Pat Bev says the Bulls’ season would have had a different ending had he started the year with them.
Patrick Beverley is a brash, confident, and tenacious guard who knows what he brings to the table for every team he signs with. He believes that had he started the season with the Chicago Bulls, they would have been a top-four seed in the East, and their playoff chances would have improved significantly.
Fell short
It was a rollercoaster ride of a season for the Bulls, one that saw them finish with a 40-42 record—good for the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference and a spot in the Play-in tournament. They passed the first part of the gauntlet with a gritty win over the Toronto Raptors but ultimately lost to the Miami Heat. Beverley said it all could have been different had he been with the Bulls from the very start.
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“Honestly, I think if I’m there from the beginning of the year, we’re a fourth or fifth seed,” Beverley said.
Immediate impact
The Bulls only had the pitbull of a point guard for 22 games, but his impact during that last stretch of the regular season was undeniable. Beverley played 45 games for the Los Angeles Lakers but was traded to the Orlando Magic at the deadline. After securing a buyout from the Magic, Beverley signed with his hometown team and sparked them to a 13-9 finish.
His numbers were far from eye-popping—5.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists—but his leadership, grit, and, most of all, defense played a huge role in the Bulls’ late season.
Source: si.com
