Chicago Bulls – Bullslive.com
Last Year’s Record: 33-49, 4th in Central Division
Key additions: Derrick Rose
Key losses: Chris Duhon, Jim Boylan. Last year mid-season: Ben Wallace, Joe Smith
1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?
With the number 1 pick in the NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Chicago native Derrick Rose out of Memphis. While there are many skeptics, who say the Bulls should have taken Michael Beasley, I think this was a lock at number 1. There was no passing Rose up at that point. And truthfully, his basketball style fits right in with the Bulls: He plays hard, he’s quick, he’s unselfish, he plays defense, he rebounds pretty well for a guard, and he can find the open man. Of course we cannot overlook the significance of the new coach as well, Vinny Del Negro, hired as a head coach with little to no coaching experience. Everyone has to start somewhere, and I predict a solid run from Da New Coach. One thing is for certain: He must have had one heck of an interview with John Paxson to have landed the job.
2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?
Young and Energetic: The Bulls are young and can run with any team in the League. They can move the Ball well, and shoot it well too. Gordon is an explosive scorer who scores in spurts and can bring the Bulls back from behind. Deng appears to be emerging as a quick scorer as well, and may lead the team in scoring for the first time. The no-longer-baby Bulls are growing up in terms of experience, but keeping their energy as well.
Depth: The team is extremely deep. We are not sure of the starting lineup, but regardless, the bench would be stacked. Possibly have Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Andres Nocioni, Larry Hughes, Joakim Noah, and Aaron Gray, - this is just the bench, folks! Starters would include Rose, Thomas, Gooden, Deng, and Sefolosha.
Team Chemistry: For starters, the same group of people is again looking at the same group of people. Of the Bulls’ top ten players from last year, 9 are still here. They know each other.
Play Hard: At least two years ago this was their mantra. Lately I’m not so sure.
Winners elsewhere: Look at the amount of winners on this team. Rose at Memphis, Gordon at UConn, Hinrich at Kansas, Noah at Florida, Big Ben with the Pistons, Duhon and Deng at Duke, Deng with Great Britain. Though they may not have a lot of NBA Finals experience, the Bulls players have played in numerous big games before.
Luol Deng: Look for Luol Deng to take over as the team’s leading scorer. He has improved remarkably this summer, and is still younger than most people realize (23). With three years under his belt, he is ready to be aperenniall all-star, and he is the main reason John Paxson did not make a blockbuster trade this past summer.
3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?
It’s no secret that ever since the Eddy Curry trade, the Bulls have lacked an inside scoring presence. Supposedly Deng has worked on his post-game this summer, but we are yet to see what will come of that. He has fared below average in posting up in the pre-season thus far. But if the Bulls’ perimeter shot is not falling in any particular game, it will be an uphill battle for them most of the way. Steps were taken to improve this, but Noah may not have been the best bet to fill this gap. Gray has shown some promise in the post, and has lost a lot of weight. It will come down to the Bulls guards having to drive more rather than relying on the jumper, and the 6-9 Deng improving on his inside game.
Other weaknesses include minor injuries surrounding the team’s players, reliance on the jumper, excessive turnovers, no clear superstar to take over a game, and Ben Gordon’s height makes it tough sometimes for him to defend taller guards.
4. What are the goals for this team?
Anything short of making the playoffs would be a disappointment for this team. The Bulls have their work cut out for them though. The East is greatly improved and may for once be the better conference in the league. That being said, anything beyond the first round in the playoffs would probably make for a good year for the Bulls.
5. With the lack of a true super-star on the team, can the Bulls win a title?
See Detroit Pistons of 2004. This is seemingly the only team to win a title in the not so recent past without a truly defined superstar. Luol Deng has the time and talent to emerge as the superstar the Bulls were looking for. And if he does not, at worst the Bulls have a collection of semi-stars, who can definitely pave the way to a title. My prediction is bold, but one that leaves the Bulls with 50 wins at the end of the season, playing the Pistons or Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
6. Other Chicago Bulls Season Previews
Ball Don’t Lie
Sports Illustrated
NBA.com
Blogabull
Slam
