The Bulls may not be considered conference heavyweights with Rose on the mend, but they are not without assets. Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, Rip Hamilton and Carlos Boozer return, along with valuable bench player Taj Gibson. That’s the core of a team that finished an NBA-best 50-16 last season despite playing just 26 games with Rose. Gone are Bench Mob stalwarts Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, Omer Asik, C.J. Watson and John Lucas III. In their place are Kirk Hinrich, Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli, Nazr Mohammed, Vladimir Radmanovic and rookie Marquis Teague.
Hinrich, Robinson and perhaps even Teague will man the point guard position until Rose returns. When that will be is the biggest question hanging over the franchise moving forward. Rose is young, has recovered from injuries quickly in the past and is reportedly pushing the pace of his rehab schedule. But everybody saw what happened when he tried to return too fast from injuries last season. What started out as simple case of turf toe set off a chain of injuries that might as well have ended with Rose in a full-body cast.
The improvements of the Lakers and the Heat makes it all that harder. Plus I think Boston are better than last year. I think Bulls are now a tier below, where i had them on the top tier last year before Rose went down. Bulls need to make a trade or two, maybe not this year but definately need another star in the next 3 years to help rose. Im thinking someone like Al Jefferson to play the low post scorer role. Boozer doesnt cut it, hopefully amnesty him soon.
If we couldn't win in '94/95 when Jordan came out of "retirement", I doubt we can be contenders this year. That team was much better, and Jordan >> Rose. We have some flexibility next offseason (depending on how much we sign Gibson for and if we use the amnesty on Boozer), and the '13/14 season should be our return to contender status when Rose is completely healthy.
If we couldn't win in '94/95 when Jordan came out of "retirement", I doubt we can be contenders this year. That team was much better, and Jordan >> Rose. We have some flexibility next offseason (depending on how much we sign Gibson for and if we use the amnesty on Boozer), and the '13/14 season should be our return to contender status when Rose is completely healthy.
Not that I believe a Rose comeback this season will push the Bulls into title mode, but the Jordan comparison is apples:oranges.
Jordan conditioned himself to play baseball, where Rose is still conditioning for basketball. The Bulls are planning and still building around Rose now, where they weren't planning around Jordan in 95 until after he came back. There is a pretty big difference there.
Are Bulls still title contenders?
Re: Are Bulls still title contenders?
