As I try to reflect on what 2013 meant to the Bulls, it's not so easy. In the past 12 months, they've experienced some nifty highs, awful lows, plenty of drama and everything in between. While there are some teams both far better and far worse off than what they're experiencing now, a bit of everything was what we got from the Bulls this year.
When it began, folks were still optimistic Derrick Rose would return from his ACL rehab in time to give the Bulls the boost they needed in the playoffs. The Bulls were merely just biding their time so the former MVP could surprise everyone just like Adrian Peterson before him. Surely, he could face Miami when the time came.
In the meantime, Luol Deng earned his second straight All-Star selection and Joakim Noah his first. We were amazed at how Deng seemed so subtle in his contributions and yet, was so important to the team's makeup. Noah was having the best season of his career and having fun while doing so. Without him, there wouldn't be nearly as much energy for the Bulls on game nights.
Things looked even better when the Miami Heat came to the United Center and saw their 27-game winning streak, the second longest in NBA history, be put to rest. The Bulls did it shorthanded too, which gave the home crowd enough reason to make the arena as loud as it could get during a regular-season contest. That's how they clinched a playoff spot too.
Meanwhile, Rose never returned despite never ruling out the possibility of doing so. The whole situation became a PR nightmare for both camps, splitting both the media and the fan base as to what he should do. If anyone had just said the right thing, all the turmoil could have been avoided, but it didn't happen, so we were left to the stupidity spouting from the mouths of many. For many, the notion of Rose being a humble, hometown kid was gone.
While this was going on, the Bulls took a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Brooklyn Nets, capped off by a Game 4, triple-overtime win for the ages with Nate Robinson leading the way. Then suddenly, Deng came down with a spinal tap and Kirk Hinrich had to sit with a calf injury, so the Nets unsurprisingly tied the series at 3. All seemed lost heading into Game 7 at Brooklyn, but the stretched-out Bulls somehow shocked the world by earning their first-ever road victory in a winner-take-game. There's no way it should have happened, but you can never count out a Tom Thibodeau-coached team.
That set up a second-round meeting with the Heat. Still missing Deng and Hinrich, the Bulls would have been considered lucky to win one game in that series unless either of those players returned. It began with LeBron James accepting the MVP award prior to Game 1. Immediately following those festivities was the Bulls winning against the odds yet again. They were in front of the defending champions 1-0 and now with the home-court advantage.
Just like in 2011 however, Miami stormed back to win the next four. Among the lowlights for the Bulls were a team-playoff record for offensive futility in Game 2, frustrations boiling over, a few ejections and getting blown out of the United Center in Game 4 before much of the crowd even had a chance to sit down. Their depth proved to be too short and you can never underestimate Miami's talent or will to win. The result wasn't surprising, but it didn't make things any easier.
The offseason saw the key departures of Robinson and Marco Belinelli. Only Mike Dunleavy was brought in via free agency and the Bulls used the draft to take Tony Snell and Erik Murphy. Still, none of it compared to the prospect of having Rose for a full season. Excitement around the Bulls going for a title was as high as it's been in the Thibodeau era. This was a team that could challenge Miami's crown.
Unfortunately, we won't fairly know the answer to that now. Rose was still getting back into his rhythm during the first few weeks, but early in the circus trip against Portland, he came up limping in his other knee. We found out the next evening that it was a torn meniscus, which would result in surgery. Though it was successful, everyone's worst fears were confirmed when Rose was ruled out for the season. The championship dream was dead only a few days shy of Thanksgiving.
Immediately, many called for the Bulls to tank the season so they could have a shot at a big name in next year's draft class, thought to be the best since 2003. Plus, with Deng's contract set to expire and Carlos Boozer likely to be amnestied, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. However, the East is so godawful this year the Bulls might just back into the playoffs, especially if they don't trade any significant pieces. Even that might not be enough as that would still leave a lot of talent on the roster.
If there's one part of the franchise really worth looking forward to, it's Jimmy Butler. He was barely on my radar when I did my 2012 recap, but that has certainly changed. He played his way into the starting lineup during last season and not only began every playoff game, but often played all 48 minutes. He cemented his status as a swingman and has played well on both sides of the ball.
Often, he's the player the Bulls look most to when they absolutely need him and most of the time, he'll deliver. Whether the Bulls contend again next year or down the line, Butler will most certainly have to be a part of the core. He has proven to be one of the big steals of the 2011 draft.
It's really hard to be a Bulls fan right now with all the uncertainty surround the team. They look mentally exhausted from having to play out the rest of the season with the knowledge that they're no longer contenders. It shows by the series of bad losses they've suffered recently. No one can tell for sure if they'll trade anyone away, continue to go for it all or even see if Rose will return for a potential playoff run, which he won't rule out.
Despite this all, their unpredictability shows anything can happen with them, even a pleasant surprise. Who are we to say something to change the franchise's fortunes for good won't happen in 2014? It happened in 2008 when they received the top pick in the draft and selected Rose. That worked out well, at least for awhile, right?
There's one more chapter of 2013 to write as the Bulls play the Toronto Raptors tonight, but the year's story has already been told. We've felt every possible feeling as Bulls fans in the past 365 days and that's what following a team is all about. Have a Happy New Year and may the hopes of good Chicago basketball be with you all.
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