Hindsight is 20-20
Hindsight, as the saying goes, is always 20-20. For Alex Caruso, the Chicago Bulls’ dynamic guard, the hindsight from the previous season is nothing less than crystal clear. As the Bulls missed the NBA Playoffs by a razor-thin margin, falling short by just one game, the weight of missed opportunities weighed heavily on the team’s collective conscience. In particular, Caruso finds himself dwelling on the numerous winnable games that slipped through their fingers, especially when facing subpar teams.
The Battle Against the Miami Heat
Played Better Than Miami
One of the defining moments of the season was the Bulls’ battle with the Miami Heat. Over the course of the season, they had consistently outperformed the Heat. However, their dreams of making it to the playoffs were dashed when the Heat mounted a remarkable comeback in the final quarter of the decisive game. A 35-23 run in the fourth quarter sealed a 102-91 victory for the Heat, securing their place in the NBA Playoffs. Subsequently, the Heat embarked on a historic journey to the NBA Finals, where they faced the formidable Denver Nuggets.
Caruso, upon reflection, still finds himself pondering what could have been. The Bulls had, for the majority of the game, held the upper hand, making it appear as a favorable matchup. Winning the season series against the Heat had bolstered their confidence. However, as Caruso succinctly puts it, “They just made more plays and more shots down the stretch. Basketball is a make-or-miss league.”
Alex Caruso on the Pain of Missed Opportunities
Win the Winnable Games
While the loss to the Miami Heat was undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow, Caruso’s deepest regrets are tied to the games the Bulls should have won but didn’t. It’s these missed opportunities that resonate most profoundly with him, especially the ones that slipped away when facing teams with a sub-.500 record.
“But I don’t think back to that game as much as I do to four or five games during the season that we should’ve won. We should beat the teams that are under .500, definitely at home. And then you’re not even in the play-in game. And that didn’t sit well with me as I tried to sleep at night.”
The remorse over those losses lingered long after the final buzzer. It’s a reflection of a team striving for excellence, a team led by a player who’s passionate about turning missed opportunities into future triumphs.
