Another year for Zach LaVine, another missed playoffs. The All-Star guard has had a tremendous season, but in the end he looks at the team’s missed opportunities.
The Chicago Bulls' slim playoff hopes have been put to bed.
The Bulls were officially eliminated from NBA Play-In Tournament contention after the Washington Wizards beat the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. With the win, Washington clinched the fourth and final Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament spot. Entering Friday, the Bulls' only path to the Play-In Tournament was winning their final two games and the Wizards losing out.
This marks the fourth straight season without a playoff appearance for the Bulls, the franchise's longest drought since a six-year stretch spanning from 1998-99 to 2003-04.
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What is the format for the 2021 NBA Playoffs?
This year's playoffs feature a new wrinkle: the NBA Play-In Tournament. Here's how it works: The No. 7 through No. 10 seeds in the Western Conference and Eastern Conference, respectively, qualify for the Play-In Tournament.
The tournament begins May 18 and consists of two rounds for each conference with the following format:
Round 1
NBA
No. 7 seed vs. No. 8 seed (winner earns No. 7 seed; loser to Round 2)
No. 9 seed vs. No. 10 seed (winner to Round 2; loser eliminated)
Round 2
Loser of 7-8 vs. Winner of 9-10 (winner earns No. 8 seed; loser eliminated)
Once the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds are decided for each conference, the first round will begin May 22 with the traditional format: seven-game series featuring the 1-8, 2-7, 3-6 and 4-5 matchups.
Where are the Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings?
The Bulls currently are in 11th place in the Eastern Conference and that's where they'll finish the season, holding a 3.5-game advantage over the 12th-place Toronto Raptors entering the final two days of the regular season:
| Team | GB From No. 1 |
| 7. Boston Celtics | 12.5 |
| 8. Charlotte Hornets | 14.5 |
| 9. Indiana Pacers | 14.5 |
| 10. Washington Wizards | 15 |
| 11. Chicago Bulls | 17.5 |
| 12. Toronto Raptors | 21 |
What is the Bulls' remaining schedule?
The Bulls will close out their 2020-21 season this weekend with a back-to-back against Eastern Conference heavyweights -- one on the road and one at the United Center:
| Saturday, May 15 | at Nets |
| Sunday, May 16 | vs. Bucks |
