After losing to Washington in the first round of the NBA playoffs last season, Chicago will be hoping for a more successful run this year, and an injury-free campaign for Derrick Rose.
Chicago’s main challengers this season are the Cleveland Cavaliers (LeBron James returning home), the Miami Heat (still have Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh), the Indiana Pacers (though the loss of Lance Stephenson will hurt) and the Washington Wizards (acquired prolific All-Star Paul Pierce).
Not since the Michael Jordan-led Bulls claimed the title against the Utah Jazz in 1998, has Chicago been back to the big dance. And they went straight to work after being knocked out by the Wizards in the first round of playoffs.
Team management released forward Carlos Boozer, whose numbers have been in decline since the 2009-10 season, and waived guards Ronnie Brewer and Mike James.
To replace Boozer and add to the tall timber arsenal, Chicago acquired dual NBA champion and multiple All-Star forward/centre Pau Gasol from the Lakers. The Windy City’s NBA franchise got the best out of the Boozer-Gasol swap.
The Spanish born 34-year-old brings a high basketball IQ and a widely respected versatile offensive game, complimented by a solid defensive game. He is the perfect fit for the returning point guard Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, presenting strong inside and outside firepower.
On the same day Gasol inked with the Bulls, forward Nikola Mirotic penned his name down too. Mirotic, whose rights Chicago obtained from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2011 draft, comes into the NBA with a successful record playing for the dominate Euroleague team Real Madrid, including being named league MVP as a 21-year-old.
The 6’10” Mirotic will be a backup to Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson (potential sixth man of the year award winner) at the power forward position, however could also line up at the small forward position and add an outside shooting element. He led the Euroleague’s regular season in three-point percentage (0.643), was seventh in points, 20th overall in total rebounds and sixth in blocks, displaying his defensive skills.
Mirotic will see plenty of open chances when Rose, Gasol and Noah are all on the court. Despite coming in as a rookie, Mirotic has been playing professional basketball in the world’s second-best league.
With the 11th pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets selected small forward Doug McDermott from Creighton University. He was later traded to the Bulls later that night.
McDermott left college with one of the most impressive CVs. The 22-year-old led the nation in scoring in his final year (finishing his career as the fifth-leading scorer in NCAA history), was the consensus national player of the year and first-team All-American, and helped lead his team to the third-round of the NCAA tournament.
The rookie adds more outside (three-point shooting) potency as well as being yet another fierce competitor on the Bulls roster (led by the fiercest of them all, Joakim Noah). Both McDermott and Mirotic (who can play the three and four positions) will support 12-year veteran, Mike Dunleavy.
Entering his second year with Chicago, Dunleavy posted solid numbers in the 2013-14 season and will likely do so again with the team’s newest additions taking further pressure away.
Chicago won 48 regular season games in 2013-14. An essential piece was shooting guard, Jimmy Butler, in just his third professional season. The first-round selection back in 2011 by Chicago, Butler has seen his minutes increase dramatically since his rookie year – 8.5 minutes per game (2011-12), 26 minutes per game (2012-13) and 38.7 minutes per game (last season).
As his time on the court rose, so did his stats and praise from teammates and head coach Tom Thibodeau. Butler will again play an important role as he will be asked to take the pressure off Derrick Rose on both ends of the court.
But the health and confidence of 2011 NBA MVP Derrick Rose are the two biggest factors if the 2014-15 Bulls are to bring a seventh championship to Chicago.
Rose has been injury plagued since 2011, first experiencing an ACL tear (left knee) before suffering a torn meniscus (right knee) last season. His health has made it through the FIBA World Cup and five preseason games, including a 30-point performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers and posting 27 points and five assists in the Bulls’ final hit out against the Timberwolves.
After what Rose has gone through, he will be as hungry as ever and that is exactly what Chicago needs. The former Memphis Tiger (college) will be well supported by 11-year pro Kirk Hinrich.
Over the off-season, Chicago have become bigger, stronger and better. The Bulls’ front office executed the right moves and should be applauded. In doing so, they have placed great expectations on coach Thibodeau, Derrick Rose and company.
This is their year. Will they deliver? Will they stay healthy? We will have to wait and see, however, I’m predicting Chicago represents the East in the NBA Finals.
Stats
2013-14 record: 48-34 – lost in first round of NBA Playoffs to the Washington Wizards.
Head Coach: Tom Thibodeau.
PG: Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Aaron Brooks.
SG: Jimmy Butler, Tony Snell, E-Twaun Moore.
SF: Mike Dunleavy, Doug McDermott.
PF: Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic.
C: Joakim Noah, Nazr Mohammed, Cameron Bairstow.
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