CHICAGO -- THE BULLS had a golden opportunity.
After starting the season 12-18, the Bulls were riding a season-high three-game winning streak, building momentum with a blowout win at home against the Golden State Warriors, a thrashing of the Detroit Pistons in Paris and a convincing victory over the Atlanta Hawks back at home. With a soft schedule in front of them, the Bulls had a chance to move up in a crowded Eastern Conference play-in race.
"We have a helluva opportunity to write our own story," Bulls star DeMar DeRozan recalled telling his teammates before boarding their flight to Paris.