Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls: 5 Reasons To Be Thankful

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 9:01 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The Chicago Bulls are 10-6 through their first 16 games. In addition to being one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference, here a few other reasons why they are thankful.

Nov 22, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) takes an inbound pass against Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade (3) in the final seconds of the game at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Bulls 110-107. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Life has not been easy for the Chicago Bulls and their fan base for the past two seasons. For instance, I’m more than sure that many of you were scratching your heads when the front office fired a head coach whose teams had won 65 percent of its games despite missing key players at various stretches.

Secondly, after watching your team make it to the playoffs for seven consecutive years, the Bulls finished the 2015-16 campaign with a less than impressive 42-40 record and failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time in eight seasons.

This year, however, the Bulls have started off the 2016-17 campaign winning 10 of their first 16 games. As a result of their early success, they are currently the fourth-best team in the Eastern Conference.

With so many new faces on the roster coming into the season, that is quite an accomplishment to say the least. So in light of the Thanksgiving holiday, here are a few reasons why the Bulls, as well as their fans, are thankful.

Oct 31, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson (left) and general manager Gar Forman (right) chat prior to a game against the Sacramento Kings at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Front Office Gets It Right

After riding the previous core of players for nearly a decade, the Bulls felt that a change was needed. The question was, would the team part ways with Derrick Rose or Jimmy Butler, following a season in which the pair never really meshed well on the court together?

With several rumors swirling about the Bulls considering trade offers for Butler, his days in Chicago appeared to be numbered. In spite of those reports, the Bulls ultimately decided to trade their former MVP to the New York Knicks.

Being that Rose was once the cornerstone of the franchise, this move wasn’t a very popular one to say the least. But with Butler taking his game to yet another level this season (more on that later), the Bulls front office deserves some credit for looking towards the future rather than holding on to a group that had obviously gone as far it could.

Nov 10, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) is pressured by Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic (7) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Rajon Rondo A Good Fit As Bulls’ Lead Guard

Let’s get the negative portion of the discussion out of the way first. Rondo has had his fair share of not so great moments during stints with the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings. Secondly, Rondo has never been a prolific scorer by any stretch of the imagination, and he does not shoot the ball at an efficient clip.

In fact, Rondo is currently shooting 36 percent from the floor overall and 27 percent from three-point range. Taking both of the factors into consideration, some questioned why the Bulls decided to sign him during the offseason.

Despite Rondo’s shortcomings, though, second-year coach Fred Hoiberg has nothing but praise when it comes to his point guard.

Hoiberg’s comments especially hold true considering how Rondo has played since returning to the lineup from a sprained ankle. In that three-game stretch, his averages include 7.5 points, 9.5 assists and 9.5 rebounds per outing.

Not only that, Rondo has converted 50 percent of his attempts in two of those four contests after reaching that mark just once in his first seven games of the season.

No, Rondo may not be the explosive player that Rose was, nor is he a great floor spacer. But being that he is a great facilitator with great instincts, the Bulls are certainly thankful that Rondo has proven to be an upgrade over Rose in certain areas.

Oct 20, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Doug McDermott (11) attempts a shot against the Atlanta Hawks at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Atlanta defeated Chicago 97-81. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Dougie McBuckets Playing Well In Year 3

After a somewhat forgettable rookie season in 2013-14, McDermott flourished in Hoiberg’s first year with the team. Along with raising his scoring average from 3.0 points to 9.4 points per outing, McDermott converted 43 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.

With a revamped second unit, though, McDermott was expected to take the next step in year three. And so far, that is exactly what he has done.

For instance, he is averaging 10.6 points and playing 23.7 minutes per game, both of which are career highs. Secondly, McDermott has the second-best conversion rate on the team, knocking down nearly 52 percent of his attempts.

While McDermott is currently going through concussion protocol for the second time this season, the Bulls are certainly grateful that he is playing with more confidence and appears to be letting the game come to him rather than trying to force the issue.

Oct 20, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg speaks before the game against the Atlanta Hawks at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Fred Hoiberg Has Earned Players’ Respect

After being a top-five defensive team under the previous coaching regime, the Bulls front office was hoping that an offensive-minded coach would help them get over the hump.

As it was alluded to earlier, though, that did not happen as the Bulls fell out of playoff contention during the second half of the season.

Whether it was Butler stating that the team needed to be coached harder or reports about the locker room being divided, Hoiberg’s first year in the Windy City did not go as planned.

Fast forward to the present, there is a positive, give-and-take dynamic between the coach and his players, according to center Robin Lopez.

For a Bulls team seeking to get into the playoffs, it is certainly a positive to see that both the coach and players are on the same page.

Nov 22, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) defends against Chicago Bulls forward Jimmy Butler (21) in the fourth quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets defeated the Bulls 110-107. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Jimmy Butler’s Rise To Stardom Continues

After being handed the keys to the team sort to speak, Butler has been a difference-maker both on and off the court.

During the offseason, he trained with some of the younger players, most notably Doug McDermott.

And when contract negotiations broke down between Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, it was Butler who reached out to the three-time champion and 12-time All-Star to let him know how much he wanted him to come to Chicago.

From the Chicago Sun Times:

Following an offseason in which he provided an assist in helping the Bulls acquire a future Hall of Famer, Butler is delivering the goods on the court as well.

As has been the case in each of the last two seasons, Butler leads the Bulls in points (25.8), steals (1.6) and minutes per game (35.5). Along with that, he is third on the team in rebounding (6.8) and second in assists (4.1).

Furthermore, Butler has the second-best PER among small forwards; he is fifth in the league in free-throw attempts (9.7) and has a true shooting percentage of 62.5. It should also be noted that Butler is shooting 48 percent from the floor and 42 percent from distance, both of which are career highs.

Based on those impressive numbers, Butler is once again proving why he is one of the best two-way players in the association.

Even more to the point, if he continues to play like this for the rest of the season, he will more than likely warrant consideration as the league’s Most Valuable Player.

More from Hoops Habit

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from Chicago Bulls Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Chicago Bulls

National Basketball Association