NBA Week One Review: Led by Rose, Chicago Passes the Eye Test

After one week has already come and gone in the 2008-09 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls have looked like a playoff caliber squad. 

Led by rookie point guard Derrick Rose and the sharp shooting Kirk Hinrich, and Ben Gordon, the Bulls are off to a quick 2-1 start, only losing to the defending champion Boston Celtics on the road.  Rose had 26 points in a 10 point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, and became the first Bulls rookie since His Airness to reach that plateau in the first three games.

Chicago is shooting a dismal 38 percent from the field, however, which ranks them 29th in the NBA.  They are one of the league's best from beyond the arc though, ranking seventh in that particular category. 

Chicago faces the Magic tonight in Orlando, where they will be faced with one of their tougher opponents yet.  In order to beat the sharp shooting Magic, the Bulls will have to find their shooting groove as well.  Tyrus Thomas has been ice cold since a stellar game against the Bucks, going 2-for-22 in his last two games.

One area where Chicago has really been impressive is rebounding the ball.  They currently rank sixth in the NBA in rebounds, and most notably on the offensive side of the ball, where they have the third most offensive rebounds per game in the Eastern Conference. 

I'll check back in next Monday for a recap of the Bulls' upcoming week.

Monday

@Orlando (6 P.M. CT)

Wednesday

@Cleveland (7 P.M. CT on ESPN)

Friday

Phoenix (7:30 P.M. CT)

Saturday

Cleveland (7:30 P.M. CT)