Accentuate the Positive, or Not

There are a few ways to look at the Bulls’ 109-105 play-in win over the Raptors last night. For example, that one disappointing team beat another (even more) disappointing team. Or that the Bulls didn’t win so much as Toronto lost, as evidenced by their blowing a nineteen-point third-quarter lead and shooting a horrific 18-for-36 from the free-throw line. But that would be too negative of me. Better to emphasize the Bulls overcoming that deficit thanks to the play of Zach LaVine, who played the way he’s paid to. LaVine Scored thirty-nine points, all but nine in the second half. DeMar DeRozan chipped in with twenty-three while Nikola Vuce vic scored fourteen points to go with thirteen rebounds. From what I could tell, Alex Caruso played the game without getting injured. Play-ins are a gimmick three years in. The Bulls’ win is the first time a ten-seed has ever won a game. Now they get to see if they can do it again, this time against the Heat tomorrow in Miami. If they do, maybe coach Billy Donovan can advise White Sox manager Pedro Grifol how to deal with disappointment on the way to the postseason. Grifol—opting to put Gavin “Oops!” Sheets in right field against the Twins yesterday, a costly move in a 3-1 loss—needs all the advice he can get these days.