Bulls clinch playoff spot
Fred Hoiberg and Kevin Ollie never made the playoffs with the Bulls. But on a night when those two former Bulls squared off as coaches in the NCAA Tournament, the current Bulls clinched a playoff spot.
The Bulls turned in a lackluster performance Friday and lost to Portland 91-74 at the United Center. But when New York lost at Phoenix later in the night, a playoff berth became official.
By the way, Ollie's Connecticut squad beat Hoiberg and Iowa State in the East regional semis. Some might say Hoiberg was at a disadvantage having lost one of his top scorers last week to a broken foot. I say he had more than enough to win with.
The Bulls have 10 games left and there is plenty to be decided. They fell a game behind Toronto for the No. 3 slot in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls are also just one loss ahead of fifth-place Brooklyn, so home-court advantage in the first round is far from locked up.
Next up for the Bulls are consecutive games against Boston, beginning Sunday on the road.