NBA Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls Are Serious Championship Contenders Entering 2014-15 Season

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By @DSchultz89

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It already seems like ages ago when the Chicago Bulls were considered a viable favorite to win the NBA championship.

However, it was just two years ago during the 2012 NBA playoffs when they were seen as a favorite, before their hopes were shattered after their star point guard Derrick Rose went down with a crippling left knee injury that would keep him out the rest of the season as well as the following year. Rose returned during the 2013-14 campaign but injured his right knee that would also keep him out the rest of the year.

Instead of trying to trade him or find a new point guard for the team, the Bulls have stayed patient during this entire process, fully aware that with a healthy Rose they are contenders to win the title.

A lot of credit also has to go to head coach Tom Thibodeau who has kept the team on track. He often can be heard sporting a Doc Rivers-esque hoarse voice because of all the yelling he does over the course of a game, but he gets his players to play hard for him, especially on defense. He has molded the Bulls into a defense-first team ever since he took over coaching duties in 2010.

While the Bulls can still be a little clunky on offense, no one questions just how terrific they are on the defensive side of the court. Many considered Carlos Boozer to be a weak link in the Bulls’ defensive structure, and it came to no surprise when the team amnestied him over the offseason to clear space to sign a player like Pau Gasol. After striking out on wooing Carmelo Anthony to the Windy City, the Bulls rightly focused their attention to Gasol, who they ended up convincing to ditch the sunny streets of Los Angeles for the cold and sometimes brutal ones of Chicago.

Gasol is a decorated defender and should fit in seamlessly with the Bulls. His length and post moves on offense will make the Bulls a much better team. It will be fun to see Gasol and Joakim Noah work together down low, where they form possibly the best post defensive duo next to Anthony Davis and Omer Asik of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Add in sharp shooting from rookie Doug McDermott and the rise of Jimmy Butler into a star guard in the league, and the Bulls are in great shape to win it all if they remain healthy.

But is this year their best chance to win it all?

While many think highly of the Cleveland Cavaliers, it will take time for the games of Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Kevin Love to mesh together. It would not be entirely surprising if the Cavaliers struggle this year, just like the Miami Heat did their first season out of the gate. Granted, the Heat still made it to the Finals in their first year of “The Big Three”, but this Bulls team is a much different team now compared to the 2010-11 season.

Given the ages of Rose, Butler, Gasol and Noah, I think the Bulls will have a few cracks at the title during the next 4-5 years. Of course, a lot of this hinges on Rose not just remaining healthy for an entire season, but also that he can return to being the Rose of old. Based on his play during the summer, his explosiveness is definitely still there, but many are concerned about his ability to hit a jump shot again consistently.

In my opinion, I think it will take a little time for Rose to find himself coming into this year. With that said, I do think the Bulls have a fantastic chance to not just come out of the East, but to win the championship this season. They have one of the best coaches in the league, a former MVP and a vastly improved frontcourt.

The franchise has a bright future ahead, and their quest to capture their first trophy since the days of Michael Jordan begins now.

Dan Schultz is an NBA sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.

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