With the All-Star break in the rearview mirror, the Chicago Bulls now shift their focus solely on making a run to the NBA Finals. It’s a huge time not just for the team and others around the league, but for anyone with any level of involvement in the sport. 

Chicago fans pray the Bulls will earn a solid playoff berth, and Illinois bettors are gearing up to put money on them as, starting March 5, they no longer need to register in-person, paving the way for platforms like BetMGM to launch apps with offers like the BetMGM Illinois Promo.

The stakes are high as the Bulls move closer to the playoffs. But the question looms: do they have a chance of heading to the NBA Finals?

Chicago has strong position in standings

As of Wednesday, the Bulls were tied with the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference standings, with the teams holding identical 38-21 records. That bodes incredibly well for Chicago’s outlook the rest of the way, especially as it chases a Finals berth.

The Bulls have had to fight to get to that ranking; they’re on a five-game winning streak, having beaten the Charlotte Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings all in a row.

To defeat the Kings, Bulls superstar DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points to break Wilt Chamberlain’s record of the most games with at least 50 points and 50% shooting with seven. But it wasn’t just DeRozan who contributed; Cody White tallied 31 points and Nikola Vucevic had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

“I’m just really appreciative of this group of guys from top to bottom — the way they come to work every day, how professional they are, how they try to keep themselves ready, how it’s all about the team, it’s all about winning and what each individual can do to impact and help in winning,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said, according to The Associated Press. 

Coming out of the All-Star break, the Bulls are on a massive streak and looking to keep it going. If they do and can stay atop the standings, they should earn top-tier playoff seeding and be in a prime position to keep it going in the postseason.

DeRozan may be the key

DeRozan has been sensational all season, and he could make the difference in whether or not the Bulls reach the Finals.

He’s averaging nearly 30 points per game and shooting above 50% on the season, incredible numbers especially for a player older than 30. His play has garnered attention across the league and put him in the MVP conversation.

“I love that DeMar DeRozan did not change his game. He only improved it,” Dwayne Wade said, according to NBC Sports Chicago. “Think about a guy — I don’t know how old DeMar is, but I’m sure he’s in his 30s now — and to me it seems like he’s improved on what he was already very, very good at.”

“He went to San Antonio and everybody forgot about him, even though he was playing at an All-Star level (during his three seasons with the Spurs), and now what he’s doing is just, man, it’s just next level,” Wade added.

More often than not, superstars make the difference in the NBA, particularly in the postseason. Having DeRozan at its disposal, especially with the way he is playing right now, is a massive advantage for the Bulls. If he keeps it up, there’s a much better chance Chicago will not really reach the Finals, but also compete for the title.

Playoff matchups could include Raptors

While there’s still a ton of basketball left to be played, based on the current standings, the Bulls could face the Toronto Raptors in the postseason.

Toronto has fielded an acceptable season itself, though not nearly as strong as Chicago’s. The Raptors beat the Bulls in overtime, though, the last time the two teams battled; Pascal Siakim was Chicago’s bane, totaling 25 points and 13 rebounds. 

“It’s difficult because (the Raptors) have guys that have a lot of length and agility. They move really well and they cover a lot of space,” Bulls center Nikola Vucevic said after the game, according to The Associated Press. “Obviously tonight, turnovers and then the offensive glass, we didn’t do a good job on that end.”

The Bulls will likely have to face that length and agility again in the playoffs, and they’ll have to beat it this time if they hope to advance. Chicago certainly has a chance to make the Finals, based on its current standings, but it will h