NBA: Chicago Bulls Need Second Unit To Make Impact on Annual Circus Trip

Since Michael Jordan retired in 1998, the Chicago Bulls have not fared very well on their annual Circus Road Trip. Most of the time they just haven't been a very good team in general. Combine that with the fact that they play a lot of the Western Conference's best teams, and it is not very curious to know why they have not done well. 

With Carlos Boozer still out until the end of the month, the Bulls' second unit will have to step up for the road trip to be a success. 

The bench has not played particularly well as a whole, but they have had some strong performances in spurts from certain players. The bench will be counted on to make an impact on this trip because of the scheduling of it.

The Bulls begin the trip with a back-to-back against the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. After a day off, they play in Dallas and following that, they play four games in five nights to finish the trip. 

With six of the seven games being played on back-to-back nights and against quality teams, the bench will have to step up.

The players who need to step up in particular are C.J. Watson and Omer Asik.

With Derrick Rose playing at such a high level, Watson does not get a lot of minutes, but he will be counted on on this trip. In order to keep Rose fresh for the entire trip, coach Tom Thibodeau will need to monitor his minutes. It will help tremendously if Watson can provide sound decision making when Rose is on the bench. 

Watson has struggled running the offense so far this season and must improve on getting others involved before looking for his own shot. He is capable of making shots when he is open, but he is not the team's first or second option on offense when he is on the floor.

Asik will be asked to come in and allow Joakim Noah not to play as many minutes. The Bulls have only played one set of back-to-back games this season, but will play three sets on this trip. This will significantly test whether or not Noah is fully healed from foot problems that plagued him much of the second part of last season.

They key to the road trip, as well as the rest of the season, will be the continued impressive play of Luol Deng. He has played extremely well so far and has provided a much needed second scoring threat to Rose. If Deng can continue to space the floor, it should continue to open up driving lanes for Rose and easy baskets for Noah and Taj Gibson.

The Bulls have a very good chance to put together a very nice road trip. With Boozer likely returning after the completion of the Circus trip, a solid showing over the next two weeks will go a long way in the Bulls' continued strides towards elite status in the Eastern Conference.