Many NBA teams and observers watched today’s monster matchup between the Celtics and Heat in Boston with a keen eye. After all, they are two of about six teams that have a legitimate shot to win it all. However, one of those teams watching was the Chicago Bulls who, for some reason, remain under the radar in the Eastern Conference. Today’s outcome in Boston reaffirms my belief that Chicago is as a big of a threat as Miami is in the Eastern Conference playoffs this spring.
Why is no one talking about the Chicago Bulls? Yes, the San Antonio Spurs have the game’s best record, the Lakers are hitting their stride looking for a three-peat, LeBron and Miami are looking more formidable with each passing week and the Celtics are still unselfish and as stingy as ever on defense. These Bulls are scary, though. Think about it. They have a young superstar and MVP candidate in Derrick Rose who just turned 22. They have one of the best defensive minds in basketball in Tom Thibodeau who is only three and half months into his tenure as Bulls coach and who’s defense should only get stronger as they get healthy and more comfortable with Thibodeau’s D. That he came from the Celtics should only help the young Bulls as he is as familiar with the Celtics roster as Doc Rivers is. By the way, they already have the East’s second stingiest D to the Celtics at 92.3 points per game as Thibodeau has proven to be a perfect fit for a young, athletic Chicago team. All of this despite some road blocks along the way.
The scary thing is that this team is still learning to play together as free agent low post stalwart Carlos Boozer missed all of November with a hand injury. The Bulls have gone an impressive 27-10 since his debut at the beginning of December. Just when it looked like they had a full team together, Joakim Noah went out in mid-December. Missing their starting center and vocal leader would surely hurt a young team, right? With twenty wins in twenty-eight tries since his injury, it certainly has not. Meanwhile, Miami struggled mightily when star forward Chris Bosh got hurt a month back as they simply don’t have other quality options like the Bulls and Celtics do. That the Bulls have done this well despite not having their two best big men together for more than a three week span this season is remarkable and shows just how legit the Derrick Rose (25 ppg, 8 apg, 6 fta/pg, 83% ft shooting) MVP talk is.
Chicago has become a championship contender this season, probably faster than most expected it to. However, Thibodeau provides a master defensive philosphy and he has the players that are tailor made for it. Luol Deng is one of the best wing defenders in the game with his agility and 6’ 9” length he can blanket the likes of Paul Pierce or LeBron James. Noah is a huge presence on defense with his length, athleticism and communication while players like Taj Gibson and Ronnie Brewer give the Bulls the quality defensive depth that Miami and Orlando lack.
Remember, the 2008-2009 Bulls that played the Celtics to an epic seven game series in the first round are not even close to as good as this current team. No, Ben Gordon is no longer there to hurt teams from deep but Carlos Boozer gives the Bulls the ablity to post and get points in the paint that they sorely lacked two years ago. Rose has gone from rookie to MVP candidate. Noah has gone from outspoken youngster to team leader. The Bulls are hoping to go from a nice young team to an NBA championship contender.