NBA: 30 Storylines Driving The 2015-16 Season

Apr 18, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) celebrates with teammates Jimmy Butler (21) and Mike Dunleavy (34) as they enter a timeout against the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter in game one of the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bulls – A New Face

It’s odd to look at the Chicago Bulls and think that this is suddenly a brand new team seeing that the roster looks almost identical to the one that opened the 2014-2015 campaign. Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol still anchor the paint in the Windy City. Jimmy Butler returns to the team as a premier two-way wing. Derrick Rose remains an imposing point guard with major questions surrounding his health.

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Yet, still there’s a lot different about this Chicago Bulls team. Rose is no longer the poster child for this “Life After Jordan” regime. Butler has broken out as the future of the organization and now free of his rookie deal, he’s getting paid like it.

The defensive genius of Tom Thibodeau has left the building, and in his place stands Fred Hoiberg. Hoiberg, the former coach of Iowa State, gets his first shot as a head coach in an unquestionably difficult situation. The Bulls are a franchise well-renowned for being perennial title threats. His predecessor did an excellent job of building them into an defensive power-house and was well-liked by the fan base.

It’s a tall task for any coach to live up to those expectations, especially one who has yet to reach his first NBA game.

Next: Cavs: All or Nothing