Running of The Bulls: Why The Chicago Bulls Are Set For a Playoff Push
The city of Chicago has not been this excited for basketball since Michael Jordan retired. The Chicago Bulls are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference and went into the All-Star break hot, winning their last four and eight of their last ten.
The Bulls are currently 38-16 and have a perfect 11-0 divisional record. Let's not forget, Carlos Boozer has only played 36 games and Joakim Noah has only played 24. The Bulls and their fans have rarely seen the two play together this season, but Noah is due to return this week, possibly on Thursday night against the Miami Heat.
The Bulls have been playing great basketball this season and there are quite a few reasons why they can make a serious playoff push.
Defense
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The Bulls are currently the second-best defensive team in the league, allowing only 92.41 ppg, second only to the Boston Celtics. They are also second in opponent's field goal percentage with 42.9 percent and second in opponent's three-point percentage at 33.1 percent.
It is not surprising that the Bulls are this good defensively. After all, their head coach, Tom Thibodeau, was the mastermind behind the Celtics great defense the past three seasons. Thibodeau has his players putting out a lot of effort night-in and night-out.
Bench
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The Bulls have a very solid bench. They are a team with a lot more depth than people think, especially once Noah comes back and is reinstated as the starting center.
To back-up Derrick Rose, C.J. Watson has given the Bulls solid minutes. It's hard for him to receive a lot of credit because of how great Rose has been paying all season—his numbers aren't mind blowing, but he knows how to run the offense and has been solid from beyond the three-point line.
Kyle Korver is a good three-point shooter, as he always has been and he's giving the Bulls exactly that. Korver has been excellent beyond-the-arc, shooting 42.2 percent this season.
Ronnie Brewer was a good addition to the roster. He attacks the basket, but most importantly plays very good defense. He can defend on the perimeter and get out in transition.
Perhaps the most important bench player for the Bulls has been Taj Gibson, the second-year man out of USC. Gibson is averaging 7.3 ppg and 5.8 rpg this season.
He has been a very flexible player for them, coming in to play the forward position and at times center, to fill in for the missing Noah. My favorite stat of his is that he is a +10.58 this season.
Young Talent
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The Bulls have a good mix of young and veteran players in the league: seven of their players have less than four year's experience going into this season.
The rest of the roster is not very old. Kurt Thomas is in his 16th season, but after him, their most experienced player is Brian Scalabrine, playing in his 10th season.
What is most impressive about their young talent is how crucial they are to the team's success. Rookie Omer Asik has done a nice job filling in when needed as a center. Youngsters Derrick Rose and C.J. Watson have been extremely effective running the offense as the point guards.
As stated earlier, Taj Gibson has been a very important role player for the Bulls in only his second season. Gibson earned his minutes with impressive skill and hustle and will continue to be an important piece of the rotation once Noah returns.
Joakim Noah, in only his fourth season, was averaging 14 points and 11.7 rebounds before his injury. What the Bulls love the most about Noah is his emotional and defensive leadership.
The Paint
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When Joakim Noah returns this week, Chicago will be a very talented team in the paint. The combination of Noah and Boozer is arguably the best front-court duo in the NBA.
Noah and Boozer are both double-digit rebounders and can finish around the rim. Noah brings a defensive intensity rivaled by few at the center position.
Chicago is currently the second-best rebounding team in the NBA behind the Minnesota Timberwolves. As a team, the Bulls are grabbing 44.04 rpg, out-rebounding their opponents by 4.63 rpg.
Kurt Thomas, Taj Gibson and Omer Asik can all add productive minutes off the bench for the Bulls, providing defense and rebounding.
Let's also not forget, the Bulls can score in the paint. Between Boozer and Noah, they can both score on the block and off of offensive rebounds, but they aren't the only players who can score there. Derrick Rose loves to attack and is much more effective the closer he gets the the basket. Luol Deng can also drive and finish around the rim.
Derrick Rose
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Derrick Rose has been playing great this season. Rose has been the best player on the team and arguably the mid-season MVP.
Rose was given a lot of responsibility this season. With Boozer and Noah both missing games, Rose has stepped up and led his team to the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Rose has quickly become a superstar in this league. In Los Angeles, he made his second All-Star game appearance, first as a starter.
Rose, who has my vote for MVP, is averaging 24.9 points, 4.4 rebound, and 8.2 assists this season. In his third season, Rose has career-highs in points, free-throw percentage, three-point percentage, assists, rebounds and minutes.
Rose has brought the term "superstar" back to Chicago. Not to compare the two, but fans of the Bulls haven't been this excited about their best player since Jordan left. Once again, the Bulls have a chance to make their way to the NBA Finals.
