Chicago Bulls Last Season Performance
The Chicago Bulls finished their regular season with a 46-36 record at a .561 winning percentage; The Bulls made the playoffs to face the Milwaukee Bucks but fell 1-4 in the first-round series.
Chicago made the sixth position in the Eastern Conference standings. Also, they finished in the league’s 13th position in offensive rating and made the 22nd place in defensive rating in their 2021-22 campaign.
The Chicago Bulls had an overall good season; their key players, DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, Nikola Vucevic, and Lonzo Ball, delivered solid performances throughout the campaign. However, DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic were the team stars.
DeMar DeRozan averaged 27.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists in his 76 appearances; In Game 2 versus the Bucks, the forward set a playoff career-high with 41 points that led the Bulls to a 114-110 triumph; the Bulls evened the series 1-1.
In addition, DeMar DeRozan made it to the 2022 NBA All-Star Game; the Association named DeRozan the 2022 NBA All-Star Game Starter next to Andrew Wiggins.
Zach LaVine played in 67 games averaging 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists; the guard-forward is a strong and athletic player, and he contributed to the Bulls’ scoring throughout the campaign. In LaVine’s best 2021-22 game, he scored contributed 39 points versus the Pelicans.
Also, Zach LaVine made it to the All-Star team for the second season. On the downside, Zach LaVine went through knee surgery in the offseason; however, he has been rehabilitating and should be ready to continue delivering powerful performances in the upcoming campaign.
Center Nikola Vucevic successfully contributed to the 2021-22 Bulls’ campaign; his offense was fierce, Vucevic averaged 17.6 ppg, 11.0 rpm, and 3.2 apg, and he finished with 44 double-doubles, the seventh position in the league. On the defensive end, even though the Bulls struggled as a unit, Vucevic underperformed; he averaged 9.1 drb, one stl, and one blk.
Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball created a top defensive partnership, they played a central role in the Bulls’ defense and complement each other. Ball is one of the top defensive players in the league, he is can defend multiple positions. Unfortunately, his knee injury affected his availability and led to a substantial decline in his team performance. Moreover, Caruso has a significant defensive impact. By October, he led the league in steals; when the Bulls’ defense was on top, it was due to Caruso and Ball’s energy and effort.
Lastly, the Bulls made a massive jump last season since 2017; they improved their record and proved that they are a potential threat in the East for the upcoming season.
Chicago Bulls Offseason Changes
The Chicago Bulls had a fair 2021-22 season; due to their record, they avoided the PlayIn tournament and finished 6th in the Eastern Conference. While there is a lot to praise for the Bulls’ performance, they needed to make some off-season adjustments in defense.
At the 2022 NBA Draft end, the Bulls selected Dalen Terry as the 18th overall pick in the first round; Dalen has the potential to fill the defense void Chicago is desperate to fill. Former Arizona proved an agile and quick player who can defend multiple positions. While chances are Terry won’t get heavy minutes on the court, he will incorporate gradually as the season progresses. On the rookies’ side, they signed rookie guard Javon Freman- Liberty.
In free agency, Chicago retained his guard-star and re-signed Zach LaVine; in addition, they inked Derrick Jones. As a new addition to the team, Chicago signed big man Kostas Antetokounmpo in a camp deal that could lead to a permanent contract with the Bulls.
Also, Chicago signed free agent Carlik Jones who spent most of last season playing in the G League, and veteran Andre Drummond.
At the departure gate, Chicago shipped Troy Brown Jr., Tyler Cook, Matt Thomas, and Tristan Thompson.
Chicago Bulls Key Additions
Chicago Bulls’ best offseason movement might appear too obvious for some and disappointing for others; the Bulls re-signed their star player Zach LaVine to a max contract back in July.
While LaVine is a key player that has contributed significantly to the Bulls’ recent success, his addition doesn’t solve the lack of defense they needed to solve during the offseason.
Chicago Bulls Key Subtractions
The Bulls’ offseason was uneventful, and this is their worst movement. Chicago didn’t address the obvious issues and failed to add depth to their roster.
Chicago Bulls Coach Analysis
Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan joined the team in 2020 for a four-year contract. After two seasons with Chicago, he has accomplished many milestones and endured many challenges.
At the beginning of the season, Billy’s efforts were fruitful and more evident; the roster was healthy, and the defense was on point as Ball and Caruso were in the highest form, and by then, the Bulls got to the top ten defensive teams in the league.
Nonetheless, issues started emerging when key players got injured, impacting the Bulls’ overall performance. Coach Donovan needed to deal with not having his team available, so the rotation became an issue. The media questioned Coach Donovan’s coaching skills.
Despite all challenges, Coach Donovan did a good job overall. He led the Bulls to their first playoff appearance since 2017; they finished sixth in the Eastern Conference. Two of his key players made the All-Star team. Also, he won Eastern Conference Coach of the Month in November.
In the upcoming season, Donovan will have much more pressure on his shoulders. He needs the time to establish himself and his team, build more team chemistry and continue sculpting the Bulls’ chemistry.
Chicago Bulls Betting Prediction for the 2022-23 Season
The sportsbook has the Chicago Bulls at +6000 to win the NBA Championship and +2800 to win the Eastern Conference, the seventh favorite.
The Bulls were strong at the beginning of the season; they improved their record and made the playoffs. However, Chicago declined in the second part of the season and fell in the Eastern Conference first round. Moreover, injuries, rotation, and availability were an issue for them.
The absence of point guard Lonzo Ball impacted them, and they are now about to start the upcoming season with a weaker defense. They count on Caruso and Terry to take over, but it is too early to see what the rookie can bring to the team.
The expectations are high for the Bulls since they count on stars DeMar, DeRozan and Zach LaVine, but the Eastern Conference is strong this upcoming season. Will they be able to step up? If they remain healthy, they might get to the top spots in their conference, but winning the championship might take a few more years for this young roster.
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Chicago Bulls FAQs
When was the Chicago Bulls' last NBA Finals appearance?
The Chicago Bulls’ last appearance was in 1998. It has been 25 years since the Bulls reached the NBA Finals.
When was the last time the Chicago Bulls made the playoffs?
The Chicago Bulls made the playoffs in the 2021-22 season to face the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference first round. They lost the series 4-1.
What’s the current Chicago Bulls win-loss record?
The Chicago Bulls ended the 2021-22 campaign with a 46-36 record.
What was the Chicago Bulls' best record?
The Bulls’ best record was 72-10 reached in the 1996-96 regular season and it stands as the best in NBA history.
