Predicting Chicago Bulls' Final 2014-15 Record
2014-15 should prove to be a special season for the Chicago Bulls. No, they won't go 72-10 like Michael Jordan and friends did back in '95-96. However, expect a ton of victories.
This may be the most talented Chicago club since the dynasty years. Playing just 10 games the past two seasons, franchise point guard Derrick Rose is healthy and ready to go. And he'll join a plethora of great teammates like defenders Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler.
Also, new additions Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott will surely help on the offensive end of the court. They'll instantly make the Bulls a much more balanced team.
A season ago, Chicago racked up 48 wins despite Rose's knee injury and the January trade of Luol Deng. Just image what type of record they'll post with one of the Association's deepest rosters.
Let's play the prediction game. What will be the Bulls' final 2014-15 record?
October/November
1 of 5
On Oct. 29, the Bulls open the season on the road vs. the New York Knicks. All eyes will be on Carmelo Anthony, who spurned Chicago during the offseason. Can the Bulls' D shut down 'Melo, or will he get the last laugh?
Two days later, Rose and the gang host LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers in a Halloween showdown. This is the first of four meetings between the two Central Division clubs. With James, Rose, Noah, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving on the court, there certainly won't be a shortage of stars for this rekindled rivalry.
After losing to New York, the Bulls bounce back and bite the Cavs.
October Record: 1-1
Luckily, the November schedule isn't extremely difficult. During the month, Chicago will face only five teams that made the playoffs last season.
The Circus Trip takes place from Nov. 17-30, with the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers being a part of that stretch. Yet, look for the Bulls to have a solid start to the year.
November Record: 11-4
December
2 of 5
December isn't as "easy" as November. Twelve of the Bulls' 15 contests are against 2014 playoff teams, including the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards.
Rose vs. Golden State's Stephen Curry makes for a stupendous point guard matchup.
Speaking of point guard matchups, Rose vs. the Wizards' John Wall is definitely worth watching as well. Washington eliminated the Bulls during last year's playoffs. Can they get a little revenge?
Chicago hosts the not-so-elite Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day. SB Nation's Jay Patt wrote about this game, which you can refer to as the "Carlos Boozer-Pau Gasol Bowl":
"The Bulls get a nice Christmas present by having the opportunity to bash the Lakers at the United Center. This will be just the second time since the last title that the Bulls have hosted a game on Christmas. This will be Pau Gasol's first game against his former team, but more importantly, this is Carlos Boozer's one trip to the UC this season. How will he be received?
"
It'll be interesting to see how the United Center crowd treats Boozer.
Although the December schedule isn't generous, the Bulls find a way to have an outstanding month.
December Record: 13-2
January
3 of 5
January is the first month of the year. It's also a fantastic month schedule-wise for the Bulls. Seven of the first eight games are at home. During that stretch, they'll face a few rebuilding clubs like the Boston Celtics and Utah Jazz.
The Cavs, Warriors, Wizards and defending-champion Spurs are on the schedule. Going up against San Antonio is a real test for the retooled Bulls, who are expected to contend for a title. Can Chicago hang with the champs?
One of the highlights of the month is the Jan. 25 game vs. the Miami Heat. Deng, who spent several years with the Bulls, returns to Chicago for the first time wearing a Heat uni. It sure will be odd seeing him on the other side of the rivalry.
On Jan. 29, Gasol makes his way home as the Bulls face the Lakers in L.A. And we'll see Boozer face his old team for the final time of the season.
January Record: 14-3
February/March
4 of 5
Due to an extended All-Star break, the Bulls have just 10 games scheduled for February. The only scary opponents are the Houston Rockets and Cavaliers.
And OK, we might as well throw in the New Orleans Pelicans and Charlotte Hornets. While they aren't necessarily scary, they should be solid teams this year.
Nonetheless, February will be a nice month for the Bulls.
February Record: 8-2
If you love to see the Bulls play the Oklahoma City Thunder, you'll enjoy March. Chicago takes on the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook-led squad twice during the month. Actually, they play twice in seven days. Baring injuries, Chi-Town and OKC could meet up in the 2015 NBA Finals.
The Thunder aren't the only elite Western Conference opponents for the Bulls. They also play the Clippers and Spurs.
Other key March opponents include the Wizards, Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers.
March Record: 10-5
April/Final Record
5 of 5
With the playoffs beginning in April, the Bulls play just eight games during the month. Honestly, they could go 8-0 based on their competition. The only opponents worth mentioning are the Cavs and Heat. Sorry, Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic fans, but your teams aren't exactly dangerous threats.
Look for Chicago to lose to Cleveland, Miami and the Brooklyn Nets during the final month of regular-season hoops.
April Record: 5-3
The Bulls have reached the 60-win mark six times in their history. And they'll accomplish the feat once again during the 2014-15 campaign.
While the Cavaliers could very well win it all, the Bulls will post the Eastern Conference's top record. They're just too deep not to claim the No. 1 seed.
There are a lot of haters out there who believe Rose won't stay healthy and return to MVP form. But he'll end up proving those folks wrong, staying in the lineup all season and looking like the old D-Rose. Championship-caliber basketball is back in the Windy City!
Final Record: 62-20
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