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Last Season: 45-37 (Finished 5th in the Eastern Conference)
Prediction: 54-28
Key Losses: PG Nate Robinson, SG Marco Belinelli
Notable Free Agent Signings: SF Mike Dunleavy,
Notable Draft Pick: SG Tony Snell
Not much happened this offseason for the Chicago Bulls, but I still have them projected to do much better than they did last season. I have a few simple reasons why:
- The 2010-2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose will be back in action after taking a year off to recover from a devastating knee injury suffered in the 2012 NBA Playoffs.
- When healthy, the Bulls have the best starting five in the league. Better than Miami and Oklahoma City. Better than anyone.
- They posted the 3rd best defence in the league last season despite dealing with so many injuries. This year, they’ll post the best.
The return of Rose will do wonders for the Bulls. Despite having the second-worst offence in the league last season, the Bulls finished fifth in the Eastern conference, largely due to their defensive prowess.
Rose is an excellent scorer and passer, posting career averages of 21 points and 6.8 assists a game. This will boost the Bulls’ disappointing average of 93.2 points per game as Rose will facilitate the offence better than anyone else did this past season and generate better looks offensively for players who can’t create their own shot such as Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.
His dribble penetration, one of his many strengths, will allow shooters such as the recently signed Mike Dunleavy, Kirk Hinrich, and Vladimir Radmonovic (if he gets playing time) to get open looks at the basket. The question is whether Rose will return to his MVP-level of play.
Despite being medically cleared to play last season, Rose opted to sit out the rest of the season, as he wasn’t mentally ready to return to NBA action. An ACL injury can result in long-lasting mental-scarring as a player like Rose, who depends so much on change of direction and speed, can easily re-injure that knee again.
I’m counting on Rose to be ready by opening night; the additional rehabilitation he had on his knee by taking the whole season off, plus working out this entire summer, will no doubt make him feel much more comfortable about returning, and without feeling rushed.
To complement Rose’s return is the team chemistry and defence of the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are one of the most disciplined teams in the NBA; due to the excellent coaching they receive from defensive genius Tom Thibodeau, who has single-handedly changed the way defences are played in the league.
The core players have played together for three years, developing a strong team chemistry that is unrivaled throughout the rest of the league. In addition, they play smart, having two completely underrated passers in big men Boozer and Noah, and are all able to play strong individual defence when needed too.
They have strong defensive bench players such as Taj Gibson and Nazr Muhammed. The emergence of Jimmy Butler during the middle of last season as a capable shooter and even better defender helped make up for the absence of Luol Deng while he was injured.
The 2013-2014 Bulls will have a starting line up of former MVP Rose (who I would argue still hasn’t reached his prime), defensive specialists and decent three-point shooters Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler, and an excellent rebounding and defensive big man duo in Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah.
Derrick Rose
I disagree with what anyone else says; no other starting five can play at the same level of offence and defence as a team.
The few offseason acquisitions the Bulls made will make up for their losses and more. While Nate Robinson came through for Chicago this past postseason, the return of Rose lessens the impact of his departure and second-year player Marquis Teague has been turning heads at the Las Vegas NBA summer league with his outstanding play.
The departure of Marco Belinelli will also sadden some Bulls fans as his perimeter shooting and clutch play during the past season will be missed. However, the arrival of Mike Dunleavy should more than make up for the loss of Belinelli’s three-point shooting.
Dunleavy shot an eye-popping 43% from behind the arc last season and will keep opposing teams honest when he’s on the court. Rookie Tony Snell will add depth to the Bulls roster with his versatility (he can defend both guard and forward positions). The New Mexico product has showcased his talent at the NBA summer league these past few weeks, but it’s clear he still has to work on his shooting.
Overall, I expect the Chicago Bulls to be a top three team in the Eastern conference this upcoming season. They’ll clamp down defensively, and the return of Rose will add offence and excitement to one of the NBA’s most storied franchises.
Guess the Lakers players!
