Chicago Bulls: Game by Game Breakdown and Record Prediction

The Chicago Bulls are title contenders and full of talent. They play a schedule that should allow their depth to shine and could be one of the only teams to win 50 games in this shortened NBA season. I'm going to provide game-by-game predictions as well as the final record prediction on the year. 

Date/Opponent	Prediction	Analysis
December
25th @Lakers	W	No Andrew Bynum and an injured Kobe.
26th @Warriors	W	Defense will shut down Monta Ellis and Steph Curry as D. Rose goes off.
29th @Kings	W	The Kings are bad, and they have no one who can stop Rose.
30th @Clippers	L	The Bulls will come out flat, and Lob City will have too much energy.
January	W/L: 3-1	December W/L: 3-1
1st v. Grizzlies	W	Bulls are too good defensively, but it will be a good game.
3rd v. Hawks	W	The Hawks are on their downswing.
4th @Pistons	W	The Pistons are bad.
6th @Magic	L	Will D12 still be there? If so, I think the Magic beat a tired Bulls team.
7th @Hawks	W	Hawks are only an average team now.
9th v. Pistons	W	The Pistons are really bad.
10th @Minnesota	L	Sixth game in eight days and on the road.
11th v. Wizards	L	Seventh game in nine days, and they have to fly back from Minny.
13th @Celtics	W	Day of rest helps Bulls beat the Celtics.
14th v. Raptors	L	Trap game.
16th @Grizzlies	W	Another exciting game, but Bulls come back strong after Toronto loss.
17th v. Suns	W	The Suns are bad, and the Bulls are stellar at home.
20th @Cavaliers	W	The Cavaliers are really bad.
21st v. Bobcats	W	Bulls are hard to beat at home.
23rd v. Nets	W	They have no one besides D Will.
25th v. Pacers	L	The Pacers always give the Bulls fits, and you can't win 'em all at home.
27th v. Bucks	W	After a day off, they beat an average Bucks team.
29th @Heat	L	Wade and LeBron get the best of the Bulls in their first matchup.
30th @Wizards	W	Derrick Rose shows John Wall what's up.
February	W/L: 16-7	January W/L: 13-6
1st @76'ers	W
2nd @Knicks	L	Fourth game in five days, Knicks win in a shootout.
4th @Bucks	L	Bucks surprise Bulls
6th @Nets	W	Maybe the Nets will have D12. If not, Bulls win.
8th @Hornets	W	No CP3; this team is not good.
10th @Bobcats	W	Again, the Bobcats are not good at all.
12th @Celtics	L	The savvy vets of the Celtics get the win in this one.
14th v. Kings	W	Kings are still two years from contending.
16th v. Celtics	W	Bulls get revenge at home.
18th v. Nets	W	After a day off, Bulls take this one at home.
20th v. Hawks	W	Hawks don't have enough, and this streak of days off helps the Bulls
22nd v. Bucks	L	Bucks surprise the Bulls at home behind Brandon Jennings.
28th v. Hornets	W	Bulls are well rested after five days off.
29th @Spurs	W	Still well rested, Bulls beat the Spurs.
March	W/L: 26-11	February W/L: 10-4
2nd @Cavaliers	W	Bulls continue two-game win streak.
4th @76'ers	L	Trap game as the Bulls come out flat.
5th v. Pacers	W	Bulls play stifling defense and beat the Pacers.
7th @Bucks	W	Brandon Jennings can't stop D Rose.
8th v. Magic	W	Most likely no D12, and even with him Bulls come out and win at home.
10th v. Jazz	W	The Jazz are bad.
12th v. Knicks	L	Can't win 'em all, and Melo and Amar'e go off.
14th v. Heat	W	Derrick Rose and Co. get payback for last game.
16th v. Portland	W	Only real threat is LaMarcus Aldridge.
17th v.76'ers	W	Bulls get payback after losing early in month to the 76'ers.
19th @Magic	W	Bulls defense comes up big in a close game.
21st @Raptors	L	Again, the Raps surprise the Bulls.
24 v. Raptors	W	But the Bulls get revenge at home two days later.
26 v. Nuggets	W	Nuggets are an okay team, but Bulls shut them down on defense.
28 @Hawks	W	Bulls come out hot, and the Hawks can't stop Derrick Rose.
30 v. Pistons	W	Pistons are an exceptionally poor team.
April	W/L: 39-14	March W/L: 13-3
1st @Thunder	W	Bulls show their defensive might.
2nd v. Rockets	W	Rockets have no one to stop the Bulls.
5th v. Celtics	W	Bulls beat an old Celtics team that is going to be tired.
8th @Knicks	W	Bulls win on last second Rip Hamilton jumper.
10th v. Knicks	L	Knicks come back and beat the Bulls behind a big game from Melo.
12th v. Heat	W	Bulls play a great all-around game and win it late.
15th @Pistons	W	The Pistons let the Bulls run wild.
16th v. Wizards	W	John Wall plays well, but Derrick Rose plays better.
18th @Bobcats	W	Again, the Bobcats are very bad.
19th @Heat	L	Heat come out strong at home and play great defense.
21st v. Mavericks	W	Bulls stifle the Mavs on defense in a potential finals matchup.
25th @Pacers	W	Bulls are really in a groove in April and shut down the Pacers.
26th v. Cavaliers	W	They end the season on a high note and beat the lowly Cavaliers.
End of Season	W/L: 50-16	April W/L: 11-2

The Bulls play a great season behind the No. 1 defense. Derrick Rose is fresh after not having to rely on his scoring as much as he puts up 10 assists per game. They finish with a league best 50-16 record and go into the playoffs in stride.

It's going to be a fun and very quick season, and I anticipate a lot of happy days for Bulls fans.