Bulls Enter Playoffs as Best Team; Could Motivate Defeated Teams in Playoffs

COMMENTARY | The Chicago Bulls were not expected to do anything special this season. You may recall all NBA attention was aimed at the Miami Heat, what with LeBron James coming to them from Cleveland. However, the Bulls did do something. They finished the season with the best record in the league: 62-20.

I am using as reference an article by Sam Smith at the Chicago Bulls website titled "Bulls finish regular season No. 1."

Along with the team's achievements, Derrick Rose should be a lock as the league's MVP and Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau should win Coach of the Year. However, don't expect the Bulls to get much respect from other key teams like Miami, Boston and Los Angeles.

It is almost a minor aside that the Bulls defeated the New Jersey Nets last night 97-92 to end the season. The fact that the Spurs lost gave the Bulls the best record.

This is a good, if untested, Bulls team. They head to the playoffs with a target on their backs put there by the top teams they defeated again, notably Miami, whose players suggest Chicago doesn't stand in their way of success as much as the Celtics.

The first team the Bulls will meet in the playoffs will be the Indiana Pacers, who bring a record of 37-45. That is something like Seattle making the NFL playoffs with their sub-.500 record.

It is natural that the commentators would see the Bulls as a one-man show, with Derrick Rose being so prominent in their game. However, one man cannot win a game. Michael Jordan proved that when he was the only good player. The Bulls routinely failed until Jordan became surrounded with other players who were effective; it was then they won six titles.

Another key player for the Bulls is Joakim Noah, who has suffered injuries but appears mentally ready for the playoff run.

As Smith has reported, the Chicago Bulls aren't doing a lot of celebrating. In fact, they are sobered from their achievement knowing that they will not be underdogs but expected to beat teams. That angers teams that expected to finish above them.

I think this team is going to make a lot of noise in the playoffs.

References:

Chicago Bulls' Website, Sam Smith, "Bulls finish regular season No. 1"

ESPN.com Website, Tom Haberstroh, "Bosh: Boston, not Chicago, is tougher test"