Entering the 2014-15 NBA regular season, the Chicago Bulls were commonly labeled as a team with legitimate championship aspirations. A major reason for that projected leap to elite was the cultivation of a deep and star-studded roster.
The signing of Pau Gasol and the return of Derrick Rose solidified the offense. Joakim Noah was named Defensive Player of the Year and Jimmy Butler was named All-Defense in 2013-14, leading to the rational belief that the play would be elite on the other end, as well.
Throw in the long-awaited arrival of the highly-touted Nikola Mirotic and Chicago had a core to be reckoned with.
With the postseason in full swing and Chicago approaching the wrong side of history, aspirations have evolved into expectations. The Bulls can no longer use injuries as an excuse, nor can they talk about, “Next season.”
In the 2015 Playoffs, it’s NBA Finals or bust.
Pau Gasol’s Age
Pau Gasol had a genuinely historic regular season. He became the oldest player in NBA history to lead the league in double-doubles and joined the likes of Wilt Chamberlain and Robert Parish statistically.
Gasol will also turn 35 in July.
Nikola Mirotic is a tantalizing player who’s viewed as Gasol’s heir apparent, but he’s struggled mightily during the 2015 NBA Playoffs. He’s shooting 32.4 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from 3-point range, which has led to a diminished role.
The question is, how long will can the Bulls afford to wait for Mirotic to truly step into Gasol’s massive shoes as the go-to interior scorer? How long will it take before he’s able to play at a level comparable to Gasol?
Fairly asked, can he handle the pressure of the postseason?
Gasol has never relied upon his athleticism, and it’s very unrealistic to believe that he’ll see a sharp enough decline to not be effective in 2015-16. Mirotic, however, was brought over to be the next big star in Chicago basketball.
If the Bulls can’t win in this window of Gasol, a two-time NBA champion, performing at an elite level, it may not do so at all with its current core.
Kevin Love’s Injury
The Chicago Bulls have never defeated LeBron James in the NBA Playoffs. They’ve won games—specifically, Game 1— but can’t seem to buy a win in any other outing.
All three series against James-led teams ended in a 4-1 defeat, including a disturbing trend during the past two encounters.
The last two times the Bulls played a LeBron team in the playoffs, they won Game 1, then proceeded to lose four straight & lose in 5 games.
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 5, 2015
In 2015, Cleveland has already come back from down 1-0 to tie the series at 1-1.
The good news for Chicago is that the Cavaliers will be without star power forward Kevin Love. The 26-year-old will miss the remainder of the postseason due to shoulder surgery,
As Cleveland limps through this series without Love, Chicago cannot let this golden opportunity slip away.
Cleveland has already played two games without J.R. Smith, who returns from suspension for Game 3. The Bulls capitalized on this two-man-down advantage by winning Game 1 and taking home court advantage as the series shifts to Chicago for Game 3.
The question is, can Tom Thibodeau’s crew finally get over the hump and beat James in the playoffs? Thus far, they haven’t been able to win more than a single game in such encounters.
Thibodeau’s job likely depends on how far the Bulls make it.
Tom Thibodeau’s Job Security
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Chicago Bulls may fire head coach Tom Thibodeau this coming offseason. That’s been reported by multiple outlets and sources for months on hand.
Per Wojnarowski, it’s become something of an inevitability.
"In a lot of ways, the Bulls-Thibodeau partnership survived because of Rose. Even now, his stature won’t stop the inevitable parting this spring."
The Memphis Grizzlies fired Lionel Hollins after making the first Western Conference Finals appearance in franchise history. The San Francisco 49ers fired Jim Harbaugh after three years of glory and a single 8-8 season.
Thibodeau’s situation isn’t much different.
Chicago’s head coach and front office have been at odds for years, as multiple reports have stated. Losing to a shorthanded Cleveland Cavaliers squad in the Eastern Conference Semifinals may be the impetus Gar Forman needs to execute the dismissal.
Whether fair or foul, results speak louder than reputations in the NBA.
| Tom Thibodeau | Win Percentage |
|---|---|
| Regular Season | .647 |
| Playoffs | .468 |
| Difference | -.179 |
Thus far, Thibodeau has one Eastern Conference Finals appearance and a number of early exits under his belt. Clearly, Derrick Rose’s injuries and the front office’s subsequent failure to bring in the proper help has played a factor.
For a coach as revered and polarizing as Thibodeau—universally respected, but known for running rotations too short to be sustainably effective—success matters.
Anything short of an NBA Finals appearance would be deemed a failure for a Bulls team with extraordinary depth and a healthy Rose. That comes with star power, high-caliber role players and a potentially age and health-restricted window of opportunity.
The question is, can the Bulls finally live up to the hype? Or is this team destined for another disappointing postseason tenure?
Thibodeau’s job and the future of the organization appear to be dependent upon Chicago’s success in 2015.
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