During the first few months of the 2021-22 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls were looking like they could be the league’s newest title contenders.
As late as February 16, the date of their last game before the All-Star break, the Bulls held a 38-21 record, which gave them the top spot in the Eastern Conference.
But they only won eight of their last 23 contests, finishing a mere sixth in the East, and they had a terrible record versus the NBA’s championship contenders.
Updated map showing NBA teams who have a worse record then the Bulls against “contenders” this year: pic.twitter.com/D99YFRz4hO
— Micah Roschke (@MicahRoschke) March 5, 2022
The outlook is still bright for Chicago, but it is clear now that the team isn’t as elite as some thought several months ago.
What will it take for the Bulls to go from pretenders to true contenders and win their first world title since 1998?
The Bulls Need A Few Wise Men
Generally speaking, young teams do not win championships.
Phil Jackson, the legendary coach who guided the Bulls to all six of their NBA titles in the 1990s, once said that you win with men.
Chicago was one of the NBA’s youngest teams this season, and it also had a lack of players who had already won a ring.
Only Alex Caruso and big man Tristan Thompson have tasted championship champagne in the past.
Veterans are key in helping a team like the Bulls get over the hump because they can teach young players the finer intricacies of the game, as well as help them maintain their composure when they face adversity.
When the defending world champion Milwaukee Bucks challenged the Bulls in the first round of this year’s playoffs, the Bulls ran away and hid instead of stampeding their opponent.
Champions don’t wither when challenged and allow themselves to lose three straight playoff games by at least 16 points, as Chicago did to the Bucks.
The team’s incumbent players gaining experience by losing in the playoffs won’t be enough.
It needs to bring in at least one man who has been there and done that on the way to the promised land.
What Are The Specific Roster Needs?
The Bulls could use an experienced veteran point guard who can keep their offense humming when starter Lonzo Ball is on the bench (or injured).
Coby White is a decent player, but he’s not a true playmaker, as he averages just 3.8 assists per 36 minutes.
Some additional rim protection would also help shore up the Bulls’ defense.
Although they looked strong on the end early in the season, they finished the season just 22nd in defensive rating, which simply won’t get it done.
Starting center Nikola Vucevic is a very good center, but he has never averaged more than 1.1 blocked shots per game in a season.
Although Chicago shot 36.9 percent from 3-point range in the regular season, which was fourth in the NBA, it was at least somewhat of a mirage.
In the series against Milwaukee, only two Chicago players – Caruso and Zach LaVine – shot over 34 percent from downtown.
Milwaukee ran away in that #Bulls series when they realized Chicago had no shooting and couldn't match size
Was a simple recipe, one that won't hold up against Boston, who has the size and has the shooters to go along with a tenacious defense
— Anish Puligilla (@anishpFS) May 1, 2022
The Bucks are clearly better than the Bulls. Chicago is getting overpowered by the Bucks and they aren’t helping their case with their abysmal 3 point shooting
— Dylan Backer (@DylanBacker_) April 28, 2022
A dead-eye shooter or two would help, especially come playoff time when teams such as the Bucks tend to shrink the court.
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