The Chicago Bulls" Chances in the 2013 NBA Playoffs
During the past two seasons, the Chicago Bulls were arguably the best team in the NBA, and undoubtedly the best team during the regular season. That got them to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2011, although injuries got them eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in 2012. But if Derrick Rose had been healthy during the entire 2012-2013 campaign, where would Chicago have been?
It is unlikely that they would have won the Eastern Conference this year, simply based on the phenomenal play of the Miami Heat. Miami may win 66 games this season, and even the Bulls of the prime Michael Jordan era only won that many games 50% of his time. So while the Bulls may have had a shot to win the East with MJ, it is unlikely that a D-Rose led Chicago team would do the same.
The Bulls are also not as deep this year as they were last year. Key free agents were either not signed or walked away for better offers. Much of the €bench mob€ of the past two seasons are playing for other teams. Kyle Korver is gone. So is Omer Asik. Ditto for CJ Watson and Ronnie Brewer. In an effort to rebuild during Rose's rehab, and an effort to stay under the luxury tax, many of these key players are missing with players that do not quite replace their many talents and skill sets.
However, the Bulls' one shot of taking the East this year with a fully healthy Derrick Rose is that they play hard in each and every game. Their point differential last season was higher than the Heat's this season, regardless of the 27-game win streak. Thibodeau coaches his team to win every game by playing as hard as they can, winning at all costs. That might give Chicago the edge to have put together a stronger early season record that the Heat would not be able to eclipse with their streak.
All of this is mere speculation, however, since Rose has not been seen in an actual NBA game since tearing his ACL in Game 1 of last year's first round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The chances that he comes back at all this year seem to be slipping away, as well, with the Bulls season having only thirteen games left. He may come back sometime during that stretch, or not, and may return during the playoffs to get some valuable playing time. But this season belongs to the Miami Heat, at least in the Eastern Conference.
Going into the playoffs, the Bulls sit in the fifth seed in the Eastern Playoffs and will take on the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. As of this writing, there is still no word if Derrick Rose will return for the playoffs, or if he will sit out the entire postseason. Depending on how far the Bulls get without him, the pressure on him for a return this season will continue to grow.
It is unlikely that they would have won the Eastern Conference this year, simply based on the phenomenal play of the Miami Heat. Miami may win 66 games this season, and even the Bulls of the prime Michael Jordan era only won that many games 50% of his time. So while the Bulls may have had a shot to win the East with MJ, it is unlikely that a D-Rose led Chicago team would do the same.
The Bulls are also not as deep this year as they were last year. Key free agents were either not signed or walked away for better offers. Much of the €bench mob€ of the past two seasons are playing for other teams. Kyle Korver is gone. So is Omer Asik. Ditto for CJ Watson and Ronnie Brewer. In an effort to rebuild during Rose's rehab, and an effort to stay under the luxury tax, many of these key players are missing with players that do not quite replace their many talents and skill sets.
However, the Bulls' one shot of taking the East this year with a fully healthy Derrick Rose is that they play hard in each and every game. Their point differential last season was higher than the Heat's this season, regardless of the 27-game win streak. Thibodeau coaches his team to win every game by playing as hard as they can, winning at all costs. That might give Chicago the edge to have put together a stronger early season record that the Heat would not be able to eclipse with their streak.
All of this is mere speculation, however, since Rose has not been seen in an actual NBA game since tearing his ACL in Game 1 of last year's first round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The chances that he comes back at all this year seem to be slipping away, as well, with the Bulls season having only thirteen games left. He may come back sometime during that stretch, or not, and may return during the playoffs to get some valuable playing time. But this season belongs to the Miami Heat, at least in the Eastern Conference.
Going into the playoffs, the Bulls sit in the fifth seed in the Eastern Playoffs and will take on the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. As of this writing, there is still no word if Derrick Rose will return for the playoffs, or if he will sit out the entire postseason. Depending on how far the Bulls get without him, the pressure on him for a return this season will continue to grow.
