The Chicago Bulls were one NBA team that many people expected to turn things around this season. They haven’t made the postseason since 2016 and wanted to make sure that streak was snapped. It is still early, but they have looked great to start the season.
Chicago has taken full advantage of the soft easy schedule they have been presented with. They have faced the Detroit Pistons twice, the Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans. Detroit is 0-3, while Toronto and New Orleans are both 1-3 and playing without their All-Stars in Pascal Siakam and Zion Williamson.
But, the Bulls do not make the schedule. They play who they are scheduled to and thus far have taken full advantage. This is the best start to a season for the franchise since the 1996-97 season when Michael Jordan was leading the charge.
This year’s Chicago Bulls are led by Zach LaVine. LaVine is leading the team with 25.5 points per game on an efficient .500/.444/.952 shooting split. He is chipping in 5.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game as well.
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Chicago’s front office did a great job upgrading the roster around him and their newest additions are all having a big impact as well. Lonzo Ball, who was acquired from the New Orleans Hornets in a sign-and-trade deal, continues to make strides with his shooting.
He is averaging 14.3 points per game, knocking down 43.3 percent of his 3-point attempts. He is averaging 5.8 rebounds and team-high 5.0 assists per game. He also leads the team with 1.8 blocks per game. Alex Caruso, who was signed away from the Los Angeles Lakers, is also having a great impact defensively. He leads the team with 3.3 steals per game.
Nikola Vucevic, who was acquired from the Orlando Magic at the NBA trade deadline, has not gotten going offensively yet, averaging 14.3 points per game. But he has controlled the paint, pulling down 11.5 rebounds to go with 1.3 blocks per game.
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DeMar DeRozan, acquired in a sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs, is stuffing the stat sheet as well, averaging 22.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Following the team’s fourth win of the season, DeRozan acknowledged that there is still plenty of work left to do.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” DeRozan said. “We’ve got a lot more to clean up, to learn. It’s a long season, man. [The 4-0 start] is great, but we’ve got a lot more basketball to go. We can’t carry this record like it’s some kind of badge of honor; we’ve got to understand that the next game is going to be even harder.”
DeMar DeRozan is correct in that assessment, as they will be facing a New York Knicks team that is also looking to cement themselves among the upper echelon teams in the Eastern Conference.
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If there is one thing that the Chicago Bulls wish they had that the Knicks do its depth. New York goes at least two-deep at every position, some even three. The Bulls only have six players averaging more than 16 minutes per game right now.
Coby White’s return will give them another rotation player, but the team needs to find some more players on the second unit to produce. They will not make it through an 82-game season with only six players averaging more than 16 minutes per game.
They should be very happy with how things have begun, but as DeMar DeRozan said, there is plenty left to do. One week won’t define their season, but they are certainly looking like a team that will make some noise this season if they continue handling their business.
