What are your expectations for the Bulls?

[Rerisen]

Few things people are missing looking at the Bulls. While the talk is of how washed up Wade and Rondo is, got to remember, Rose was statistically one of the worst PGs in the league last year impact wise, while Rondo was about average.

Wade is effectively replacing a Tony Snell level starter. Dunleavy missed most of the season and when he did play, was a shell of himself.

Noah also missed the majority of the season, so Lopez will be an upgrade.

It's actually the first year in like 5 seasons, going back to before Keith Bogans, the Bulls won't have a real big hole in the starting lineup on the wing.

Hoiberg would also expect to get a little better as a 2nd year coach.

So unless the Bulls have 200+ missed games to injury again, there is no reason they shouldn't have a better record and make the playoffs, with the upside ceiling actually being in the upper half of the seeding.

I'd also expect a few wins to be found just in better chemistry and less locker room drama. While the fit on the floor is troublesome without much shooting, its not like Rose and Butler ever worked well either. And in this case, Butler actually recruited Rondo, and both of them then recruited Wade. So these 3 guys DID choose to play together, and thus have a responsibility to try and make it work, even if their skills are conflicting, whereas last year the stars were not trying to make it work, and were at odds (Noah and Butler didn't get along either).

[Rowland Garrett]

At best 42-40 8th seed. Most likely 38-44 Lottery.

[Boardwalker]

Barring another round of a cataclysmic amount of injuries like they had last year, I expect them to challenge for a 2-5 spot.

All these forum experts not liking "the fit" of Rondo-Wade-Butler really make me laugh, as these veterans know how to play and will figure it out. These aren't rookies who don't yet know how to play with others in the NBA--and both Wade or Butler are quite capable of taking over a game down the stretch. It's going to be fun to watch.

[jerep_path]

I see them fighting for the 8th seed. Honestly their backcourt is a mess. Nothing just fits.

[jc23]

Summer league champs!

[zimpy27]

Top 4 if healthy.

Underestimated team on here because of lack of 3s. They can play 5 two-way players at once if they wish. People forget about defense and depth for regular season, this team may get 50 wins.

[2ndOrder]

38-44 lottery bound... I dont see how they can all mesh together. All need the ball... Especially butler. No big men can score really. No three pointers. Idk how they'll be able to score enough to win games

[HomoSapien]

The Bulls are a pretty deep team. Here's how their depth chart currently projects:

C.Lopez/Gibson/Felicio
PF.Mirotic/Portis
SF.Butler/McDermott/Zipser
SG.Wade/Valentine/Snell
PG.Rondo/Canaan/Grant/Dinwiddie

As you can see, this is a very deep team. There are some spacing issues here in the starting lineup, but we have quite a few shooters off the bench. I think we'll combat the issues in the starting lineup by staggering our lineups. Wade will get subbed out early for McDermott, and then will come back with the bench unit surrounded by shooters like McDermott, Canaan, and even Portis. I think it'll work, and this is clearly a playoff team to me.

[bobsquad]

9th to 13th seed. Maybe one of the lower playoff seed in previous years, but the East is looking deeper (read: less top-heavy) than the West as far as teams that could make the playoffs. I don't think Chicago is one of those teams.

On paper, you could make a case that the Bulls improved at every position. I like the Robin Lopez addition. Rondo still posts great stat lines and Wade can still put a team's offense on his back.

But it could be a "downgrade by upgrade". Rondo's poor play in Dallas was overstated after the playoffs fallout. Still, after the Rondo trade, Monta drove to the basket less and took way more long jump shots. Not being a shooter, Monta's value to the offense dropped. Parsons became more of a guy who would hit open jumpers than a player exploiting mismatches to score. Parsons's value to the offense dropped. Even Tyson Chandler was contributing more on offense pre-Rondo, as the spacing was allowing for more lobs.

This offense isn't going to work. Wade and Butler aren't going to be playing to their strengths and I don't see Chicago putting up enough points night after night to win more than 41 games.

[KrisPol]

What's their lineup gonna be like?

Rondo
Wade
Butler
Mirotic starts? Gibson?Portis?
Rolo

I mean, i like that team, has a bit of old school in it, i just hope Wade and Rondo take it with a chip on their shoulder and really try to make something out of this team. If Rondo comes back close to his boston defense level and Wade works hard i could see them making playoff and be a potential surprise out there. I am not sure what's Butler's role gonna look like, he was supposed to get more ball and freedom with Rose leaving but now he'll probably have it even less. I think we're gonna see Portis develop, i hope Valentine can be their second unit creator, i really like his game and i think they'll be a interesting team.

[jbk1234]

Felicio and Porter are going to have to make giant strides for them to get to .500 IMO.

[Dez]

There was a Bulls fan that said 2nd seed, ECF. Where'd his post go?


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Aren't you the dude that was telling everybody that Durant to Miami was a done deal and crapped on about the media?

[miman15]

A team with Butler and Wade will be dangerous in the playoffs...

[AJ37]

As most have said, the spacing and lack of shooting is likely going to be an issue for them, especially early on. The backcourt has no chemistry and isn't necessarily a good fit either. With that said, they're going to be competitive and they're going to win some games defensively.

I'm interested to see who dominates most of the ball. If wade brings the ball up, what does Rondo do? He can't stand in the corner and spot up for an open look and he's not a guy who can roll off a screen and go to the basket either. Similarly, would Wade want to play off ball? It was understandable when he played off ball for a guy called LeBron James, but this is Rajon Rondo we're talking about..

prediction: 6th seed.

[GOAT is MJ23]

How is their lack of spacing any different than prior years when they were the #1 seed or a 50-win+ team?

2011 Bulls
Rose/Bogans/Deng/Boozer/Noah
Who is their floor spacer there? Bogans was garbage, Rose still couldnt shoot, and Deng was decent from 3

2015 Bulls
Rose/Butler/Dunleavy/Gasol/Noah
So just Dunleavy, but we will have Mirotic in the line up this year.

I think people are underestimating this team - We have 3 legit playmakers in the starting line up and will stagger lineups to incorporate shooting. Im excited to watch Butler and Lebron battle it out, while Wade gets to have his way with JR Smith or Kyrie.

2nd seed, ECF.

[GimmeDat]

Talent wise, I think we're talking about a 2nd/3rd tier team, but obviously the fit is less than ideal so that hurts us.

I think ceiling is 2nd seed, floor is .500. Likely a mid playoff team that breaks up after a year or two.

[cochiseuofm]

If they stay healthy I think they'll finish 6th to 8th seed in playoffs. I don't think they're better than Cavs, Pacers, or Pistons on paper so hard for me to put them higher than that when I think they're the fourth-best team in the Central division. I could easily see them starting out struggling, firing Hoiberg and / or trading Butler, and missing the playoffs as well.

[Ugly0598]

I like the veteran presence but that floor spacing is terrible if your running a Rondo, Wade, Butler, Mirotic, Lopez lineup. Better off starting Gibson at C.

6 or 7 seed as long as Wade can play around 70 games. I could see them actually beating a team like the Raptors or Pacers in a series though. This team would have been a lot better with Thibs defensive coaching style.

[tribulations]

I don't get the poor fit argument, we're in an era where positionless basketball is becoming more and more prominent.

Assuming good health I see them making the bottom half of the East playoff bracket. The Central div will be a dogfight though. I could see them finishing anywhere between 2nd and 5th just in their division alone.

[Laimbeer]

Sometimes I think the only skills that matter in the NBA are three point shooting and shot blocking.

I think they'll be pretty good, maybe a decent shot at home court in the first round.