Chicago Bulls: 6 Reasons They Will Be the Favorites out of the East Next Season

Derrick Rose recently said that there's not a doubt in his mind that he's going to win multiple championships.

At just 22 years old (23 in October), he certainly has more than enough time to make his lofty goal of several championship rings a reality.

Despite the success that he and the Bulls enjoyed last season in the first campaign under Tom Thibodeau, the first-place finish in the regular season doesn't win a thing.

However, it could be an awfully different postseason result for the Bulls next year.

6. Second Season Playing Together

The Bulls had a lot of moving pieces on the roster prior to last season getting underway, as the team saw several new additions.

Carlos Boozer may have been the most notable name to join the squad, but Omer Asik, Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson and even Jannero Pargo weren't with the team prior to the 2010-11 campaign.

With a renewed familiarity with teammates and an understanding of how one another plays, the Bulls can definitely take a major step forward in the team's desire to ascend to the forefront of the Eastern Conference.

5. Looking to Build off of Previous Success

Although LeBron James did a great job of bottling up Derrick Rose when the two met in the playoffs last season, that likely won't serve as any sort of deterrent for the the point guard or his team.

Chicago enjoyed a 62-20 regular-season record (best in the NBA), and the Bulls looked every bit like the real deal before the team was eventually tripped up by Miami.

Now that they've enjoyed a taste of success in both the first 82 and briefly in the playoffs, the only thing that will serve to satisfy is advancing even further and finding increased success.

The team is familiar with what it will take to reach its ultimate goal, and it's unlikely that any member of the roster will settle for something less than the collective goal.

4. Chicago Has Had Success Against Miami

While the Bulls fell to the Heat in just five games of the Eastern Conference Finals, Chicago actually did find some success over Miami last season.

Thiobdeau's team took home a victory in three regular-season games over Spoelstra's boys, and even fanned the flames of the Heat in the first game of the EC Finals with a 103-82 victory in convincing fashion.

Derrick Rose and his teammates have shown that they can hang with Miami's "big three," and now it's just a matter of coming out on top when it matters most in the postseason.

There's no question that the talent is there to do so.

3. Key Injuries Held Chicago Bulls Back in 2010-11

The Bulls were victimized by some key injuries to critical cogs at various points of the season, and it really threw the water on the team's quest to emerge from the Eastern Conference.

Carlos Boozer played in just 59 regular season games, and then his contributions were really limited in the postseason after he sustained a turf toe injury that clearly hampered his play.

Joakim Noah was also bit by the injury bug, as he was able to participate in just 48 regular-season games and likely didn't receive the polish on his game that he might've liked prior to the postseason getting underway.

With increased time on the court with one another, and a clean bill of health for each big man, Chicago should be able to have a more effective game beneath the basket, and that would be a huge asset for Derrick Rose's attack from the perimeter.

2. Derrick Rose Takes Another Step Forward

Rose made significant strides in his overall approach last season, and despite being the youngest player to take home the regular-season MVP award, there remains room for improvement.

The improvement in Rose's game from the perimeter was clearly on display, but down the stretch of the season, it looked as if he may have fallen in love with his new-found stroke from deep a little too much.

A more delicate combination of his jumper and an ability to slash through the lane at will in an effort to attack the basket would make Rose a much more dangerous player, and it's going to be really exciting to see what he's got in store for fans as he continues to evolve into an elite point guard and legitimate superstar.

1. Free-Agent Addition(s) and/or Potential Trades

The Bulls were rumored to be in the market for a shooting guard at last season's trade deadline, and O.J. Mayo was floated as a distinct possibility.

Chicago went as far as to make overtures to Memphis in an effort to attain the demoted shooting guard, and it's fairly clear that the Bulls recognize that the team must improve at the position if the club is going to reach its ultimate goal.

An inability to stretch the floor (and specifically, a very weak perimeter attack) really burned Chicago late last season and led to the team's ultimate defeat at the hands of Miami, so I'm feeling strongly that the club will look to bring in a legitimate starter to fill that void.

It's not necessarily going to be Mayo joining Rose in the backcourt, but the team would be wise to target a player in exactly his mold in an effort to create what could be the most explosive backcourt in all of basketball.