Thank God for the Chicago Bulls.
As many Chicago sports fans have watched the demise of the Bears over the past few weeks and suffered through terribly disappointing baseball from the Sox and Cubs this summer, our city was in need of a savior.
Because, as we all know, it’s really hard to be a Chicago sports fan sometimes.
But that is a whole different story, so let me get back on topic.
The Chicago Bulls. Red, white, and black. Derrick Rose. The United Center. Benny the Bull. 2015 NBA Champs?
I know it’s a pretty bold statement to make given the fact that the NBA season just started back on Oct. 29, but the Bulls have possibly the best team in the league right now.
I know we say this every year, and every year something comes along to screw everything up, but I think karma is finally back on the Bulls side.
HCAAnet.org
Reason number one: Derrick Rose is finally (sort of) healthy this season.
Minus the fact that he sprained his ankle on Halloween by tripping over Kyrie Irving’s foot, Rose has been playing the same way he was when he first joined the Bulls back in 2008.
So he may be a few years older physically, especially with his infamous knee injuries, but mentally, Rose is back on track.
He’s hungrier for victory, yearns more to prove himself, and vies to silence his critics once and for all. Which is as he should be.
Not playing a full 82 game season in over three years definitely has that effect on a player.
The Bulls have definitely missed Rose’s presence on the court throughout those three seasons, but have performed pretty well without him in the playoffs.
What makes his return so beneficial for the Bulls is that if Rose can stay healthy this whole entire season, there really isn’t anything stopping them from blowing past everyone in the playoffs and clinching the league’s highest title. Not even the Cavs could get in their way this year.
Especially with all the talent they added this past summer.
Reason number two: Great offseason acquisitions.
In all honesty, I really wanted the Bulls to sign Lebron James or Carmelo Anthony in July.
I mean, who wouldn’t want the best player in the NBA on their team? Or one of the best offensive players in the league?              You’d be lying if you said you didn’t get your hopes up when you heard about these trade rumors and saw ‘Melo touring the United Center with Joakim Noah and Tom Thibodeau.
But when James signed with Cleveland and ‘Melo went back to the Knicks, that dream went right out the window almost as quickly as it arrived.
I was very upset when this happened, but that anger subsided when the Bulls picked up Pau Gasol and Aaron Brooks in free agency right after those other two fell through.
And then finding out Nikola Mirotic was FINALLY done playing in Spain and taking his talents to the Windy City made that news even better.
Topping it all off, the NBA draft turned out to be extremely successful for the Bulls when they traded their first round picks (16 and 19 to be exact) to swoop in and nab Creighton forward, Doug McDermott, at number 11.
This was probably the busiest offseason that the Chicago Bulls have had in a few years, which just shows that Jerry Reinsdorf, Gar Forman, and Thibodeau are serious about their 2014-2015 team.
Reason number three: Most of the pieces were already there.
Captain Kirk Hinrich, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Tony Snell, and Derrick Rose.
Players that the Bulls had last year. Players that have matured and honed their skills to the point of perfection. Players that have never won a championship.
And no, I’m not counting Noah’s wins at Florida in this equation, sorry Gator fans!
These guys are ready to repeat the run they had last year, but make it even better…more productive and successful than ever before.
Just look at the first few games of the season! As I’m writing this article, the Bulls are currently 2-1 having beaten both the Knicks and Timberwolves.
They may have lost in overtime to the Cavs on Halloween, but the results would have been different if Butler was able to play.
I may be jumping the gun and hyping this team up too much too early, but I haven’t been this excited for Bulls basketball in a long time.
Plus, I have never gotten to fully experience a Bulls championship victory consciously in my lifetime…seeing as I was just a toddler when they won in the ‘90’s.
And besides, what sport do I have to get excited about anymore? Hockey? Hard pass.
Torie Bolster
Sports EditorÂ
About Post Author
