NBA Predictions 2011: 7 Bold Predictions for the Chicago Bulls in 2011-12

Every season, for as long as I have been blogging, I have made a bold predictions piece for the Chicago Bulls.

They are always fun pieces to do because you can look back at the end of the year and either look very smart or very stupid.

Some of my predictions have been great, like two seasons ago when I predicted Tyrus Thomas was going to lose his starting job to Taj Gibson. However, that same season I also said Gibson would have more games where he fouled out than reached double-digits in rebounds.

You win some and you lose some.

This season I think I came up with some very good ones, and chances are also good they may all come true.

Trust me: If they do, all of Chicago will be very happy, so let's get to it.

Boozer Returns to Form

Carlos Boozer is going to make people forget about his poor playoff performance.

Boozer reported to camp 20 pounds lighter and is healthy for the start of the season, which can only mean good things.

I think we are going to see the player he was during his final season in Utah, averaging nearly 20 points and 11 rebounds a night.

If you need proof, just look at how well he performed during the preseason finale with Rip Hamilton in the lineup. Derrick Rose might be the MVP, but Boozer might lead the team in scoring this season.

Lead the League in Rebounds

Remember how good Joakim Noah was two seasons ago before the injury bug bit him?

He ended the season averaging 11 rebounds a game, but it was much higher before he was limited.

With the addition of Hamilton and a healthy Boozer, Noah is going to be able to focus more on rebounding and defense.

Also, a shortened season might help Noah since he hasn't been able to an average of 56 games over the past two seasons.

Noah's average last season was good enough to be top five in rebounding, and now he might finally be healthy.

I predict that Noah will beat out Dwight Howard and Kevin Love to win the rebounding title, and if he does, maybe he'll add the defensive player of the year to his resume as well.

Multiple All-Stars

We know Derrick Rose will be at the All-Star game in Orlando, but I don't think he will be alone.

And no, I am not talking about Jimmy Butler and Omer Asik being part of the Rookie vs. Sophomore game.

I've already made big predictions for Boozer and Noah, and if both weren't hurt last season, either could have made it. However, don't forget Luol Deng.

While the fans pick starters, players and coaches pick the reserves, and Deng's steady play is bound to get noticed.

All three will have a very hard time getting there with players ahead of them.

Deng has LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony plus Paul Pierce.

Boozer might have the best shot with only Chris Bosh and Amar'e Stoudemire to compete with.

Noah might have the hardest time because traditionally, they don't always bring a backup center. However, if Dwight Howard were to be traded out West, you have to like Noah's chances.

I predict that the Bulls will have multiple All-Star members this season.

50 Wins

The Bulls last season won 62 games. They lost 20.

This season they only have to play 66 games—with the addition of Rip Hamilton and with Boozer and Noah healthy, the sky is the limit.

If they went 50-16 this season, they would finish with the same winning percentage as last season.

I predicted on my podcast that they would win 52 games this season. Maybe it is a stretch with a very tough schedule, but this team had improved.

The addition of Hamilton completes the starting five, allowing the "Bench Mob" to stay intact. They are extremely young and are built to deal with this schedule of several games in as many nights.

They might not reach my prediction of 52, but they will reach the 50-game mark.

If this was a full season, they may have even made a run at the record of 72-10.

Rose to Average 10 Assists

All you have to do is look at what Derrick Rose did in the preseason to realize this isn't even a reach. In the preseason finale, he got nine assists in only 28 minutes—imagine what he will do when the games count.

His rookie season he averaged 6.3 assists, and last season he raised that to 7.7. Now what can he do with a healthy team and a competent shooting guard?

The mark of 10 assists a game has always been a special mark for point guards. Last season only Steve Nash, Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo were able to do it. Chris Paul was just under it with 9.8 per game.

If Rose wants to end the conversation on who the best point guard in the league is, then averaging 10 assists a game is something he needs to do.

The only way I don't see this happening is if he loses assists by teammates making the extra pass.

Repeat MVP

If Derrick Rose can average 10 assists, then he will win the MVP a completely different way than he did last season.

Last season, Rose proved just how valuable he was by leading his team in every way possible. Not only did he lead the team in assists, but he also led them with 25 points a game.

Now, with a healthy squad and a decent shooting guard at his side, he won't need to score as much which will allow him to focus on dishing the ball and cutting down his turnovers.

If he can do both those things and keep his average above 20 points, there is no doubt in my mind that he can win back-to-back MVPs just like Steve Nash did.

Also, if the Bulls finish with over 50 wins and have the best record again, it will only help his case.

NBA Championship

The Bulls were so close last season.

They had the best record in the league, and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

All they were missing was someone to help the offense when teams were able to contain Derrick Rose.

Now, Rip Hamilton isn't the player he used to be, but he still has plenty left in the tank.

Getting out of the Eastern conference will be very difficult with the Heat, Celtics and Knicks also contending for the title. Out West it is a little more of a mess with the Mavericks not bringing back many key players, and the Lakers banged up and in shambles. Are the new-look Clippers or Thunder ready to make that next step?

I firmly believe, with the addition of Rip Hamilton, that the Bulls have the best starting five in the league. While the bench may not have that one, great, sixth man-type player, they are very deep.

Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Watson, Omer Asik, Taj Gibson and Kyle Korver all could be starters in this league, and the addition of rookie Jimmy Butler might just be the key to making them even better.

The biggest obstacle in their way is health—but if this team is healthy, I don't see how anyone is beating them in a seven-game series.

So let's start getting Grant Park ready, because the Bulls are going to be celebrating at the end of June.