Chicago Bulls
By Brandon Osborne
Record: 50-32
First Round Opponent: Milwaukee Bucks
Season Series: Bulls won 3-1
The Chicago Bulls were a preseason favorite entering the year as they were finally getting Derrick Rose back for a full season, as well as signing Pau Gasol to help the offense. However, things didn’t exactly go as planned this year.
Rose has missed significant time with injuries and while the Bulls offense did improve, their defense, which was their calling card, regressed. Although, Chicago did see Jimmy Butler develop into one of the NBA’s best 2-way players. The Bulls haven’t played more than 20 games with their projected starting lineup, but still had an impressive season given injuries and office turmoil (if you buy into that).
The Bulls should win their first round series, but its hard to see them making it past the second round. The Cavaliers and Hawks seem destined to meet in the ECF. If the Bulls can somehow get to full strength for the second round series, then it’s possible they could pull the upset, but with the Bulls recent injury history, that seems unlikely.
We all hoped this season that Rose would not only avoid injuries, but return to his MVP form, too. And while he did show glimpses of his former self at times, he wasn’t able to avoid injury. The good news for Bulls fans is that he’s back and looks to be ready to go for their playoff run. He’s going to be the Bulls x-factor in the playoffs.
The Bulls went 1-3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, and Cleveland has been on a tear as of late. The Cavs have looked like the best team in the Eastern Conference for the past month and the Bulls would be best to try to avoid them. Although, it appears the Bulls will possibly play the Cavs in the 2nd round.
That’s when the Bulls will lose. In the second round, in six games, to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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