3 Things to Expect from the Chicago Bulls This Season

Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls came out of nowhere last year.

It was expected that the team would improve with the acquisition of a complementary low-post player in Carlos Boozer and basketball guru in the making Tom Thidodeau, but the 21-win improvement on their way to the best record in the NBA was not on anyone’s radar.

After a loss in five games to the Miami Heat in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls were deemed to be one shooting guard away from having a championship-caliber team.

The offseason signing of Rip Hamilton filled that shooting guard void and now the Bulls have one of the deepest, most complete rosters in the league.

Flying under the radar, coming out of nowhere is not an option for this team anymore.

The Bulls have been vaulted from perpetual No. 8 seed to ever-present title contenders.

With Christmas presents coming in the form of an NBA television marathon of season tip-off games, here is what the basketball world can expect from the 2011-2012 Chicago Bulls.

1) Expect a Much Improved Offense

The emphasis here is on offensive efficiency.

There’s no need to mention the absence of offensive production at the shooting guard position last season. Keith Bogans is to whom plays went to die.

Now the Bulls have veteran Rip Hamilton, who brings a lot more than consistent scoring. Rip has a championship background and experience with being successful as a team player during the days of the Detroit Pistons renaissance.

Hamilton is a shooting guard who knows what to do within an offense and how to improvise when things go awry. Rip can run off screens to get open, hit the open shot and make the smart passes.

With Hamilton’s addition, Rose can be more of a facilitator this season, and that is bad news for opposing defenses.

Rose can already break down defenders and get to the rim at will; adding an enhanced facilitator role to the mix makes for a very difficult defensive task.

No more can defenses zero in on the Bulls’ primary handler because he will simply be a means to an end.

If you add all of the above factors along with Deng’s improved ball-handling and the passing of Noah and Boozer, you have a pretty potent offensive attack that will be very hard to contain.

2) Expect Tougher Defense

Chicago Bulls fans will have Carlos Boozer to thank for what will be an even better halfcourt defense.

Boozer was the Bogans equivalent when the Bulls were guarding the ball. Now, Boozer is 20 pounds lighter and that will translate into more production—especially defensive production.

Allow me to clarify here: I am not saying that Boozer will be a sudden defensive monster. What I am saying is that with Boozer being lighter on his feet, his footwork and lateral movement will be better. Boozer will do a better job this year of staying in front of his man and rotating for help when needed. He will no longer be a step too slow or just out of position.

As his defensive contributions improve, so will Chicago’s team defense.

Also, let’s not forget a fully healed Joakim Noah and Omer Asik.

Noah is great rebounder and is constantly improving his one-on-one defense.

Even with limited minutes last season, it was apparent that Asik had the potential to be very formidable defensive presence. There is no reason not to expect Omer to see more floor time and improve upon last season’s contributions.

Chicago’s frontcourt will be a force this season, anchoring what is bound to be the toughest defense in the league.

3) Expect Championship No. 7 This Season

Another clarification is in order here: This is not a bold predictions article.

Predictions of the bold kind are guessed outcomes that are considered highly unlikely to happen unless some remote string of coincidences transpire.

The Chicago Bulls winning a championship is not a highly unlikely outcome. It is now and will be for years to come an expectation.

Let’s be honest, Chicago was merely outlasted by Miami in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals.

With the exception of Bogans and Thomas, the entire Chicago team is returning this season. Even though there has been a lot said about the potentially improved chemistry between Wade, James and Bosh, it pales in comparison to the improved chemistry of an entire roster.

Miami is still lacking a legitimate middle man and still has a mere seven-man (at best) rotation. The Heat will delight and wow crowds during the regular season, but when they face cohesive, complete teams, they will fall.

Their big three will play much better together, but they cannot play all 48 minutes and their new guys have to get used to how to play with them.

Yes, the NBA is a superstar’s league, but name a superstar who has won a championship by himself.

Name three superstars who have colluded to win a championship on one team but came up short.

Teams win championships. Ask the Mavericks, the Lakers, the Celtics or any franchise from any NBA era that won a title.

Chicago has the right management, the right coach, the right players and, most importantly, the right attitude. No one on the Bulls feels that they are entitled to winning it all, but everyone is confident that they are capable of winning it all.

Look for this team to hit its stride early in the season and ride its selfless, focused and unified style of play to the pinnacle achievement of the NBA.

In Closing

Chicago fans of a certain age remember a time where the Bulls were on the cusp of winning it all.

It seemed like every year, the Bulls would face the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs, and every year the Detroit Pistons would send Michael and company back home.

Bulls fans are getting that on-the-edge feeling again.

They sat on the edge of their seats last year remembering the history of the franchise. Remembering that they always won a championship when they finished with the league’s best record. Remembering how well things turned out the last time they had an All-Star, MVP guard leading the way.

With the way things are looking now, Chicago Bulls fans won’t be carrying this uneasy feeling for much longer.

Expect great things to start happening soon.