NBA Chicago Bulls

5 Reasons For The Chicago Bulls’ Mid-Season Comeback

5 Reasons for the Chicago Bulls Mid-Season Comeback

Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Victory
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Chicago Bulls are in the midst of one of the greatest mid-season comeback pushes in recent sports memory. But getting there wasn't easy. Here are the top five reasons for the Bulls' comeback.

Tracy Martin is an NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @TracyMartin23 or add him to your network on Google.

5. Luol Deng Trade

Luol Deng, Trade, Tom Thibodeau
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

5. Luol Deng Trade

Luol Deng, Trade, Tom Thibodeau
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The Bulls started their comeback around the time longtime team veteran Luol Deng was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since his trade, the Bulls have found a way to spread the ball to everyone on their roster, and have seen an increase in team output. Deng may have been the deadweight his critics always thought he was.

4. The Signing of D.J. Augustin

D.J. Augustin, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

4. The Signing of D.J. Augustin

D.J. Augustin, Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

No one expected D.J. Augustin to be this talented when he was signed last December, but they were proven wrong as Augustin started his career with the Bulls with several explosive offensive outputs. Since then, he has been able to plug up the holes in Chicago's offensive game. Even though he's a bench player, people have now come to expect Augustin to end the game as the team's top scorer, with 20-plus points more than guaranteed.

3. Tom Thibodeau

Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls, Coach
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

3. Tom Thibodeau

Tom Thibodeau, Chicago Bulls, Coach
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

It's going on two years now that Tom Thibodeau has had to guide his team through the absence of Derrick Rose. The loss of a team's star would be an inescapable handicap for any coach, but Thibodeau knows how to overcome situations like this. In a great display of his coaching talents, Thibodeau has kept his team afloat through rocky waters, steering them to their fourth consecutive playoff berth under his guidance.

2. Exceptional Teamwork

Chicago Bulls Team Huddle, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson
Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images

2. Exceptional Teamwork

Chicago Bulls Team Huddle, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson
Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images

Do you know what separates Chicago from the other teams in the league? It's not their skill, or their roster, or Thibs, although all of those play their role. What separates them is their never-give-up style. There is nothing else that can explain Chicago taking on some of the league's top teams and emerging victorious. The Bulls leave everything on the court, posing a difficult challenge for opposing teams.

1. Joakim Noah's Unexpected Transformation Into An Elite Player

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls, MVP
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

1. Joakim Noah's Unexpected Transformation Into An Elite Player

Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls, MVP
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

It would be foolish to not place Joakim Noah as the No. 1 reason why Chicago is enjoying its unexpected place in the standings. Noah has unleashed his full potential in the past few months, single-handedly becoming both the Bulls' new team leader and entering into the MVP pool as a potential candidate. Noah has guided his team through thick-and-thin this season, and his output can only get better from here on out.

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