Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: 10 Opening Week Overreactions That Might Be Legitimate

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 11
Next
NBA
Oct 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives around a pick from guard Jimmy Butler (21) during the second half against the Boston Celtics at the United Center. Chicago won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Chicago Bulls Make The Playoffs

Over the summer, the Chicago Bulls were almost universally dismissed for sticking three non-shooters in the same backcourt. Starting another non-shooter like Taj Gibson at the 4 alongside Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler only made it worse. Yet somehow, Chicago is off to its first 3-0 start since Michael Jordan‘s Bulls in 1996-97.

Even better, Fred Hoiberg‘s squad is not only leading the league in offensive rating (114.7 points per 100 possessions), but they’re also leading the league in three-point percentage (42.5 percent) and fifth in defensive rating (97.0). THIS is what the front office envisioned last year when it decided to move on from Tom Thibodeau.

Again, three games is a microscopic sample size, and there’s a good chance the Bulls’ season opener — in which they shot 11-for-25 from deep, including 4-for-6 from both Wade and Butler — was fueled by all the summer criticism and Wade’s homecoming more than anything else.

However, perhaps we shouldn’t have been so quick to doubt the influence of a seasoned champion like Wade, the continued growth of Butler and the simple addition by subtraction of trading away Derrick Rose. Chicago’s league-leading offense won’t last, but the Bulls’ playoff hopes just might.