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Chicago Bulls Have No Legitimate Championship Hopes In 2015

By Robby Sabo

Mar 9, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau reacts during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite starting the season hotter than a Mia Khalifa keyword, Tom Thibodeau and the Chicago Bulls now have zero championship hopes in 2015.

I sometimes don’t understand the lack of voice NBA writers showcase.

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Most of the time they realize when something is certain to happen, or not happen, yet they hold judgment to the last possible moment when the time is considered safe to reveal opinion.

I feel the need to go against the grain — the Chicago Bulls have zero shot to win the 2014-15 NBA championship. Actually, I’d be surprised if they won a single series.

It is a bold statement to declare such an obvious reality? Of course not. However, let’s not pretend we live in a world where the NBA is all of a sudden the NFL, or NHL, or MLB, where miracle runs do happen in those respective postseasons.

It’s a shame though. Finally, Tom Thibodeau, who’s among the top five basketball minds in the world, was equipped with a team that could challenge for the title.

Acquiring Pau Gasol was a perfect offensive and heady compliment to the defensive brilliance this team has played with for years now. Joakim Noah played the hustle guy who picks all the little bits and pieces of trash on the court while Gasol provided flow in the mid to low block with his talented skill-set.

Mar 13, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) pulls up his jersey after receiving his fifth foul during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) pulls up his jersey after receiving his fifth foul during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets defeated 101-91. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /

Now, as predictable as it usually is for this Chicago team, Thibodeau yet again must adjust on the fly due to massive injury hits.

Of course the face of the franchise went down in Derrick Rose. Let’s be honest, Bulls fans have a better shot of Michael Jordan returning to the court next week than Rose getting through a full season healthy.

It’s just the cold hard reality the franchise is facing.

Still, the team could have overcome the Rose injury and made a dent in the playoffs if Rose was the only casualty. Burgeoning superstar Jimmy Butler going down was the nail in the coffin. And yes, while Butler will most likely return to the lineup eventually, there’s very little hope these guys can gel in time to do anything very serious in nature during the spring.

Chicago has lost five of their last six games including a 109-100 loss to the Thunder in Oklahoma City on Sunday. They of course now sit second in the Central behind LeBron’s Cavs who have simply outclassed them in recent weeks.

If not for Thibodeau, this team would be completely fouled up.

Yes I understand — this is sports, where anything can happen.

Please though, understand this: this is the NBA, where nothing magical happens when the championship is concerned.

When was the last “surprise” champion in The Association? The Detroit Pistons of 2004? The San Antonio Spurs of 1999? The Syracuse Nationals of 1955?

It’s the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antionio Spurs, Jordan’s and LeBron’s of the world who eat up all of the Larry O’Brien trophies. It’s also the one league (aside from the quarterback position in the NFL) that witnesses catastrophic consequences when a superstar player gets injured.

With only five men on the court, it’s just the nature of the sport.

No doubt about it, Cinderellas can strike at any time, even in the NBA of all places (once a century). Guys like Aaron Brooks, Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell won’t be a part of that sudden strike. Instead, keep your eyes glued on college hoops for your shocking moments.

The 2014-15 Chicago Bulls are toast. It is now up to ownership to figure things out and not have a season end in injury sadness yet again in 2015-16.

Next: Chicago Bulls: 3 Takeaways From Loss To OKC

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