Highs and Lows: Chicago Bulls
Joakim Noah (photo. Monte Isom)NBA training camps are underway. While we wait for the games to start, we’re going team-by-team, from 1 to 30, exploring what each team’s ceiling is for the upcoming season and where their basement is. In other words, what are the realistic best-case and worst-case scenarios for each squad?
Additions: PG Derrick Rose, SF Demetris Nichols, PF Michael Ruffin, PG Darius Washington.
Losses: PG Chris Duhon, SG Shannon Brown.
Ceiling: 8th seed in the East
Remember when Chicago was a darkhorse pick to win the East? It wasn’t that long ago — exactly one year ago to be exact. And although the once-promising mix of young and veteran talent appeared headed for epic failure early last season, the Bulls recovered and weren’t that bad by the end of the schedule, finishing four games out of the playoffs. A miniature rebuilding effort saw Ben Wallace get traded away, Derrick Rose brought in with the #1 pick, new coach Vinny Del Negro hired, and a long-term contract for franchise cornerstone Luol Deng. The Bulls should be better off for it. Rose has the talent to be an immediate impact player, Deng can now get back to fulfilling the star potential he showed in the ’07 playoffs rather than worry about his contract status, and Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah continue to improve together as a high-energy, defensive-minded frontcourt combo. If it was partially the pressure of big expectations that helped sink the Bulls last year, that’s no longer an issue; no one is predicting them to make much of a splash this time around.
Basement: Non-disastrous Lottery season
The scapegoat issues that caused Chicago’s terribly disappointing ’07-08 run are almost completely gone — mainly Wallace, Skiles and Deng’s contract situation. But this team isn’t ready for the big-time just yet. After a summer-long saga of rejecting perfectly sensible offers and feeling insulted by the front office, Ben Gordon is in a contract year (again). And is the “player-friendly” rookie coach Del Negro the right guy to put him in check if BG starts gunning? Is Del Negro also the one who will figure out how to make Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes and Rose co-exist happily in the same backcourt without anyone’s feelings being hurt? And once again, Chicago doesn’t have the low-post scorer they’ve needed for years, and the Noah-Thomas-Drew Gooden-Aaron Gray group doesn’t cut it in that regard.
’08-09 NBA preview archives
10/6 — Oklahoma City Thunder
10/3 — Washington Wizards
10/2 — Utah Jazz
10/1 — Charlotte Bobcats
9/30 — Memphis Grizzlies
9/26 — Toronto Raptors
9/25 — New Orleans Hornets
9/24 — Atlanta Hawks
9/23 — Sacramento Kings
9/22 — Miami Heat
9/19 — Portland Trail Blazers
9/18 — New Jersey Nets
9/17 — Minnesota Timberwolves
9/16 — Cleveland Cavaliers
9/15 — Phoenix Suns
9/12 — Milwaukee Bucks
9/11 — L.A. Clippers
9/10 — Orlando Magic
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October 8th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
shake&bake says:
I think they’re due for another 3-peat. Just kidding. I just hope they make the playoffs and are competitive in their 1st series.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Brown says:
I see drama on the horizon. They’ll just have to weather that storm and come back next year. Hughes’ contract will expire next year, giving them a huge bargaining chip for teams looking to clear cap room, if the Bulls don’t keep it for themselves. They should trade Gordon though cuz he’s not going to re-up with them.
October 8th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
aj says:
They’re ceiling may be a little higher than sqeaking into the playoffs. They could be a solid team, maybe around a 5-6 seed and I don’t think people would be surprised. It all depends on if BG causes them to implode or explode. BG may want to prove his worth by playing good basketball not just jacking shots to put up numbers, though gunning is more likely, banishing the Bulls to the lottery again.
October 8th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
srb says:
Good thing us UConn alums have Ray.
Ben who?
October 8th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Diego says:
Come on Dime, that ceiling has got to be higher. In fact, I think it is a decent bet the Bulls will at least finish in top 8 in East. There are 7 teams in the East that you are positive will top the Bulls?
October 8th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
dapro says:
Bulls are mos def a playoff team 5-7
The inside scoring will be addressed by D-Rose getting to the bucket at will which opens the floor for Deng, Heinrick, Hughes and Gordon
Gordon won’t force the issue and plays make some noise again this year
Look for Tyrus Thomas to get traded if he doesn’t expand his game
October 8th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
shake&bake says:
Just to give everyone a heads up, but on the local news here in Chicago they were talking to Joakim Noah and he had James Worthy/Amare Stoudamire goggles around his neck. That should be pretty interesting to see.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend says:
lol alot of you seem to expect a decent amount from the bulls when they werent good last year and while rose is legit, hes not chris paul level just yet to turn them around himself imo. Ben has already proven to be a gunner, no matter if he is lookin for a contract or not. A team of 3 point shooters alone isn’t going to really spook anyone. I’d expect more from the heat. Pistons,magic,cavs,heat,wiz,raptors, 76ers, celtics are all more legit threats than the bulls at this point since their teams are better overall and not riding on a rookie.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
C4 says:
http://mvn.com/nba-bulls/2008/10/06/bulls-roster-review/
October 8th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I.Dot says:
As much as I like the Bulls their not going to make the playoffs. The Bulls need to just play good enough and hope to get a decent pick in the draft to get a low post scorer and get a decent SG.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Pskila says:
The Eastern Conference is so weak…they shouldn’t have any problems getting to the first round..As for Ben Gordon, he looks like he is begging now…with the 6 million dollars contract he signed. He is not gonna be with the Bulls much longer after this. And I hope that the don’t pick up Lamar Odom’s garbage AZZ!!!…
October 9th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Zibala says:
Is it just me or does anyone else think derick rose will be on his 2nd or 3rd coach before he signs his first extension