This could be called a season that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Derrick Rose suffered another season-ending injury on the circus trip, which stuck a dagger in this season's championship hopes. Realizing this, Gar Forman and John Paxson traded Luol Deng to Cleveland 1 1/2 months later, a clear sign that they were throwing in the towel on this group. Now was the time to look at draft positioning, right?
Actually, the Bulls decided to defy those expectations and continue to play as hard as they have ever since Tom Thibodeau took over as head coach. A winning January squashed any talk of them no longer being a team to watch in the East. Now, they sit fourth in the conference at 27-25, five games ahead of ninth-place Detroit.
Yes, it's true the losses of Rose and Deng affected the offense as their 92.3 scoring average is the worst in the NBA. But the defense is as effective as it's ever been. The Bulls are allowing the same number of points, good for second-best in the league. That's translated into more wins for them despite a significant drop in talent from the start of the season. Some may think of this as a wasted opportunity to cash in on an exciting draft class, but winning the next game will continue to be their mentality for a long time to come.
The Bulls likely wouldn't be where they are now without Joakim Noah, coming off his second straight All-Star Game. Averaging a double-double for the season (11.9 points, 11.5 rebounds), Noah lets his game speak regularly and only continues to increase his efficient and emotional impact on this team. When he's around, everyone plays better and the offense runs like a well-oiled machine. Take him out and you'll find the players unsure as to what exactly should be done. I saw it for myself when Noah was too ill to play in the game I attended against Minnesota. If he had been there to at least create plays for his teammates, the Bulls might have won. And that was just one game.
As amnesty talks continue to hound him, Carlos Boozer finds himself a sitting duck at times. He still isn't known for his defense and he's constantly reminded the Bulls overpaid to sign him. While I wouldn't be devastated to see Boozer go after this season, I would still miss seeing a double-double next to his name most nights. Regardless of how little an impact he seems to have had on the team's defensive strength, he still provides an offensive presence other teams would love. Somebody will want him next season. It just might not be the Bulls.
Jimmy Butler's everyman role remains an asset the Bulls will value for a long time to come. He's not the most talented player on the roster, but he does everything that's asked of him the right way. He could eventually be an All-Star in this league if he develops his game a little more. That's how much upside I believe he has. I just hope he doesn't get overworked too early in his career, which is a common criticism of Thibodeau.
Kirk Hinrich and Mike Dunleavy were put in the unforeseen position of having to fill gaps in the starting lineup. The two have done all right given the circumstances, but Dunleavy has more to offer at this point. He has a good shot, though it doesn't quite match that of Kyle Korver or Marco Belinelli, and gives the Bulls a veteran presence anyone else would appreciate. Meanwhile, Hinrich clearly has seen better days. His skills are diminished and his health has put the team in tough spots often this season. Still, he knows his stuff and I like that he's given the club everything he's got the last two years. He didn't plan on starting as much as he has in that time, but when your team needs you, the call must be answered. Enjoy what you see of him this year because he might not be in this uniform again after that.
The bench finds itself stacked with talent just like it has in recent seasons. Taj Gibson's effective two-way play has many penciling him in as the starting power forward once Boozer leaves, which is something he would most definitely deserve. D.J. Augustin's career was resurrected when the Bulls picked him up following Rose's injury. He can score and his 5.7 assists per game lead the team, causing his value to increase to the point where somebody will most certainly overpay for him in the offseason.
Tony Snell is the rare Thibodeau rookie who makes at least a decent impact on the team with 18.8 minutes per game. His smooth shooting stroke will only improve as he gets older and perhaps we'll see him in the three-point contest one day. Nazr Mohammed isn't that much different from a year ago, but he plays effective enough to give the rest of the bigs a breather. Plus, you have to admire his hustle as he uses whatever is left in his tank to give the Bulls a chance on any given night. Mike James, Erik Murphy and Tornike Shengelia haven't made much of an impact here, but you never know when or if they'll be making highlight reels before the season ends.
It's true the Bulls could be primed for another unlikely success story this season. The East is bad enough to allow it to happen. In fact, it wouldn't be shocking to see last year repeat itself in that they can get past the first round of the playoffs. Considering what they have now, it's about as realistic as one could expect. They could beat anyone in a seven-game series besides Indiana or Miami, so early postseason success cannot be counted out.
I realize the Bulls may be trapped in what's commonly referred to as NBA Hell: not enough talent to win a championship, but too good to miss the playoffs. I admit there are times when I wonder what would happen if they were closer to either end of the spectrum. Their only chance to be a championship contender again might indeed rest on whether they can scoop up Carmelo Anthony or another highly talented player in the offseason. Through it all however, the Bulls continue to play like a team that wishes to succeed to the best of its abilities, which is all we can really ask for.
The second half of the season gets underway north of the border Wednesday as the Bulls go on the road to play the Toronto Raptors. Now there's a team nobody expected to lead the Atlantic this season. Again, it's a testament to how any Eastern team not called the Heat or Pacers could be anywhere right now. That's the reality, whether we wish to accept it or not.
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