Nikola Vucevic was just stating the obvious after the Bulls’ embarrassing loss to the 76ers on Wednesday.
“Not much we can take from this one,’’ he said. “Move on and get ready for the West Coast trip.
“Since the [All-Star] break, we’ve been heading in the right direction, had some good games. But every game is a new game, and we have to be ready for it, especially in our situation, where we are fighting for the play-in spot.’’
With 10 games left and so much at stake, that’s sound advice.
The good news for the Bulls is they have the 10th-easiest schedule in the league in this final sprint. Even better news is it looks like the stars could be aligning regarding the teams they’ll face.
at Trail Blazers, Friday
The Blazers had lost six straight until they upset the Jazz on Wednesday, but they’ve been in complete tank mode since the All-Star break. Yes, the Bulls have a history of shaky performances in the Pacific Northwest, and Damian Lillard has been a Bulls killer. But it’s hard to see the Bulls slipping in the first of a three-game West Coast trip, especially when the opposition doesn’t have winning atop its agenda.
at Lakers, Sunday
The Patrick Beverley Revenge Tour starts with getting the Lakers twice in four days, and LeBron James is out with a foot injury. A split with the Lakers is realistic, even with Anthony Davis playing big lately.
at Clippers, Monday
A sprained knee will sideline Paul George for the next few weeks, so the Bulls avoid the second-best player on the roster. Kawhi Leonard scored 33 points against them in the first meeting in January, but this is still a winnable game.
vs. Lakers, Wednesday
LeBron James still isn’t expected back, and the Lakers are four games under .500 on the road.
at Charlotte, next Friday
If the Bulls finally can handle adversity and don’t let their guard down, then the game against the Hornets should be a bye. The Bulls did suffer an embarrassing loss in Charlotte in January, but this is a Hornets team, without LaMelo Ball, that is short-handed and in tank mode.
vs. Grizzlies, April 2
Ja Morant is back, albeit in a bench role for now, and there’s a certain toughness that the Grizzlies play with that could be an issue for the Bulls. Expect some chippy moments between Beverley and Dillon Brooks.
vs. Hawks, April 4
Who knows which Hawks team will show up? That has been the issue all season, but one thing is for certain: Trae Young will have his hands full. The Bulls usually play him very well, frustrating him into bad shots.
at Bucks, April 5
On paper, the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo have made the Bulls their little brothers. The issue is the Bucks could be resting for the playoffs, especially if they continue to increase their lead atop the Eastern Conference.
at Mavericks, April 7
Kyrie Irving deserves some credit. It isn’t often that an NBA player can single-handedly kill four organizations in an eight-year period. The Mavs have been beatable and inconsistent since adding Irving.
vs. Pistons, April 9
Zach LaVine is averaging 38 points per game against the Pistons this season. If this is a must-win, it will be as big of a lock as the Bulls have left on the schedule. The Pistons, led by Bojan Bogdanovic, checked out on the season months ago.