4 Ways to Beat the Chicago Bulls

Despite the Bulls missing starters for virtually the entire season, they have managed to maintain the top overall record in the NBA this season at 39-10.

The Bulls have missed Rose with back and groin issues, Deng with wrist issues, Hamilton with groin and shoulder issues and Watson with various ailments. However, they have managed to keep up their success.

But even though the Bulls are wildly successful, they still have the ability to be vulnerable come playoff time.

These are their four greatest weaknesses that can cause a team to beat them. 

Get Noah in Foul Trouble

One of the Bulls' greatest strengths is their incredible depth.

At their best, the Bulls likely play a 10-man rotation—Rose, Hamilton, Deng, Boozer, Noah, Watson, Brewer, Korver, Gibson and Asik.

You'd consider all five of the bench guys players who could start on some teams in the NBA, but the Bulls can use them sparingly. 

The shooting guard and power forward positions are filled with guys who can do different things depending on what the team needs at a specific time.

The point, small forward and center, however, are filled with guys who are very balanced players in Rose, Deng and Noah. Rose and Deng are both quite good at staying out of foul trouble, but Noah can get caught in the trap. 

If Noah has to leave the game, Omer Asik just doesn't provide so many of the good things that Noah does. While Asik is stronger, Noah is a better fundamental defensive player and is the quarterback of the defense under Thibodeau.

Offensively, it's no contest that Noah's passing, dribbling, post game and jump shot are miles ahead of Asik's developing offense of catching a ball and dunking it. 

When Noah leaves the game, the Bulls are vulnerable because they have to go to players who just can't replicate what he does on the court. 

Force Them to Shoot Jumpers

The Bulls have been a much-improved basketball team from beyond the arc, but they are not an elite three-point shooting team.

Kyle Korver has been his typical consistent self, Luol Deng has picked up his three-point game and the bench point guard duo of C.J Watson and John Lucas III have both been knocking down the shot at a high rate. 

When the Bulls have struggled, it's been from an inability to punish teams for crowding Rose.

That task is meant to be Kyle Korver's job, but he needs some help to make sure Rose has some space.

However, if no player steps up to help, then the Bulls will struggle. 

Challenge Rose to Beat You

Derrick Rose is not a selfish player.

That's a generalization that is often brought against him by critics, and it is just simply not true.

Even though Rose is a scoring point guard, he is still excellent at getting his teammates involved and is a true playmaker. 

The one mistake that Rose makes, however, is trying to take on too much responsibility in the fourth quarter.

For so long, Derrick has been able to take over and score on whoever he wanted in the fourth quarter, but was stopped last year in Miami. The issue wasn't that Rose is an inadequate player—the issue is that Rose forgot how he was successful during the rest of the game. 

Rose is adept at getting to the basket, but his greatest strength is his ability to get the ball moving. If Rose keeps the ball moving, then the Bulls are hard to beat.

However, if you get Rose to try to beat you himself, he can be shut down, especially when he starts forcing things. 

Knock Down Threes

The Bulls' interior defense is one of the best interior defensive units that's been seen in the league in quite some time.

They have Joakim Noah, who is reminiscent of a young Kevin Garnett on defense in terms of activity and intensity and know-how.

Omer Asik brings so much bulk and a different look defensively against centers.

Taj Gibson is one of the best interior defensive rotators that I have seen in my years of watching basketball. If you try to get to the basket, the Bulls can stop you. 

The solution to that is to knock down the long ball. Even though the Bulls have one of the best-orchestrated defenses in the league, they are still just as vulnerable as any other team when it comes to defending the three-point line.

If teams can take advantage of that, then the Bulls are in trouble.