Chicago Bulls' Early-Season Schedule Breakdown and Record Predictions
The Chicago Bulls’ 2014-15 season is arguably their most important of the century.
The return of star point guard Derrick Rose has raised expectations to a championship level. Especially in combination with Joakim Noah arriving as a bona fide NBA superstar, coach Tom Thibodeau’s masterful defensive planning and offseason gets like Pau Gasol and Doug McDermott.
We won’t know whether the Bulls are true title fighters by the end of November, but we will have ample tea leaves with which to work. The team’s vaunted annual circus road trip, in particular, should tell us a lot about them.
Let’s take a look at the season’s first month and see how the Bulls might fare through it.
Oct. 28 Through Nov. 3
1 of 5
Wednesday, Oct. 29 at New York Knicks
Friday, Oct. 31 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Saturday, Nov. 1 at Minnesota Timberwolves
Expect the Bulls to easily beat the inferior Knicks and also win at home against LeBron James and his deadly new Cleveland crew.
It’s a statement game that’s certainly circled on the locker room calendar—whether they say so or not—and the Bulls’ home-court energy will help them topple a Cavs team that will be on the second half of a season-starting back-to-back.
The Bulls might suffer a bit of their own back-to-back laggardness when they try carrying that momentum over into Minneapolis, though. The ‘Wolves are a feisty young team that already bested Chicago’s fight in a preseason victory, and they’ll be ready to capitalize on the Bulls’ fatigue.
Record: 2-1
Nov. 4 Through Nov. 10
2 of 5
Tuesday, Nov. 4 vs. Orlando Magic
Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Milwaukee Bucks
Friday, Nov. 7 at Philadelphia 76ers
Saturday, Nov. 8 vs. Boston Celtics
Monday, Nov. 10 vs. Detroit Pistons
The Bulls’ schedule continues with a week of patsies. The Bucks and Celtics have the best chance at edging Chicago, as both will get the Bulls on the bad end of two more back-to-backs.
But overall, this week should be an easy one for the Bulls, with lots of cushy leads and opportunities to continue fine-tuning the subtleties of the roster’s new chemistry.
The relentless defense of rookie Marcus Smart might prove to be one of the more trying tests of Rose’s first full month back. Similarly, rising young Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond will provide a sort of litmus for Noah’s progress as he returns from injury himself.
Record: 6-2
Nov. 11 Through Nov. 17
3 of 5
Thursday, Nov. 13 at Toronto Raptors
Saturday, Nov. 15 vs. Indiana Pacers
Monday, Nov. 17 at Los Angeles Clippers
Between the Raptors and the Clippers—with both opponents coming on the road—the Bulls aren’t likely to get through this week undefeated.
Toronto boasts one of the deepest, most versatile rosters in the Eastern Conference, led by physical point guard Kyle Lowry and Rose’s Team USA teammate DeMar DeRozan.
In some corners, the Raptors' momentum from an impressive, breakthrough 2013-14 season makes them a more viable contender than the Bulls.
And the Clippers, by now, need little introduction. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul are both potential MVP candidates operating under coach Doc Rivers for the second season, in which a title is expected perhaps even more than it is in Chicago.
While the Bulls should make quick work of a beaten-down Pacers team, they’ll be lucky to win both of the week’s other games.
Record: 8-3
Nov. 18 Through Nov. 24
4 of 5
Thursday, Nov. 20 at Sacramento Kings
Friday, Nov. 21 at Portland Trail Blazers
Monday, Nov. 24 at Utah Jazz
The road trip hits its stride this week, with only the Blazers representing a real threat to the Bulls.
Whether it’s Portland or one of the others, though, the Bulls will lose another game this week. The slog of the road, the altitude adjustments of Salt Lake City and the extreme challenge of containing Kings center DeMarcus Cousins will amass to enough malaise for the Bulls to go down once in this mini-stretch.
But don’t expect them to fall twice. Thibodeau’s squad has far too much pride to lose consecutive games.
Record: 10-4
Nov. 25 Through Nov. 30
5 of 5
Tuesday, Nov. 25 at Denver Nuggets
Friday, Nov. 28 at Boston Celtics
Sunday, Nov. 30 at Brooklyn Nets
The month (and the road trip) concludes as the team progresses back east. Another altitude challenge in Denver will lead into Rose and Smart facing off again, as well as a tough game with the overlooked Nets.
Brooklyn is refocused now after two strange seasons coached by Avery Johnson, then P.J. Carlesimo, then Jason Kidd. Now they're led by the domineering, defense-first Lionel Hollins.
Point guard Deron Williams is healthier than he’s ever been in Brooklyn. He'll be eager to prove himself next to Rose. Between this hurdle and the difficult task of winning in Denver, expect one more loss this week.
The Bulls' 2-1 record through these games should give us a theme for the year. Thibodeau’s career winning percentage is just under .666, and we can confidently predict that it will remain there in 2014-15.
Bulls’ final record through November: 12-5
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