How about those Chicago Bulls?
While it’s still earlier in the season, the Bulls are easily one of the NBA’s biggest surprises this season. And we might have to start taking them seriously.
The Chicago Bulls Are (Currently) a Top Team in the East
As it stands, the Chicago Bulls are fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls were one of the only undefeated teams in the league until they lost a nailbiter against the New York Knicks. The Knicks beat the Bulls 104-103.
DeMar DeRozan air-balled a shot that would have given the Bulls the lead (and win) over the Knicks. So, the Bulls have a 4-1 record and are tied with the Knicks, the Hornets and the Wizards.
The Bulls are off to a pretty good start, and it’s mainly due to their offseason. They were one of the most active teams this offseason and made a few surprising moves.
They acquired DeRozan in a sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs. Before that, they acquired Lonzo Ball in a sign-and-trade with the Pelicans and signed Alex Caruso shortly after.
The Bulls also have Zach LaVine, who has been with the team since 2017. He had his best season last year as he averaged 27.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists (which are all career highs).
LaVine has been the focal point of the Bulls, and with some of the Bulls’ new additions, Chicago has a bit more firepower. This is crucial as LaVine deals with a thumb injury.
LaVine played his first game since the thumb injury in their loss against the Knicks. He finished the game with 25 points and six rebounds. He spoke after the game on the unpleasantness of playing with a bum thumb and how it takes an adjustment.
“I mean, it wasn’t pleasant, but it’s doable. Certain shots, ways, I can’t go. It’s like I’m dribbling with four fingers, so first game playing it out to see how it was, it wasn’t bad. I got going a little bit. Then, I went into a little bit of a slump when they started blitzing, so just got to find ways to manage it.”
The Bulls also received unfortunate news that Patrick Williams is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a wrist injury. So, the Bulls have a few setbacks, but the start of their season still looks promising.
Are the Bulls a Legitimate Threat?
The Bulls have been fun to watch so far. They’re opening some eyes, and while it’s too early to call them a contender, they’re at least playoff bound.
After years of a rebuild, it finally looks like the Bulls are on the right path. Their offseason moves look like solid moves, and by the looks of things, they’re paying off. As the season progresses, I expect them to remain a playoff team but where they’ll land is a topic of discussion. But we’ll see them in the playoffs. So, stay tuned!
