What are your expectations for the Bulls?

[Pnjguy]

They still have enough guys that can shoot the 3-ball

McDermott
Mirotic
Butler
Portis
Valentine
Canaan
Snell

A combo of those guys will be on the floor a good amount of time.

And Rondo was very respectable from long range last year. If he just limits those attempts to the wide open ones, he'll be between 32-35%. Wade is the only guy you don't want taking 3's under any circumstance.

[otwok]

Well last year they won 72 games and waltz to the championship in what was the greatest season ever. I don't think they'll quite get to 70 wins. i can see them land at 68 or 69 wins but with Shaq moving to the Lakers I can see the east getting weaker. The pacers and heat are up and comers with Zo and hardaway. Watch out for the Bullets with Webber but they won't give Chicago a challenge. Maybe, San Antonio, Utah or Seattle could give him a run in the finals.

[Clint Eastwood]

You realize this bench is actually kinda garbage, no?

Just putting a bunch of random names and saying it's "depth" doesn't actually make them good. The backup PG/SG/SF situation is absolutely atrocious. Even if Valentine is good for a rookie, he's not actually going to be good for an NBA player. Rookies almost universally stink. Even most of the "good" ones.

Gotta disagree here. Taj, Portis and Felicia make for a very solid front court bench of defensive rebounding bigs who can put the ball in the basket (unlike a guy like Noah). McDermott is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and I expect improvement this year for him. Valentine will have his ups and downs, but I would expect him to be one of the types of rookies who actually contributes due to his 4 years of college experience. Grant showed promise as a starter in last 6 games last year. Dinwiddie has size at the position. Canaan has started games and is your microwave 3 point shooter when team needs a jolt.

Add in that the Bulls will always have one of Wade, rondo or jimmy in there at any one time (I wouldn't think they ever sub out together) and yes, I think this bench might be one of the better benches in the league.

I'm in Vegas now, and I'm going to the game tonight. After the game I'm going to bet on the bulls to win the division this year!!!!

You do realize that Lebron is still in our division right?

Of course I do. You do realize we had a better record than the heat in years they went to the finals and clearly were better than us, right?

Lebron is getting older, kyrie is an injury waiting to happen, and the rest of the team is very unimpressive. You never know. They may coast and worry about the playoffs only.

[JoeBarryCaroll]

Expectations are low.... about 40 wins. should have never gotten rid of Thibs

[Dominator83]

Gotta disagree here. Taj, Portis and Felicia make for a very solid front court bench of defensive rebounding bigs who can put the ball in the basket (unlike a guy like Noah). McDermott is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and I expect improvement this year for him. Valentine will have his ups and downs, but I would expect him to be one of the types of rookies who actually contributes due to his 4 years of college experience. Grant showed promise as a starter in last 6 games last year. Dinwiddie has size at the position. Canaan has started games and is your microwave 3 point shooter when team needs a jolt.

Add in that the Bulls will always have one of Wade, rondo or jimmy in there at any one time (I wouldn't think they ever sub out together) and yes, I think this bench might be one of the better benches in the league.

I'm in Vegas now, and I'm going to the game tonight. After the game I'm going to bet on the bulls to win the division this year!!!!

You do realize that Lebron is still in our division right?

Of course I do. You do realize we had a better record than the heat in years they went to the finals and clearly were better than us, right?

Lebron is getting older, kyrie is an injury waiting to happen, and the rest of the team is very unimpressive. You never know. They may coast and worry about the playoffs only.

This isn't 2011 and theres no MVP in his prime on this team. But if the odds are really favorable (like 30-1 or something) then i can understand dropping 100 bucks for the chance of turning it into 3 grand

[2011Champs]

Bulls will be a lottery team as long as Rondo is on the team. Replace Rondo with any other point guard in the league and the Bulls might fight for a playoff spot if Wade stays healthy.

[ImSlower]

I think we'll end up one of the 5-8 seeds and be labelled the team that other teams don't want to face in the playoffs, then lose in round one anyway.

[Mk0]

I think we'll end up one of the 5-8 seeds and be labelled the team that other teams don't want to face in the playoffs, then lose in round one anyway.

I have the same view, but I think we probably lose in the 2nd round. With any luck we match up against Toronto in the 1st round. They have a history of pooping the bed against the Bulls.

[JoeBarryCaroll]

....remember Jerry Krause, "It's not the players, it's the system" LOL.

[Lolo]

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.

That #1 seed team was a Thibs coached team, so it's hard to compare to this hodge podge group. Hoiberg isn't Thibs. He's not going to squeeze every ounce of talent and energy from these guys.

I see a 5-6 seed. Might be able to make some noise in the playoffs, if healthy.

[shangrila]

I could see them missing the playoffs entirely. The spacing in their starting lineup sucks, Hoiberg seems like a so-so coach and all of their big names aren't complimentary to each other.

It's not a guarantee but I think 5-8 in the East will be a brawl and they've got as much a chance as anyone of coming out as losers.

[Heat_Fan_87]

2nd round exit is their ceiling. most likely 7th seed and lose in first round tho. worst spacing of any team ever. its going to be ugly

[Vleckaron]

They have 9 guys with rookie contracts on this team. Ultimately their success and growth will play a large part on them as the same applies for Detroit, Boston, and a few other East teams loaded with young players.

They may have to make a major adjustment during the season and bring Wade off the bench or sub him out early. Butler will have to focus on 3PT shooting again. They'll need Valentine-McDermott paired with Portis-Mirotic during most stretches during the game to fix their shooting issues. They have shooters just the young players are their shooters.

[JXL]

They should retire Valentine's jersey cuz THE BULLS ARE SUMMER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!11

Srsly, we've seen how Wade plays off the ball when he was playing with Dragic. It was not good. Now he plays with Rondo. How's that going to work.

Plus, Butler had issues with Rose because he wanted the ball in his hands more. How'd that work out?

The way their roster looks, they can make the playoffs, but as a 6-8th seed.

[DuckIII]

....remember Jerry Krause, "It's not the players, it's the system" LOL.

He never said that.

[DuckIII]

2nd round exit is their ceiling. most likely 7th seed and lose in first round tho. worst spacing of any team ever. its going to be ugly

The spacing for the projected starters is bad. But reading this thread its kind of like people are under the impression NBA teams are comprised of only 5 players.

[DuckIII]

They should retire Valentine's jersey cuz THE BULLS ARE SUMMER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!11

Srsly, we've seen how Wade plays off the ball when he was playing with Dragic. It was not good.

Wade had a pretty good year last season.

Now he plays with Rondo. How's that going to work.

Fair question, but poor analogy. Rondo is a distributor.

Plus, Butler had issues with Rose because he wanted the ball in his hands more. How'd that work out?

Its again a good question but another poor analogy. Rose was incredibly selfish. It wasn't because he had the ball. Its because he had the ball and didn't want anyone else to have it (unless it was a failed drive followed by a jump pass to Pau for a 18 footer).

Don't be too focused on who starts. The starters don't fit well on paper, no doubt. But the 9 man rotation as a whole does. So its on Hoiberg to balance the units. If he will do that, and not just knuckle under to what the veterans want as far as minutes and touches, it can work. If he rigidly locks into limited and set rotations, it will fail.

[phanman]

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.

Laughable that you think this team has the potential to over take Boston or the Raptors for the 2nd/3rd seed.

Extremely small sample sizes but Rondo did shoot 35.2% from 3 -19/54 in Dallas and 36.5% - 62/170 in Sacramento both of which were career highs so maybe he's turning over a new leaf? Also Wade did shoot 52.2% - 12/23 in the most recent play off run but also shot a dreadful 7/44 for 16% in the RS. So there is potential for some spacing in the back court there. Jimmy also shot 38% 2 seasons ago and regressed this year so he also has shown the ability to nail the 3 consistently.

Ceiling = 4th seed, they'll make it to the playoffs provided they don't have any chemistry issues with ego clashes over who handles the ball. The battle for the 4-8th seed in the East is going to be exciting for sure and there is going to be a lot of juggling similar to this year's finish down the final stretch of the season for the 3-6 seeds with them all tying and tie-breakers being used to sort of playoff positioning. Cleveland, Boston, Raptors, are all but guaranteed the top 3 seeds with Atlanta, Charlotte Indiana, Detroit, Chicago, New York and Orlando all battling it out for the last few spots.

I think the surprise team next year will be the Magics with all of their underrated pickups this year. Ibaka is the perfect fit next to Vuc, the addition of Biz will give them a defensive anchor on the court at all times, they cleared up the spacing issues with a Payton/Oladipo opening up more minutes for Hezonja/Fournier. The biggest addition will be Vogel though I think read in his tenure with the Pacers they have always been in the top 10 for Defense.

[Ctownbulls]

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


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TBH, I can see them as a 2 seed and I can see them as the 12 seed. It is pretty impossible to really analyze their team and make a prediction which is why most posters are saying "6-8th seed, maybe miss playoffs, maybe win a round" because that is the "safest" prediction.

[amcfad27]

Rondo shot 36.5% from 3 on 170 attempts

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rondora01.html