Grading the Chicago Bulls' 2014-15 Season so Far
Despite some recent struggles, the Chicago Bulls remain one of the top teams in Eastern Conference and in the overall NBA landscape.
Led by Jimmy Butler's breakout and Pau Gasol's resurgence, the Bulls stand at 26-14, good for fourth in the East. They're scoring points in bunches and look like a well-oiled machine in early 2015, winning 13 of 15 games.
Chicago's free-agent signings have made a considerable impact as well. In addition to Gasol's career year, Aaron Brooks and Nikola Mirotic have provided a big spark off the bench with their ability to score in a variety of ways.
There have been a few bumps in the road, though, primarily on the defensive end. Wednesday night's 105-99 loss to the Washington Wizards was just the latest example.
Chicago's defense has seldom looked like the Tom Thibodeau-led unit it has been since he joined the Bulls in 2010, but there’s still plenty of time to patch up any holes. While some injuries—and perhaps chemistry issues—have hindered them, it also looks like the same hunger and effort from years past aren't there anymore.
With championship aspirations this year, the Bulls’ season has had its peaks and valleys, but there is a lot to celebrate and be excited about.
Offense
1 of 5
Chicago has been a scoring machine this year. The two biggest improvements have been its long-range and free-throw shooting.
Chicago is on pace to set franchise records in three-point makes and attempts while converting close to 36 percent of them. Not counting Gasol, six players currently shoot 35 percent or better from downtown, with Brooks and Mike Dunleavy both past the 40 percent threshold.
Derrick Rose has been one of the main reasons for this. He draws so much attention from defenses that when they collapse, he can find a shooter out on the wing.
He can also drop it down to either Gasol or Joakim Noah, who just so happen to be two of the best distributors at their position. Chicago's assist percentage of 62.5 ranks fifth in the league, and it's the reason the offense has looked so fluid at times.
Then there's Butler, the NBA's 2014-15 breakout story.
He has increased his scoring from 13 points per game last year to nearly 21 this season. The 25-year-old swingman is also one of the reasons the Bulls get to the free-throw line so often, as he averages close to eight attempts per game and converts at an 83 percent rate.
Chicago can light up the scoreboard now, averaging 102 points per game—it scored 93 per night the last two seasons—for the first time in five years. Chicago has surpassed the century mark 25 times already in 2014-15, tying the total from 2013-14.
Final Grade: A
Defense
2 of 5
It’s been an uncharacteristic year for Chicago's defense. Noah has dealt with nagging injuries that have limited his effectiveness on several nights, but there are also a few new faces in the rotation who haven't clicked with the mainstays.
Regardless, there have been plenty of games where the Bulls just haven't been engaged defensively. Whether it's not getting back in transition, bad pick-and-roll discipline or late rotations, Chicago's interior defense has taken a small step back.
According to TeamRankings.com, the Bulls are giving up 41.9 points in the paint per game this season, 17th in the league and a five-point increase from the previous year. Just halfway through this campaign, they've also allowed 100-point games 19 times, three more than the 2013-14 total.
Following Monday's 121-114 loss to the Orlando Magic, Thibodeau had this to say about the Bulls' defensive effort, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune:
"We've got to decide what we're going to be. If we're going to just try to outscore people, we're not going anywhere. I know that doesn't work. We're going to have to bring a lot more intensity. And the only way you bring a lot more intensity is work a lot harder. It's really that simple.
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However, Thibodeau also put some of the blame on himself: "I'm going to try and find all the answers. I have to do better. My job is to have them ready. That part is on me."
But the Bulls defense has had its peaks, and Chicago has been nearly unbeatable in those cases. In games where opponents score less than 100 points, the Bulls hold a 17-4 record. When they allow no more than 95 points, they're 15-1.
Chicago's defense hasn't exactly lost its touch, but the Jekyll and Hyde act has to stop soon.
Final Grade: C+
The New Arrivals
3 of 5
Gar Forman and John Paxson hit the jackpot this summer with their moves. They missed on their No. 1 target Carmelo Anthony, but that didn't deter them from putting together one of the NBA's most complete teams.
Gasol's outstanding year was unexpected, and now he is one of Chicago's most consistent players. He's been the Bulls' primary scoring option on many nights and has been a great rim protector on the other end, holding opponents to 48 percent shooting near the rim.
The four-time All-Star also posted a career-high 46 points on Jan. 10 in a winning effort against the Milwaukee Bucks. His ability to stretch the floor, post up and attack the rim from the low block is something Chicago has never had in the Rose era, and it's yielding incredible results as the Bulls continue to pile wins.
Brooks' signing got little attention, but he has been an integral part of Chicago's second unit. He's the second leading scorer off the bench with 10.8 points per game (Taj Gibson is first at 11.2), and he is also the Bulls' most efficient three-point shooter—not counting Gasol—at 42.4 percent.
Brooks is able to score in a variety of ways and has a knack for converting tough-angled shots. He knows how to shoot over bigs, which makes his driving ability a real weapon despite his short stature.
On the rookie front, Mirotic has been quite a revelation. Injuries have helped him earn a larger share of minutes, and he's made sure to make the most of his moments, showcasing one of the more versatile games possibly in the league.
At 6'10", 220 pounds, the former Spanish Cup MVP has incredible quickness and explosion off the dribble. He can stretch the floor and knock down three-pointers (37 percent) and has shown flashes of a solid post-up game as well.
Chicago's summer was a huge success despite missing out on the top-tier free agents for the second time in the last four years. This time around, it has a full roster that could go 11-deep when healthy.
Final Grade: A
Team Record
4 of 5
Chicago's 26-14 record has a lot of interesting branches to it—some good and some a bit troubling.
Its 10-6 record against plus-.500 teams and 14-5 road record are both the second-best in the East. It’s something that will bode well for the playoffs, as the Bulls have proved they can compete with the best and win in hostile environments.
However, there's no doubt they've given up some games they shouldn't have. Chicago currently holds a 16-8 record against sub-.500 squads. The Atlanta Hawks and Washington Wizards—the East's top two teams—have lost only four each.
For comparison's sake, looking at the Bulls' best season under Thibodeau (2010-11), they lost just seven games against inferior opponents.
What has been really worrisome is their 12-9 home record.
Opponents average close to 103 points per game at the United Center. Chicago's defense on the road, however, has been drastically better, as it allows just 95 points per night. The Bulls are currently on pace to either tie or set the worst home record under Thibodeau (24-17 in 2012-13).
Despite these recent struggles, it's hard to argue with a 26-14 record and a spot among the top 10 in the league.
Final Grade: B+
Overall Grade
5 of 5
Chicago has the roster depth, star power and scoring ability to make a deep playoff run. The biggest key going forward is the defense, and whether the Bulls can stabilize it and get it to where it has to be to compete in the postseason.
Thibodeau will push them to that point, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times:
"The thing is, somehow what gets lost is there's this thing where people overlook practice, they overlook the regular season, 'the homecourt's not that important.' Well, if you study the records of homecourts in Game 7s, it is important. Everything matters, every day matters, and championship teams have an understanding that everything matters.
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And ultimately for the Bulls, that's the goal this season. This is their best chance to come out of the East now that the Miami Heat's Big Three disbanded and the Cleveland Cavaliers have to figure out just about everything.
But the road will be tough. The Wizards seem to have to the Bulls' number, and the Hawks are secretly turning into the Eastern version of the San Antonio Spurs. The Toronto Raptors are a serious threat as well, although the Bulls have had success against them this season.
The Bulls are off to a great start, and like most teams, they still have a few things to fix. Still, they're one of the top 10 teams in the league with an offense that finally has some firepower and a defense that has shown some promise.
Halfway-Point Grade: A-
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com and accurate as of Jan. 14.
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