NBA Playoffs: The Chicago Bulls Bench Makes Them Most Complete Team in East
The Chicago Bulls are closing in on clinching the NBA's Eastern Conference No. 1 seed for the first time since Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson were occupying the madhouse on Madison. The Bulls currently lead both the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat by three games with five to play.
The Bulls have been sizzling hot since the All-Star break compiling a 19-4 mark highlighted by two wins over Miami, a road win at Orlando and an eight-game winning streak.
The Bulls have clinched no worse than the three seed in the east and can lock up at least a two seed with a win over the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics tomorrow night in Chicago.
Heady NBA fans are well aware of Derrick Rose's MVP-style year to this point and even the casual sports observer is taking notice of the array of wicked drives and finishes at the hole that are highlighted each night on SportsCenter by D-Rose.
What doesn't make the top 10 plays each night and isn't being broadcast out to the masses is the Bulls' outstanding bench play.
The Bulls bench has, along with Rose, been the glue that has held this team together threw a slew of injuries this season. Now credit must also go to the Bulls' other starters; they aren't exactly slouches and they will be key as their minutes rise in the playoffs. That said, it is the bench that sets them apart from Boston and Miami and will help to propel the Bulls to the NBA Finals for the first time since the Jordan era ended.
The Bulls starters have put together very solid seasons as a group. Obviously Rose has led the way averaging nearly 25 points, four rebounds, eight assists and one steal per game to go along with first-year Bull Carlos Boozer's 18 points and nine rebounds per night, Mr. Energy Joakim Noah's 12 points, 11 boards, two assists, one steal and one plus blocks per game and the former Duke standout Luol Deng's 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and one steal per game.
The Bulls' other starter, Keith Bogans, is a gritty eight-year NBA veteran and although not posting big numbers, has quietly played solid floor games and brings excellent work ethic and leadership to this relatively young team.
The other top teams in the East may have their big three but the Bulls have a big four plus a great bench.
The Bulls bench consists of six main contributors. Those six are Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson, Ronnie Brewer, CJ Watson, Omer Asik and the ageless wonder Kurt Thomas. This group is collectively averaging 34 points, 22 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and over three and a half blocks per game.
Along with these impressive numbers, the Bulls bench consistently brings high energy, strong defensive pressure and consistent offensive execution to the floor each night. The Bulls routinely see leads maintained and even expanded while the big four are grabbing water and a breather on the bench.
This bench play is, in my opinion, why the Bulls are currently leading the Eastern Conference and will, regardless of seed, be a very tough out in a seven-game series. Having the ability to bring six well-rounded, team oriented, consistent players off the bench to play key minutes in a potential seven-game series will allow the Bulls starters to be that much more rested and effective as the playoffs unfold.
The Bulls have been able to overcome significant amounts of missed playing time from two of their big four, with Noah missing 34 games this season and Boozer missing 23. But because of the Derrick Rose's MVP season and the strong support of an outstanding bench, the Bulls have positioned themselves for a No. 1 seed in the East.
Kudos also need to go to first-year head coach Tom Thibodeau, GM Gar Forman, and VP John Paxson for putting together this group and demanding excellence from them each night. With the MVP, everyone healthy and the bench performing the way they have, the Bulls will be nearly impossible to beat four times in seven games come playoff time.
