NBA Early Season Contenders vs Pretenders
Nov 17, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard
Jimmy Butler(left) celebrates with guard
Mike Dunleavy(34) during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 105-89. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago: Contender
Defense wins Championships, and that’s exactly what Chicago excels at.
With one of, if not the best, defensive coach in the game in Tom Thibodeau, the Bulls are poised to raise NBA championship banner number seven with or without Derrick Rose. They already have what it takes without Rose to make it deep into the playoffs, and should Rose get healthy, and get back into form, that only makes them that much better.