Why The Chicago Bulls Are NBA Finals Contenders

The Chicago Bulls do a number of things well on both ends of the floor making them well-rounded enough to be NBA Finals contenders.

It’s no secret that the Eastern Conference is much deeper in terms of over .500 ball clubs than its Western counterpart this season. With that being said, the Cleveland Cavaliers have remained heavy favorites to make it to the NBA Finals.

I, however, see a second team separating itself from the rest of the pack: the Chicago Bulls.

Chicago has certainly had its ups and downs this season thanks to a number of injuries to key players. Derrick Rose isn’t at full strength after suffering a multitude of injuries and Joakim Noah hasn’t been healthy dating back to last year.

Questions have come up regarding coach Fred Hoiberg‘s job security after star guard Jimmy Butler made his thoughts public about Hoiberg’s leadership capabilities.

Not to mention all the same drama exists between Rose and the Bulls about his future with the team and potential trade partners should the situation present itself.

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All of this adds up to fans and analysts wondering if Chicago has the stability to keep itself together for a deep playoff run.

The good news is the results on the floor have spoken for themselves, especially of late.

After dropping three games in a row the Bulls have won three of their last four games, all against playoff contenders in the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors.

All of the talent is in place. When Rose and Butler are on they’re as talented as any backcourt in the league. Pau Gasol is a wonderfully skilled post player who can also step out and knock down a perimeter shot. Nikola Mirotic and Taj Gibson provide quality depth, and young guns Tony Snell, Doug McDermott and Bobby Portis have shown tons of promise when they’ve gotten extended minutes.

The key to Chicago’s success isn’t in its personnel, but the style of play the team is currently exhibiting.

Coach Hoiberg has installed a new offense that focuses on spacing and kicking out to open three-point shooters, which explains why the Bulls rank ninth in three-point efficiency at 35.8 percent.

Rose, Butler, McDermott, Snell, Mirotic, Gasol and Portis are all more than capable of hitting a three-pointer along with backup point guard Aaron Brooks. That gives Chicago at least eight deep threats in the rotation with Gibson and Noah capable of wreaking havoc on the interior.

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All in all the Bulls have balance in their offense and the defense hasn’t slacked either despite the departure of former defensive guru Tom Thibodeau.

Chicago leads the league in terms of defensive field goal percentage at 41.8 percent and are the best team at defending two-point shots thanks to the athleticism and length of their post players. Given their ability to play both man-to-man and zone on any given occasion thanks to the players in the rotation, the Bulls can adjust to any situation that’s presented to them, making it difficult to score on them in bunches despite mismatches and substitution patterns.

The Bulls have always been a dangerous defensive team, but now that they have the offense to complement it, Chicago can lay claim to being a two-way threat and a challenger to the Cavaliers.

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Depth, defense and shooting are three of the most important ingredients to winning a title, and the Bulls are lucky enough to have all three in place.