2007-2008 in Review
Record: 33-49
Eastern Conference Seed: 11
Summer Of 2008
Key Additions: Vinny Del Negro (via coaching change), Derrick Rose (via draft).
Key Losses: Chris Duhon (via free agency).
Up In the Air: Ben Gordon.
Derek Fisher’s 0.4 shot was lucky, but not quite as lucky as the Chicago Bulls were on May 20, otherwise known as the 2008 NBA Draft Lottery.
The 42-year-old NBA franchise went into the nerve-wracking drawing with a measly 1.7 percent chance of coming away with the top draft pick. However, as history has shown, probabilities and percentages don’t always reveal the outcome.
Chicago proved that point, as they were fortunate enough to acquire the number-one overall selection, with just the ninth-best chances to do so.
With that top pick, they chose hometown point guard Derrick Rose, who helped lead the Memphis Tigers to April’s NCAA championship game as a freshman. If it weren’t for that pesky free-throw line, Rose may very well have come out victorious.
Regardless, his NBA prospects are jaw-dropping, to say the least. His combination of size, speed, quickness, athleticism, and upside was good enough to convince the majority of the basketball world that he was worthy of the top pick. Very seldom does a 19-year-old point guard claim stardom right off the bat, but the sky is the limit for Rose’s ceiling as a basketball player.
Along with the rookie sensation comes first-year head coach Vinny Del Negro, who played 12 NBA seasons with five different organizations. For a long while, former Bulls coach Doug Collins was the speculative answer to Chicago’s coaching search, but a last-minute change of mind led the club in the direction of Del Negro.
The uncertainties surrounding Del Negro’s coaching tactics will not be answered until the season gets underway, but hopefully the Ben Gordon saga will come to a halt in due time. The four-year veteran guard has yet to agree to a contract extension with Chicago, and even went as far as saying “I guess it’s safe to say that I’ve played my last game in a Bulls uniform.” Stay tuned.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Depth Chart
C: Joakim Noah / Aaron Gray
PF: Drew Gooden / Tyrus Thomas / Cedric Simmons
SF: Luol Deng / Andres Nocioni
SG: Larry Hughes / Thabo Sefolosha
PG: Derrick Rose / Kirk Hinrich
Biggest Strength: Promise
After taking a long, hard look at this roster, I’ve come to the conclusion that the Bulls are absent of a visible number-one strength. Therefore, the only logical alternative is to point to their long-term potential.
From Derrick Rose to Luol Deng, Joakim Noah to Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha to [possibly] Ben Gordon, this is a team that is highly capable of becoming an Eastern Conference powerhouse in the future. John Paxson and company have plenty of work to do as far as cleaning up the roster is concerned, but the prospective possibilities are endless.
Biggest Weakness: Offensive Balance
At times, watching the Chicago Bulls on the offensive end is like listening to screeching nails on a chalkboard. They are a team that lives and dies by the jump shot, and they usually die.
Even when the Bulls were an Eastern Conference semifinalist in 2006-07, they were primarily a jump shooting team—the only difference between then and now is that they played harassing defense two years ago. Now, they appear lost at times, and clearly have chemistry issues to work out—another large weakness.
Barring any kind of major trade, Chicago’s offensive troubles are destined to continue this coming season. The talent is there, but the balance is not. Thank God for Derrick Rose—now the Bulls have at least one player that can create off of dribble-penetration.
Outside of that, this is a team severely lacking an interior scoring threat, and their offense’s stagnancy can be utterly appalling. Rose may very well help repair this issue, but expecting a 19-year-old rookie point guard to completely correct it is more than out of the question—unless he grows eight inches overnight and develops a go-to post move similar to Shaquille O’Neal’s “black tornado.”
X-Factor: Tyrus Thomas
When discussing the NBA’s untapped potential, Tyrus Thomas is one of the first names to roll off your tongue. The former number-four overall pick has all of the athletic ability you can ask for in a 22-year-old prospect, but the question remains—will he put it all together?
He’s shown multiple flashes, mainly when he has received major minutes. When playing 30-plus minutes in 2007-08, he tallied averages of 16.9 points, 10.3 rebounds, and two blocks per game, giving Chicago fans something to cheer about and Bulls personnel something to look forward to.
However, there were other times where Thomas looked completely out of place on both ends of the floor, and has been unable to maintain proper mental focus. The immaturity has been apparent, as has the raw talent. It seems as though Thomas has one question to answer in 2009—“boom or bust?”
What to Expect In 2008-09
Chicago Bulls 2008-2009 predictions vary. Some are optimistically booking a playoff berth, some are expecting them to stay on course with last season’s showing, and others believe that they’ll struggle to a greater extent.
That’s where I’m at—“show me first” mode. We’ve discussed the imbalance and the youth, but let’s not forget that Derrick Rose is not the only rookie in Chicago this season. Vinny Del Negro is a rookie head coach, as well.
Color me mistaken if the Bulls put together an impressive resurgence—but until then, I think it’s best for Bulls fans to set low expectations for the upcoming season.
2008-09 Predictions
30-52
Fifth in Central Division
13th in Eastern Conference
Tomorrow: Cleveland Cavaliers
comments (12) write a comment »
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about 1 month ago
Great, analysis Dustin. I'm really excited to see Rose play this year. He does have a lot of expectations on him but I think he is going to come through. I really want to see how he matches up against Rondo, and I think the match up with Billups. Really a good read man. Well done.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks again for the kind words, Dave. Appreciate it.
I think Rose will struggle a bit early on, as any other 19-year-old point guard would/has. He's got all the potential in the world, but I don't think he's going to make a Chris Paul-esque impact as a rookie. I don't see him struggling as much as Mike Conley did, either. He'll find a happy medium, and his production will be as erratic as any other rookie playing significant minutes.
about 1 month ago
I think you can change promise to jump shooting. The Bulls do have some decent perimeter shooting on their team. Unfortunately, as you've mentioned, their is no interior offense to balance it out. Teams who live by the jumper, usually die by the jumper because the team can't generate easy baskets against good defenses. Throw in the fact that the team played with no heart last season, and it's easy to see why the Bulls underacheived.
With Ben Wallace, and probably Ben Gordon out the door, one of those problems (and a lot of missed layups) will be solved. Unfortunately, the Bulls still don't have a back-to-the-basket scorer who can draw double teams and easy looks.
from about 1 month ago
I can't do that (change their strength to jump shooting), because I think that jump shooting is ultimately the downfall of this team. That's all they do, which is why they came in dead last in the NBA last season in field goal percentage (43.5%).
I agree with the rest of you comment, though. The Bulls simply do not get enough easy baskets, and their defensive intensity (based off of their lack of heart, which you noted) was nowhere near even half of what it was in 2006. It seems to me that Skiles wore them out and overstayed his welcome. Hopefully Del Negro has some contrasting philosophies; I'm skeptical, however, as I have the right to be regarding a rookie coach.
I appreciate the comment, thanks Erick.
about 1 month ago
Great read Dustin i agree 100%, If the Bulls can somehow get the most out of their incoming rookie class and get some of their veteran players to set up they could find themselves back in the playoff picture within the next two seasons if not this year (they are playing in the damn eastern conference for crying out loud lol)
about 1 month ago
Great Article Dustin. I think Rose struggles quite a bit this year and ultimately, the Bulls will sputter too.
Looking forward to the rest of your previews dude.
about 1 month ago
D good article man, wouldn't really consider Del Negro an addition though, they should win more then 30 gms, no more then 40 though but i totally agree
from about 1 month ago
You wouldn't consider Del Negro an addition to the team? He's the new head coach, brutha.
about 1 month ago
The bulls are a talented team and it looked like they were going places until last year. It seems like last year they just didn't play as a team for some reason.
If Noah is your starting center you guys are going to have some problems. He's small for that position, he needs to hit the weight room and not make his teamates hate him this year.
I was a big Tyrus Thomas fan when he came out of LSU. He's a freak of an athlete and at the end of his rookie year he was playing really well. But last year he took a step back. He needs to get his head on straight (he had some attitude problems last year) and play ball. I think he can be very good if he gets the minutes and applies himself.
Like most people I think Rose will struggle some this year.
Question: Why is hinrich still on the team. They can't keep Gordon, Rose and Hinrich can they?
from about 1 month ago
Hinrich is still a Bull because:
A. He's a very good ballplayer when confident.
B. His contract scares other teams off as potential trading partners.
I do think that Hinrich will have a bounce-back season, though. Maybe not quite up to par with the level he was playing at in 2006, but much closer to it than last year's showing.
about 1 month ago
Hinrich will bounce back this season just because his job is on the line. I look forward to seeing them compete on the same team.
about 1 month ago
Good article!
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