Oct 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard
Jimmy Butler(21) gets high-fives from Chicago Bulls center
Joakim Noah(13) and Chicago Bulls forward
Pau Gasol(16) after being fouled by the an Atlanta Hawks player during the second half at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Atlanta Hawks 85-84. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
4. Chicago Bulls – 54.5
Prediction: Over
Chicago’s future success all rests on Derrick Rose‘s knees.
Those bad boys will be the sole difference between them being a mediocre playoff team and a full-fledged NBA Championship contender.
Of course, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah, Jimmy Butler and Taj Gibson will all need to step up to the plate, but without Rose, their odds of title contention basically goes right down the drain.
Presuming Rose stays healthy, I have the Bulls leading the Eastern Conference standings and posting their best record since the 2010-11 season.
Don’t sleep on the Cavs, though. If they can gain some form of chemistry quickly, there’s no question they could surpass the Bulls in the standings by season’s end.