Chicago Bulls Schedule Breakdown and Record Predictions for February
February may be the shortest month of the year, but it could prove to be a great period of time for the Chicago Bulls.
Due to the annual NBA All-Star break, the team will play just 10 games during the month.
Speaking of All-Stars, Chicago will be represented by two—Pau Gasol, who was voted in as a starter, and Eastern Conference reserve Jimmy Butler. Wow, heading into the season, did you really believe "Jimmy Buckets" would receive such an honor?
Anyway, January was an up-and-down month for the Bulls. They beat the Golden State Warriors, which own the league's top record, on the road without Butler (illness) and other quality teams like the Houston Rockets and defending-champion San Antonio Spurs.
However, they did suffer embarrassing home losses to the Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic as well.
It's prediction time. What type of February will the Bulls have?
All stats are from Basketball-Reference.com and accurate as of Jan. 30.
Feb. 1-7
1 of 5
Key Matchup: Feb. 4 at Houston Rockets
February kicks off with a tough road game against the talented Rockets.
On Jan. 5, Chicago won at home, knocking off the guys from Texas 114-105. Houston's James Harden, the NBA's top scorer, was held to 20 points on 7-of-22 shooting from the field.
Averaging a league-best 9.1 free-throw attempts, Harden went just 3-of-3 from the charity stripe during that contest.
This time around, Houston will pick up the W as "The Beard" shreds the Bulls defense for 35 big ones.
Other Game: Feb. 7 at New Orleans Pelicans
After a frustrating loss in H-town, the Bulls head east to New Orleans, taking on All-Star big man Anthony Davis and the Pelicans. New Orleans is 15-6 at home this season, meaning it could certainly be a tough contest for Chicago.
Davis is having a monster campaign, contributing 24.5 points, 10.4 boards and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting 55.5 percent from the field. Yet the Chicago native will watch his hometown team slip by the Pels.
Record: 1-1
Feb. 8-14
2 of 5
Key Matchup: Feb. 12 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Chicago and Cleveland were expected to duke it out for the top record in the Eastern Conference. Right now, though, it doesn't look like either team will accomplish such a feat. Nevertheless, it's must-see TV whenever they face each another.
The Bulls are 0-2 against the Cavaliers this season, losing 114-108 on Oct. 31 in Chicago and 108-94 in Cleveland (Jan. 19).
LeBron James and his Cavs squad will travel to the Windy City for the Feb. 12 showdown. Look for the Bulls to pull this one out.
Other Games: Feb. 8 at Orlando Magic, Feb. 10 vs. Sacramento Kings
On Jan. 12, the rebuilding Magic stunned the Bulls in Chicago 121-114. Nikola Vucevic and Victor Oladipo led the way for Orlando with 33 points apiece.
The Bulls will get revenge when they head to Central Florida for their next meeting.
Playing without injured starters Derrick Rose and Gasol, Chicago was smoked on the road by the Kings 103-88 (Nov. 20). Rose and Gasol should be available for the second and final matchup between the two clubs. And the Bulls will pick up the home victory.
Record: 3-0
Feb. 15-21
3 of 5
Key Matchup: Feb. 21 vs. Phoenix Suns
Phoenix is an outstanding offensive team, ranking second with 107.3 points per game. Although the Suns are the current No. 8 seed out West at 27-20, they'd have the fifth-best record in the East.
We'll get to see a matchup between two of the league's top guard trios. The Suns possess Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and super-sub Isaiah Thomas, while Chicago goes with Rose, Butler and reserve Aaron Brooks.
Chicago will come out on top in what is sure to be an entertaining shootout.
Other Game: Feb. 20 at Detroit Pistons
Detroit has surprisingly played well since waiving Josh Smith on Jan. 22. Unfortunately, point guard Brandon Jennings is now out for the season after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon.
D.J. Augustin, who rejuvenated his career as a Bull last year, serves as Jennings' replacement in the starting lineup. Look for the Pistons to win this game as Augustin has an All-Star type of performance against his former team.
Record: 1-1
Feb. 22-28
4 of 5
Key Matchup: Feb. 23 vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Despite losing rookie Jabari Parker for the remainder of the season (torn ACL), the Bucks still hold the Eastern Conference's sixth-best record.
Head coach Jason Kidd is doing an amazing job, getting his gang to play hard on the defensive end each and every night. Milwaukee allows only 97.2 points a game, which ranks seventh in the league.
The Bucks defense will shut down the Bulls offense during this matchup between two Central Division ball clubs. And, no, Gasol won't go for 46 and 18 like he did in his previous contest vs. Milwaukee on Jan. 10.
Other Games: Feb. 25 vs. Charlotte Hornets, Feb. 27 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Charlotte has been a disappointment so far. Adding free-agent Lance Stephenson during the offseason, the team was supposed to emerge as one of the East's top teams. Right now, the Hornets are just 19-27.
Leading-scorer Kemba Walker is currently sidelined with a knee injury, which is a serious blow to the Hornets' playoff chances.
Expect this Kemba-less Charlotte squad to get roughed up by the Bulls.
Two days later, the T-Wolves come to town for their lone United Center visit of the season. This game will feature two Rookie of the Year candidates in Minnesota's Andrew Wiggins and Chicago's Nikola Mirotic.
At 8-37, The Timberwolves own the league's worst record, even worse than the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks. Wiggins and Co. will fall to 0-2 vs. the Bulls this season.
Record: 2-1
February Recap
5 of 5
Final Record: 7-3
With the likes of Rose, Butler, Gasol and Joakim Noah on the roster, Chicago possesses the pieces to have a perfect 10-0 February. But we all know that's not going to happen. A record of 7-3 is more realistic.
This has been a pretty interesting season for the Bulls. You really never know what type of team you're going to see. They won in Golden State and then somehow lost to the lowly Los Angeles Lakers two nights later. Even if Kobe Bryant had played, it still would've been a horrible loss.
Over the years, Chicago has been recognized for its suffocating, gritty defense. We haven't witnessed that this year, which is extremely odd for a Tom Thibodeau-coached team.
If they can start to play defense and mix that with their much-improved offense, the Bulls can cruise through the month of February.
