Pleasant Surprises from Chicago Bulls' Early Slate of Games

Despite the subpar start to a season abounding with grand expectations, there are a number of positives to take away from the Chicago Bulls’ initial games.

That may be pretty hard for some people to digest when Derrick Rose is playing nothing like the MVP he once was, the players still look uncomfortable with one another and a few of those early losses were wins that slipped away.

Bad breaks aside, this basketball team is too well-coached and talented to continue on this path of underachievement.

Looking deeper than the win-loss tally reveals a number of good omens that point to a brighter Bulls future.

Carlos Boozer's Strong Start

Carlos Boozer is off to a great start this year.

While he has always been a solid contributor, his current production of 18.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game is remarkable, and his 59.6 percent field-goal shooting is doubly impressive.

Boozer’s scoring and shooting lead the team and have been bright spots for Chicago’s dismal offense.

He dropped 31 points on the Miami Heat, a team he often struggles against, in the season opener and put up 18 points in just 24 minutes against his former club, the Utah Jazz.

This level of production has been nothing short of notable, and it would be a great boon for the Bulls if the former Blue Devil could maintain it when Rose hits his stride.

Other than health, offensive production has been the Bulls’ largest hindrance.

Chicago can really minimize the stagnation it has exhibited in the past if this current output is more than just a fast start for Boozer.

Luol Deng’s Facilitating

Luol Deng is another player who is picking up some slack for Rose in the early going.

The pride of South Sudan has always been a versatile contributor, and this season has been no exception so far.

His most impressive stat has been the career-high 4.8 assists per game he is averaging this year.

As a team, the Bulls dish out 22.4 assists a night; that number is only slightly lower than it has been in recent years.

This is despite the fact that Rose is averaging nearly four fewer assists per game than he did during his last active season.

Deng has taken it upon himself to make sure the ball stays moving and open players get a fair chance at a quality shot.

This is another example of how player improvement can help the Bulls reestablish themselves among the NBA’s best teams.

Like Boozer’s scoring surge, Deng’s heightened court awareness will serve the team so much better if it can be maintained over the course of a complete regular-season and postseason cycle.

Tom Thibodeau’s Time Management

Because of his immediate success, you couldn't heap much criticism on Tom Thibodeau unless it concerned playing time.

There was always an enduring whisper throughout the media about whether he demanded too much of his players during and between games.

Considering the lingering ailments many of his athletes battled and the frequent injuries they suffered, it stood to reason that the coach’s demanding regimen contributed to the team’s ill health.

On the front end of the 2013-14 campaign, Thibodeau has kept player minutes within a very reasonable range.

With the exception of Jimmy Butler, every Bulls starter is playing fewer minutes.

Minutes Per Game	2013-14	2012-13	2011-12	2010-11
Joakim Noah	28.2	36.8	30.4	32.8
Carlos Boozer	30.4	32.2	29.5	31.9
Luol Deng	36.0	38.7	39.4	39.1
Jimmy Butler	32.6	26	8.5	N/A
Derrick Rose	31	N/A	35.3	37.4

Keep in mind that there have been a few occasions that the team’s shaky performance would have prompted Thibodeau to overuse his starters to smooth things out.

Thibs has kept a very level head and stayed the course while gradually breaking in his team. He knows that pushing the panic button at this stage would be a very premature overreaction to a situation that is bound to right itself in due time.

Going Forward

KC Johnson of the Chicago Tribune and Scoop Jackson of ESPN.com have already pointed out that these initial games are not indicative of the NBA season that will be once rhythms are established.

Right now, the Bulls are doing a lot of things that will make them the contenders they once were if they can keep it up once Rose returns to form.

Imagine Boozer still chipping in 18 points a night in addition to Rose’s 25.

Think about the headaches opposing defenses will have if the former MVP gets back to dishing out eight assists per game while Deng is still contributing five of his own.

Picture a Bulls roster as healthy as ever going into the playoffs because Thibodeau was able to keep his starters’ minutes in the mid- to low 30s.

Yes, the overall performance has been underwhelming, but this team is full of experienced veterans who have weathered far worse storms than this.

Do not assume this early sampling is a microcosm of how the entire year will play out.

There is a lot of basketball left in this season, and the Bulls will look very different by the time it’s over.