Bulls seem to be in a rebuilding phase. And though that has been the story for quite a few years now, fans can hope that in the next couple of seasons, they will be able to build a squad good enough to contend in the playoffs.
