The Bulls open the 2014-2015 season in New York tonight.
What's in store for our team this year?
The signing of Pau Gasol was huge, despite the necessary overtures that needed to be made to Carmelo Anthony. Being able to add Doug McDermott, Nikola Mirotic and Aaron Brooks gives the team a lot of depth that we didn't have in previous years.
The Likely Rotation
Starters: Rose, Butler, Dunleavy, Gasol, Noah
Bench: Gibson, Hinrich, McDermott, Brooks, Mirotic
DNP: Snell, Mohammed, Bairstow
Gibson and Mirotic will play more minutes to help reduce the amount of minutes that Noah and Gasol have to play early on. Brooks will eventually settle in on the magic formula that guards such as Lucas, Robinson and Augstin eventually discover while playing for the Bulls. It will not be shocking when McDermott is started to let Dunleavy stabilize the bench unit more.
An Ideal Rotation?
Starters: Rose, Butler, McDermott, Gasol, Noah
Bench: Gibson, Hinrich, Dunleavy, Brooks, Mirotic
DNP: Snell, Mohammed, Bairstow
I presume that this will be the lineup post All-Star break. Bairstow may end up playing as many minutes as poor old Erik Murphy.
Tonight's Rotation
Starters: Rose, Hinrich, Dunleavy, Gasol, Noah
Bench: Gibson, McDermott, Brooks, Mirotic, Snell
DNP: Mohammed, Bairstow, Moore
For defensive purposes, with Cleveland looming on Friday, it makes more sense to start Hinrich and Dunleavy. They will be less overmatched than if McDermott was given the assignment or if Snell was forced in. Snell has been trying to prove that he can reliably shoot in the preseason, which was a mostly failed proof.
The Expectation
As it has been the last couple of years, the Eastern Conference is top heavy. The Cavs having the league's best (and healthiest) player along with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving are expected to battle the Bulls for the top spot. The Raptors, Wizards and Hornets should be fighting for the other home court spots.
The last 3 seasons have been an exercise in "what if". After all of this waiting, the proof will be in the pudding.
Will the core players (Rose, Noah, Gasol, Butler) stay healthy through the season and more importantly, in the playoffs?
Will McDermott and Mirotic be able to contribute on both ends of the floor against NBA level competition?
Will the Bulls balance enough offense to go along with their defensive tenacity to finally make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals, and to the Finals?
... "We'll see..."
Go Bulls!
-- wake.eat.sleep