Chicago Bulls - season preview

[Karma]

POINT GUARDS

Kirk Hinrich / Chris Duhon / Jannero Pargo

SHOOTING GUARDS

Ben Gordon / Eric Piatkowski / Eddie Basden

SMALL FORWARDS

Luol Deng / Andres Nocioni

POWER FORWARDS

Tyson Chandler / Othella Harrington / Malik Allen

CENTERS

Eddy Curry / Antonio Davis​

2004/05 : 47-35, 2nd Central
Key Additions : Nil
Coach : Scott Skiles

Strengths : This Chicago Bulls roster is strong all over the court. Gordon and Hinrich are dangerous from the perimeter, Deng gives them a pure athlete who does a bit of everything, whilst upfront Curry, Chandler and Davis combine to give them a good mix. Role players like Duhon, Harrington and Piatkowski all bring different intangibles which helped the Bulls charge into the finals after a terrible start to last season. With Eddy Curry all but resigned, the Bulls have managed to keep their entire core together. This stability should allow Coach Skiles to further mold this team into an Eastern Conference threat.

Weaknesses : Eddy Curry brings many question marks this season. Will his heart condition affect his play? Will the fact he missed out on the big dollars cause conflict? I believe both will have a negative impact on this ball club, combined with his laziness on the defensive end. With Piatkowski's game fading to near nothing, the Bulls do lack shooters. Ben Gordon is streaky, and he is the only player outside Hinrich to provide a threat outside the arc. This can lead to a young team panicing a little on offense.

Key Player : 6th man of the year, Ben Gordon, again will be called upon to spark the Bulls offense. Chicago lack a legitimate 20ppg player, and will rely on Gordon with his multi dimensional offense. More consistency from the perimeter will make Gordon nearly unguardable. His 4th quarter antics were a real highlight, an amzing feat for a rookie.

Overview : For this team to improve, it needs to come within. Hinrich, Gordon, Chandler and Curry will be asked to step up their game to another level, or face the prospect of being swallowed up by the ever improving Eastern Conference. The status of Curry is a concern, but they do have solid depth to cover his many lapses. Tyson Chandler was rewarded this summer with a large contract. He must repay their faith with a more consistent game. If Coach Skiles and the veterans on the Bulls roster can keep in the ear of the Bulls youngens, look for the Bulls to repeat their effort and finish mid playoff seeding. In such a tough division though, they could easily slide to 7th - 8th seed.

Win Range : 43-48 wins.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

Da Bulls will be tough, and play the Cavs competitively. Gordon was great last year, i wonder if he will still come off the bench. Was his rookie year a fluke? We shall see.

I remember Nocioni played LeBron tough last year, got under his skin. (Didnt they scuffle at the Olympics or something?) Some call him a dirty player, but its good to have a player like that on your team. This is a mans game. I look forward to that matchup.

Remember the game late in the season in Chicago where LeBron hit the 3 to send it to overtime!!! And then they lay down in overtime and choke. What a disappointing finish. With all their young talent, the Cavs will still be better. Its time for the Cavs to start hanging banners from the rafters! We have the "Jordan Factor" now!!!

 

[LyXo]

Chicago is one of the most exciting upcoming teams in the league. They have a plethora of youth that molds perfectly with each other. Skiles implements a well-flowing system accounting for all the players talents and strengths.

Curry is the main question mark. All he needs to do is put on his thinking cap and realize that he just needs to play some good ball, just his game, and he'll be the object putting the Baby Bulls over the top and turn them into a championship contender for the next decade.

 

[Money]

It's a nice preview, and I think everything is just about right but I might disagree with a thing here or there.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

What do you disagree with then Money? And Welcome to RCF!!!

I disagree with the statement that Curry is the factor that will decide if the Bulls will be contenders for the next decade!!! He is no Jordan!!! I think they will be playoff contenders, but titles!? No the Bulls had their time, its the Cavs turn now!!!

 

[West Remy]

I think Curry is healthy to play but there is some controversy over a DNA test some want him to take (it is said the test won't rule out anything anyway, which makes it seem off a tangent, to a degree). If Curry is dealt in a sign-and-trade, the Bulls better get a good deal in return. With the Knicks package already being rejected, the Grizzlies have pieces to offer. If Chicago deals, they better not get low-balled or they will win less games this season as a result.

On a side note, Ben Gordon is POWERFUL. When NBA players talk about their weight lifting programs, I remember hearing Ben Wallace using 75 pound weights in each arm to curl (and he does a ton of reps too, crazy). But there is a picture of Gordon sitting on a bench with 100 pound weights in each hand (so he's holding 200 pounds). The fact Gordon can work out with and do a lot of reps with 100 pound weights is nearly unfathomable.

 

[James]

If they stay healthy, theyll be contenders. The former East bottom dwellers are moving up. the league is changing and its about time for different teams to emmerge from the shadows.

 

[TruBuckeye22]

i like the make-up of this team, if they stay together for awhile they should be a playoff team for years to come. however i still don't see that guy who can be a difference maker and lead them to a NBA title.