Chicago Bulls 2011-2012: 5 Reasons the NBA Lockout Will Be Good for the Bulls

What can be said about the Chicago Bulls in 2010-2011? They had a great season and an amazing playoff run. But did anyone really expect them to win the NBA Championship, even with all their regular season success?

They had one of, if not the best defensive team overall in the entire league. Not to mention Derrick Rose—who emerged as arguably the best point guard in the NBA.

But unfortunately for Bulls fans, it just wasn't enough.

Now loyal fans of the Chicago Bulls have to deal with this dreadful NBA lockout. No more commentators yelling "Derrick Rose with his signature reverse double-pump," or "Kyle Korver with the long range bomb: That's what he's there for."

Worldwide fans are stuck watching YouTube clips of last season's highlights of comeback wins over teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, or great playoff performances like Game 1 against the Miami Heat. Not to mention that unforgettable dunk Taj Gibson had over Dwayne Wade.

But is this lockout really the worst thing that can happen to the Chicago Bulls?

People can argue all day whether or not the Chicago Bulls are the best team in the NBA—they aren't. But maybe this lockout can possibly get them a few steps closer to being the No. 1 team in the NBA.

Here are five reasons why the 2011-2012 lockout will be good for the Chicago Bulls.

Derrick Rose Can Finally Rest

Can you blame the guy for bending over on his knees? He carried an offense-less team for an entire NBA season, not to mention the pressure and all he had to do in the playoffs. This young man played with a target on his back every night and showed up for every game.

With the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) and NBA team owners not seeing eye to eye, he can finally get a chance to rest and recuperate. Yes, he's an exceptional and gifted athletic specimen that was probably born on a full moon, but even Michael Jordan needed a rest every now and then.

With the time off he's been overseas promoting his latest shoes, and he even played a pick-up game with fans in his home city of Chicago. 

He hasn't been streetballing like other players—Brandon Jennings or Kevin Durant—he's been staying mellow. After all, he is the MVP and he can pretty much do what he wants until another player wins the award—if and when that happens. 

If the NBA does decide to have a season, it doesn't look like much will change. There have been no offseason acquisitions at shooting guard or just another solid scorer overall other than himself.

It looks like Derrick Rose will need all the rest he can get.

Carlos Boozer Can Learn How To Play Basketball

In case anyone didn't know, yes Carlos Boozer Does play for the Chicago Bulls. Looking at his performance last season, though, no one could really tell.

Boozer joined the Bulls with a sign-and-trade deal from his former team, the Utah Jazz, in the summer of 2010.

Everyone in the United States of America thought it was a great deal, right? Now people aren't so sure.

Remember the Carlos Boozer from the Utah Jazz that would make NBA All-Star teams and that would average 20 points and 10 rebounds? That's what the Chicago Bulls were expecting. But instead they got an okay 17 points and nine rebounds per game—when he decided he wasn't too hurt to play.

Sure, that's solid when you're an average power forward, but Boozer isn't an average power forward.

People and players alike have seen him when he's at the top of his game. When he signed for over $70 million, people are looking for him to perform.

Imagine if he performed to the best of his abilities along with Derrick Rose having a stellar season.

It wouldn't have been surprising to see Taj Gibson starting a few games late in the season, or even in the playoffs, based on his performance. He hustled, grabbed rebounds and even brought the crowd to their feet on a few occasions—everything Carlos Boozer used to do. 

Boozer already has a knockdown jump shot at mid-range, he's extremely strong and has underrated athleticism. This lockout will give him a chance to get in great shape and show why the Bulls spent all that money on him.

He has a lot to prove this upcoming season, and hopefully this doesn't turn out like a Rashard Lewis- Orlando Magic situation.

Outside Shooting

The Chicago Bulls in the 2010-2011 season kind of did what the Cleveland Cavaliers did from 2008- 2010—before "The Decision." They surrounded their superstar player with shooters. The only thing the Bulls were missing were "shooters."

Kyle Korver was always consistent and on point when coming off a curl, or if the ball was kicked out to him after a drive. Most likely, that basket was counted before he released the ball (even though he could do nothing else). The trouble here is with Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer.

Surely people think "Ronnie Brewer's a shooter?" Not necessarily. 

With this lockout, Brewer can take time to work on his jump shot—he already has all the other tools. He's not going to emerge as a knockdown three-point threat overnight, but as long as he can consistently hit the mid-range jumper and knock a three down when left open, then Chicago folks may have struck gold.

Keith Bogans job shouldn't be that hard: He needs to play defense and make threes. He needs to contain the man he's guarding, and when the ball is kicked to him off of a swing or a kick-out, just make sure he makes the other team pay.

Bogans isn't the greatest shooter in the NBA, but he isn't the worst either.

The Bulls are telling a genuine scorer to turn into a three-point shooter. That might not be the hardest thing to do for Keith Bogans.

If he gets on the shooting machine two to three hours per day during the lockout, and just focuses on shooting the ball, he will be making more shots than just corner threes.

If Shooters step up and stand out, other NBA teams may be in trouble.

Joakim Noah

Ever imagine Dennis Rodman, taller without the cross-dressing crazy thing? Well this is him, Joakim Noah.

Noah is passionate, plays hard and has everything you want in a big man. He can block shots, he grabs everything off the rim and can run with the best of them. He may even push the fastbreak every blue moon, even though there is no telling what the outcome is going to be.

Imagine if Joakim Noah had an offensive game where he doesn't just score with tip-ins and put-backs, but actually becomes an option.

With this lockout Noah can get a chance to work with the greats like Olajuwon and Ewing underneath to get a nice post-up game. Of course it won't happen overnight, but any progress is better than no progress.

He's going to get eight to 11 points alone off put-backs and passes, what if he adds four more points to that off of post-up opportunities?

Not only can he do that but maybe he can drink more milk and sit in a hyperbaric chamber. He's missed over 45 games in the past two seasons. If the Bulls want a ring, they're going to need Noah to be as healthy as possible.

A Shorter Season

One of the main reasons a lockout will do the Chicago Bulls some good is the fact that the NBA season is shorter.

The Bulls are young—nine of the players on the team are under 30. What does that mean?

Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson never have to come out of the game, and should be able to run all day long against other teams. They're young and athletic, and with this combination a 60-game season can only be a positive, especially if everyone comes back in the right mindset and in shape.

A 60-game season should be a dream come true for this team.