Do Chicago Bulls Have More to Fear in East Than Just Cleveland Cavaliers?
Chicago Bulls fans are hungry. With LeBron James back on the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat a shadow of their former selves, the Eastern Conference seems more open in 2014-15 than it has in years. The Bulls can see a clearer path to the top. They aren’t alone in their focus and thirst, however. The Eastern Conference has its crop of rising teams seeing the same opportunity as the Bulls.
Cleveland has a ton of new, moving parts. James’ dominant play is a certainty, and so is the talent of his two elite running mates—Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. But they’re led by David Blatt, a seemingly smart coach but a first-time NBA head man, and neither Love nor Irving has ever played a minute of playoff ball. However much of a dynasty the Cavs may become, it might not happen this year.
Enter Chicago. The Bulls have a ton of their own issues to sort out. Derrick Rose still hasn’t looked like a superstar for more than one game at a time since tearing his ACL in 2012. They’re thin at small forward, relying on an aged Mike Dunleavy Jr. and quick progress from either Tony Snell, Doug McDermott or both.
If the Cavaliers aren’t ready to take the conference right away, though, the Bulls are a compelling and even rational case to reach the NBA Finals. Coach Tom Thibodeau’s defensive system is the best in the league, and it will be a surprise to the world if the Bulls aren’t a steel wall yet again this year.
They won 48 games in 2013-14 largely on the strength of their principles and the relentless preparation and intensity of Thibodeau, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson.
If Rose is healthy and even a lukewarm approximation of his former self and if Pau Gasol, McDermott or Nikola Mirotic move the needle offensively, the Finals are a real, tangible goal. The same, however, can be said for some other overlooked teams in the East. The Washington Wizards—responsible for ending the Bulls’ 2014 playoff campaign—Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets are all fearsome, ready rivals.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets’ philosophies are remarkably similar to those of the Bulls. Led by head coach Steve Clifford, a sort of student of Thibodeau’s, Charlotte’s defensive performance is also sure to frustrate the rest of basketball this year.
With another season playing under Clifford’s tenets and added firepower in Lance Stephenson, the Hornets are a scary competitor. Luckily Chicago has one of the deepest NBA frontcourts, which it’ll need to try and stop the Hornets’ post-scoring beast, Al Jefferson.
Between Cody Zeller, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Kemba Walker—three young and still-improving players—the Hornets are bound to improve internally in 2014-15. And in Stephenson, they have arguably the best young 2-guard in the game.
Whether it's this year or next, Charlotte is coming for the Eastern crown. The Bulls are a superior team for now (they're deeper, more talented and more experienced), but even one injury to an integral player could tip the scales the Hornets' way should the teams meet in the playoffs.
Washington Wizards
The Wizards’ men down low proved too challenging for the Bulls this past spring. Noah suddenly didn’t look anywhere close to deserving of his 2014 Defensive Player of the Year trophy up against Nene, a wide Brazilian center with a smooth jump shot, and Marcin Gortat, a bruising Polish big man whose dexterity in the lane has increased with every season.
Taj Gibson played admirably in the series, but the Bulls mustered just one win before hanging up their shoes for the summer.
Between Nene, Gortat and the surging young backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal, Washington simply had more weapons than Chicago. And this summer, it brought in Paul Pierce—one of the deadliest playoff performers of his generation, who showed he still has it with the Brooklyn Nets in 2014-15.
The Wizards lost Trevor Ariza over the summer, although Pierce takes his place, instantly improving the Wizards' crunch-time attack and half-court offense in general. But he's a slower, less athletic defender.
If the Bulls have enough productivity from the small forward spot this year, they just might be able to exploit Pierce on that end. Given Wall's terrific defensive performance in 2013-14, Rose is going to need the extra help if the Bulls want to avenge last year's bitter playoff end.
Toronto Raptors
North of the border, the Raptors are building something special. Arguably the deepest team in the NBA, Toronto boasts a rotation that goes easily 10 deep. General manager Masai Ujiri has once again combed through the forgotten talent of the league (as he did with the Denver Nuggets) to put together a crew with great chemistry, stamina and scoring potential.
Led by Kyle Lowry and DeMar Derozan—fresh off a stint with Team USA—the Raptors also feature one of the best young bigs around in Jonas Valanciunas.
The Raptors are very young. The rigors of a seven-game series undid them against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the postseason this past spring. Toronto regularly unwound late in games as Pierce, Joe Johnson and Company calmly took control.
If the Bulls meet the Raptors in the playoffs and they still fumble in the spotlight, Chicago should take care of them in short order. But the Raptors won't stay young forever, and when they're ready, they just might have enough tools to beat the Bulls.
Don’t forget about Toronto just because it isn't on your TV as much this season. Along with the Wizards and Hornets, the Raptors are all more than capable of pulling off better seasons than the Bulls. Good as things look from Lake Michigan, as Chicago boasts its best roster on paper since Michael Jordan left town, it’s still far too early to declare the East a two-horse race. The Bulls need to keep their eyes open.
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