SDH's 2013/2014 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 9. Chicago Bulls

+Chicago Bulls  Overall Win/Loss Record :  45-37,  second place Central Division	Last Season’s Rank 9	Projected 2013/2014 Finish 9
Last season’s Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 93.2 (29th) Points Allowed: 92.9 (3rd) Team FG%: .437 (25th) Opponent’s FG%: .443 (9th) Team FT%: .773 (9th) Team Three Point FG%: .353 (21st) Rebounds per game: 43.2 (8th) Opponents rebounds per game: 41.1 (9th) Turnovers per game: 13.7 (10th) Opponents turnovers per game: 31.1 (23rd)	Returning Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): +Loul Deng  (16.5) Rebounds per game:  +Joakim Noah  (11.1) Minutes per game:  Loul Deng (38.7) Assists per game:  Kirk Hinrich (5.2) Field Goal Percentage: Taj Gibson (.485) Free Throw Percentage:  Loul Deng (.820) Three Point FG Percentage: Kirk Hinrich (.390) Steals per game:  Joakim Noah (1.2) Blocked Shots per game:   Joakim Noah (2.1)
Projected Starters Based on Talent, Tenure, Paycheck and Potential Impact: C. Joakim Noah PF. +Carlos Boozer  SF. Loul Deng SG. Jimmy Butler PG. +Derrick Rose	Second Unit Roster Order Ranked on Talent, Tenure, Paycheck and Potential Impact: G/F. Mike Dunleavy F. Taj Gibson G. Kirk Hinrich C. Nazr Mohammed G. Daequan Cook
Analysis: Chicago fans can rejoice as Derrick Rose has finally been cleared to play after missing him for an entire season as he rehabbed from a major injury; however, despite the return of the anointed savior, that does not change the fact that their team's window for championship has all but closed.  Three years ago, it looked as if it would be just a matter of time until the Bulls carved their own championship identity and finally move out of the shadow of the Jordan led championship dynasty of old.  The team had won it first 60 plus season in the post Jordan era and Derrick Rose became the youngest player to earn the league's Most Valuable Player Award so after a disappointing finish in the Eastern Conference Finals, Bulls fans simply shrugged it off think it was just the beginning of their team's re-ascension to greatness.  How wrong they were unfortunately as they were forced to endure one wasted season after another--first losing in the first round of the playoffs despite owning the league's best record and then having to scrape to the playoffs as they were forced to play with their franchise player sitting on the sidelines the following year.  Now it is do or die time for this Chicago team as they come into the season without the same dominant swagger that it once had as both Rose and his teammates will face a new look Eastern Conference that they have been accustomed to. For starters, the Eastern Conference has become FAR Stronger than it once was with four teams in the Central Division alone capable of finishing with plus .500 seasons and with great aspirations for the playoffs.  The +Cleveland Cavaliers were once a doormat team that Chicago did not pay much mind to; however, with their off season additions in free agency along with winning the number one overall pick in the draft for the second time in three years, the Cavs now look like a formidable foe for the Bull.  The same goes for the +Detroit Pistons whose prized off season acquisitions include former +Atlanta Hawk and possibly one of the NBA's most electrifying players in Josh Smith along with one of the league rising young star play makers in +Brandon Jennings. Finally, let us not forget the +Indiana Pacers who not only won the Central Division last season, but who had also come within one game of the NBA Finals losing to the +Miami HEAT in a crucial game seven of last season's Eastern Conference Finals.  Altogether the Central Division has become stacked with the three mentioned teams matching the Bulls in terms of depth, talent and firepower thus making it hard for Chicago to win even 50 games, let alone finishing first place in its division. And those ate just the challenges the Bulls will face in their own division--it gets even rougher as they venture of to face the opponents within their conference.  Not only do they have to deal with the already majestic Heat standing at top the mountain, they will also have to face two teams that hail from the same city vying for a shot to not only claim bragging rights, but also seek to dethrone the reining champs as well.  Both the +New York Knicks and the +Brooklyn Nets pose to by major obstacles for the Bulls as the Knicks return with many of the same players who won the second most games in the East last season and the Nets coming in with not only one of the deepest and most talented, but also expensive rosters in the league. Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov spared no expense as he will be one the hook for up to 200$ million in salary and luxury tax penalties for this season ALONE equipping his team with future Hall of Famers in +Kevin Garnett and +Paul Pierce to play alongside their returning core of All Star talent in +Brook Lopez, +Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.  Compound that with a +Carmelo Anthony led Knicks team that includes the likes of former NBA champion and reputed lock down defender, +Metta World Peace, and the first overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, +Andrea Bargnani, the Bulls might just find themselves either battered and bruised, torn to shreds, or even swallowed whole by a much stronger and far less merciful Eastern Conference. As it were not bad enough facing such daunting obstacles, the Bulls will have to face all of them with the same team who were barely able to score last season and has seen its effectiveness fade with each passing year.  Save for the returning Derrick Rose, there is no other Chicago player that can really inspire any confidence as the team's main core has seen both its efficiency and production deteriorate while the bench, which was the team strongest point, was forced to be gutted due to financial reasons. The team's supposed second best player, Loul Deng, was expected to take up the reins and become the team's leader during Rose's absence as he given the green light to take as many shots as he wished; however, he failed miserably to do so as he posted the same inefficient number despite once again leading the team and league in minutes played.  Despite earning his first All Star nod, Joakim Noah  proved once again how unreliably useless he is on the offensive end by contributing a paltry offensive offering of just 11 points per game in spite of leading the team in rebounds, blocked shots and steals per game.  As for the team's prized free agent signing of three years ago, Carlos Boozer, has not lived up to all the hype and will simply continue to remain as another one of the Bulls' high priced role players.       Add along the factors of a less than stellar second unit that consists of an overrated Taj Gibson, and three over the hill players in Kirk Hinrich, Mike Dunleavy, and Nazr Mohammed, the Bulls certainly do not resemble the team that captured the imagination of its fans. They no longer have that intimidation factor they once had as much of the teams in their own conference has upgraded to a point where they do not even stand out among their competitors.  To think this team will even contend for a title is a complete joke because simply put, the Chicago Bulls simply do not have the fire power nor the talent to break through the wall created by the Pacers, Knicks and Nets let alone provide an ample challenge for the the incumbent champion Miami Heat.  How tragic it is to see a team like the Bulls, who had so much hope and potential built around it only to just fall flat and be headed towards a downward turn in just four years.  Unless there is a major overhaul, don't expect the Chicago to contend for a title anytime soon as they simply no longer have the goods to do so.