For the second consecutive season, the Chicago Bulls' disappointing season concluded with a Play-In Tournament loss to the Miami Heat. This time, the Bulls lost 112-91.
With Jimmy Butler out, the Heat are unlikely to repeat their run to the NBA Finals. But at the very least, they'll be playing playoff basketball on Sunday in Boston.
For the second consecutive postseason, the Bulls are on the outside looking in after failing to reach management's preseason goal of making the playoffs.
The players and coaches deserve credit for overcoming a 5-14 start, season-ending injuries to Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams, and Lonzo Ball's second consecutive missed season.
Their tenacity and league-leading performance in close games propelled them to Friday night.
However, while management has loaded the roster with resilient players, the real work begins now. Executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas, general manager Marc Eversley,
and their team must go outside the box to confront the evident ceiling that this continuity-based squad has repeatedly hit.
DeMar DeRozan is an unrestricted free agent who has stated publicly several times that he wishes to return. Williams is a restricted free agent. LaVine will be involved in trade rumors until he is dealt.