2008-09 NBA Preview: Chicago Bulls

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Chicago Bulls

2007-08 Record: 33-49

Cool 2007 Stat: Kirk Hinrich had career lows in points (11.5), assists (6.0), rebounds (3.3) and steals (1.2).

Anticipated Starting Five

PG- Derrick Rose
SG- Kirk Hinrich
SF- Luol Deng
PF- Drew Gooden
C- Joakim Noah

Bench: Ben Gordon, Larry Hughes, Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas, Aaron Gray

Biggest Strength – Guard depth

No duh, right?  This team is overloaded with starting caliber guards.  The question is if new coach Vinnie Del Negro is capable of managing them all effectively.  We assume Derrick Rose will be the starting point guard if for no other reason than he was the #1 overall pick, and I don’t remember a healthy top pick not starting as a rookie (ESPN’s depth chart has him as the back-up).  Rose looked pedestrian during the summer league, and I personally think he is not as “NBA-ready” as you would like for a point guard as the #1 pick.  Hinrich had a down year as Pete’s not-so-cool stat suggests. I think he will be better this season.  Ben Gordon doesn’t want to be in Chicago, but he without question wants a big pay day in the off-season so he will be motivated by the money.  Larry Hughes stinks but was and can be a strong defender.  If he focuses on that aspect of his game he can really help this team.

Biggest Weakness - Leadership

Last season was a huge disappointment for this team.  From a pure talent standpoint they probably under-achieved.  I think the number one cause of that was lack of leadership.  Not one player on this team has a leadership track record or the personality and maturity to be a leader.  That is exactly why all the off-court distractions and behavior problems persisted all last season.  Derrick Rose is a leader.  But as a rookie can he step right in and command the respect of these guys who didn’t even listen to their coach many times?  I don’t think so – this year.

Key Player in ’08 – Derrick Rose

I think it’s simple.  If Rose can step in and have the same kind of impact Chris Paul has had on the Hornets, the Bulls can succeed.  And I don’t mean from a production standpoint on the court either.  I mean his presence on the court and the respect he commands and actively demands as the floor leader.  Yes, production matters and to a degree has an influence on how teammates respond to a player trying to be a leader.  The question will be can Rose quickly step in and earn the respect of the existing players and establish himself as the leader this team needs.

Their Thaddeus (exciting player 22 or under) – Tyrus Thomas, 22

Thomas is a freak. He’s a scout’s dream. Athletic, long, springy. The sky is the limit for this kid. He’s a fantastic player. That is, of course, until he gets onto an NBA basketball court. Thomas was a stud at LSU, teaming with Big Baby to get LSU to the Final Four. He was a workout wonder before the draft, and the Bulls took him over Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay and LaMarcus Aldridge (he was actually acquired for Aldridge on draft night). He can do stuff like this, but I’m not sure he’ll ever become a complete player and may just end up as another Stromile Swift.

Pete’s 2008 Outlook: 3rd place, Central division / 9th place, Eastern conference / 17th place, NBA

I loved this team going into last year, and they completely fell apart. However, the pieces are still there. They have 11 guys who can contribute, and I think Rose will provide some of the leadership they have been lacking. Luol Deng should be scoring at least 22 points a night and really has to step up his game this year. Hinrich will play better, Gordon will play hard for a contract and Drew Gooden and Joakim Noah will do each other’s hair. I’m picking them to just miss the playoffs, but with the recent injuries to the Wizards, (Haywood, Jamison) I could see them sneaking in.

Dannie’s 2008 Outlook: 5th place, Central division / 12th place, Eastern conference / 23rd place, NBA

I don’t like the make-up of the Bulls.  Last season they were very dysfunctional.  The veterans on the team aren’t leaders.  They have young guys who lack maturity and discipline.  And like the Sixers were before we got Elton Brand, they are lacking a clear cut #1 guy.  What really worries me is they brought in a first-time head coach to fix the problems and manage the situation.  In order for the Bulls to improve from last season’s disappointment, they need to establish a leader on the floor and need players to buy in to whatever Vinny Del Negro lays out for them.

Philly Connection: Larry Hughes

Larry Hughes over Paul Pierce… Larry Hughes over Paul Pierce… I hated it at the time, and I hate it even more now. Pierce, like Iguodala, inexplicably fell in the 1998 NBA Draft to the Sixers’ pick. But unlike Iguodala, the Sixers didn’t make the slam-dunk, no-duh pick of Pierce and instead took the unproven, but very talented Hughes. Hughes only lasted a season and half for the Sixers, averaging around 10 points, and provided several alley-opp dunks opposite Iverson. Hughes went from Golden State to Washington, where he has a career year in 2005, shockingly a contract year. He cashed in with the Cavs and abruptly became one of the worst shooters in the NBA. So bad, in fact, a Cleveland fan created a hilarious website in his honor. Larry Hughes over Paul Pierce… ahhhh, what could have been.

October 9, 2008