This offseason, we at Gino's Jungle would like to think we have covered everything from A to Z when it comes to the Boston Celtics. With the regular season tip-off quickly approaching we decided it was time to take a look at the enemies. For the next five weeks we will be giving you the down low on all thirty teams in the NBA. We'll be doing this somewhat in conjunction with Celtics Blog's NBA team previews.
Team Name: Chicago Bulls
Last Year's Record: 41-41
What did they do this offseason?
Busy, busy, and busy are the three words that describe the Chicago Bulls offseason. The Bulls were one of the 2,301 teams that were planning for the 2010 free agency period. They lost out on the big names like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, but didn't give up like a lot of team. Instead, they went out and brought in a second-tier superstar in Carlos Boozer to build around.
Kyle Korver, CJ Watson, and Ronnie Brewer also liked what was shaping up in Chicago and choose Chi-Town over other potential teams. I can't believe I almost forgot this, but they also added a great team player in Brian Scalabrine that will do whatever the team needs him to do to win.
Scalabrine wasn't the only former Celtic that took their talents to the Windy City; the top assistant coach in the NBA during the past three seasons also moved onto bigger things and accepted the head coaching job with the Bulls. Thibodeau's defensive mindset should be a great addition to the Chicago organization.
Players leaving Chicago on a one-way flight included Rondo's two favorite people, Kirk Hinrich and Brad Miller.
What will they be good at? Bad at?
After watching Tom Thibodeau work his defensive magic during the past three years in Boston, it's a safe bet to say the Bulls will be a good defensive team. Not only do they have a coach committed to defense, they also have players with good defensive mindsets. Scrappy players like Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, and Derrick Rose should adapt well to Thibodeau's defensive philosophies.
Like they were in past seasons, the Bulls will once again be one of those teams that get under your skin. Joakim Noah is the main reason for that but Boozer and Deng also attribute to the cause. Those three players are not afraid to get physical and stir stuff up on the court, and that's a good thing for Bulls fans.
Another positive for Bulls fans is that I struggled to find a weakness for their team; however, that doesn't mean there better than the Celtics, Heat, or Magic in any way. It simply means that they are solid on pretty much every aspect but lack greatness in multiple areas that the Heat, Celtics, and Magic don't.
Although I struggled, I didn't fail to find a weakness. If there is one thing to be concerned about with the Bulls it is there experience, starting with the coach. Tom Thibodeau took over head coaching duties for one game in 2009 when Doc Rivers got ejected. In that game he didn't make a single rotational change. He was overwhelmed with the situation he was put in and it showed. As much as I want to support Thibs I have to ask, if he gets into the playoffs and needs to make an important decision can he make the right one?
What should we expect from the Bulls this season?
As of right now, three to four weeks before the start of the NBA season, there are four groups of teams in the Eastern Conference. There's the Celtics, Heat, and Magic in one group. The Hawks, Bulls, and Bucks in the second group. Pacers, Knicks, 76ers, Wizards, and Pistons in the third group. And the Cavaliers, Raptors, and Nets in the final group. So, what should we expect from the Bulls?
A top six playoff seed and the possibility of advancing into the second round of the playoffs. Battling for a final playoff position or failing to make the playoffs would be a tremendous disappointment for the Bulls.
The Expert's Take: (Blog-A-Bull on goals for this year’s squad)
After two seasons of water-treading as collateral damage for reaching roster flexibility, the time is now for the Bulls to start building towards title contention. They're not at that tier yet, and the superteam in Miami (joining incumbents Orlando and Boston) may always keep them a step below.
But the Bulls should be out of defined mediocrity and up towards the top half of the conference, battling the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks for the next few playoff spots. Winning a weakened Central Division is certainly possible and would guarantee the Bulls a top-4 seed, being favored in the first round of the playoffs.
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