Call it a team going through the motions but they seem to be flat out sleep walking into the All Star break. The last two years we’ve heard nothing but how we need Derrick Rose and now that we’ve got him back and healthy everyone else seems to have fallen off the map. Jimmy “Buckets” Butler was the star when Rose was working his way back to NBA level, he’s come back to earth.
The Bulls with the additions of Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic, they have the pieces to go on a run like the Atlanta Hawks and the Golden State Warriors. I do believe the Bulls are better than at least Atlanta if not the best team in the league. But they’ve managed to lose to a troubled Cavaliers team twice in three games and lose to teams like the lowly Orlando magic. On the plus side the Bulls have beaten Golden State and have feasted on some of the best teams in the west. My only fear is that if they keep paying up or down to their opponents they will play their entire 2015 playoff battles as the road team. No one wants to be the road team in a seven game Series.
Call it a team going through the motions. The Bulls have been known for their defense under Thibs and it’s been said that this is the most offense Thibs have had since he’s been in Chicago. Players have said because of that offense they tend to let up on the defensive side. Even if they are going through the motions it has been proven the hottest team going into the post season is the toughest to stop.
With Derrick Rose’s return the Bulls have a solid and vocal leader. But even he’s going through his own struggles with turnovers and in the early going his shooting. With the pieces they have and giving McDermott their first round draft pick some playing time and opportunity to get into a rhythm the Bulls have a better than average chance to win it all. It isn’t the first time we’ve said that and have seen them lose in early rounds or to the Miami Heat, I think this is the most legit winner Thibs has had but that doesn’t explain the going through the motions when certainly all of these players have some amount of pride not to lose to subpar teams.
Please don’t tell me it happens in every sport. It goes to the character of every athlete. I understand struggling through a back to back situation. You just don’t have the legs to push through. That’s what a quality bench is for. There is rumor that Tom Thibodeaux has at times over used his players. Playing them ridiculous minutes and that’s what’s wearing them down. None of his players have come out and said that nor have they complained about his rotation where he sticks to the same 4th quarter lineup every game regardless of the score.
These are all fair criticisms but still no reason for a team to play up or down to their opponent when you’re as good as the Bulls are. We will have to see after the All Star break whether this will be an ongoing issue. By that time some of the hotter teams may have cooled off and it will be the right time for the Bulls to make a run of their own. Like I said, nothing wrong with being the hottest team going into the playoffs.

Godfrey Logan Outside Analysis 3/7/15