There’s a big difference between reality and “Bulls reality.”
Unfortunately, the powers that be that are running the franchise choose to reside in the latter.
That’s why the Bulls are where they are entering All-Star Weekend: Too good to blow up in the estimation of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas, too mediocre to be taken seriously come playoff time by the rest of the league.
In “Bulls reality” there’s a play-in spot to claim, holding off the likes of an Atlanta or Brooklyn, and then getting past a young, inexperienced Orlando team, and a Miami roster that likes to treat the regular season like exhibition games at times.