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Chicago Bulls: Examining the team’s 2017-18 preseason schedule

By Allana Tachauer

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Fred Hoiberg of the Chicago Bulls directs his players from the sideline during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. The Bulls defeated the Lakers 118-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 20: Fred Hoiberg of the Chicago Bulls directs his players from the sideline during the NBA game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on November 20, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. The Bulls defeated the Lakers 118-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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This season, the Chicago Bulls will begin their 2017-18 preseason play on October 3.

Good news, basketball fans: 2017-18 play is just around the corner.

While Oct. 17 may seem lightyears away, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has moved the start date of the season earlier by a week, bringing preseason action to Sept. 30.

As for the Chicago Bulls, their year will officially begin on Oct. 3, marking the first of six preseason games.

The team will first take on former Bull Rajon Rondo and the rest of the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Chicago won both games against New Orleans last year, and will look to keep the streak alive.

The difference, of course, is that Anthony Davis and Boogie Cousins have more time to build chemistry, and the Bulls no longer have Jimmy Butler (who scored 28 and 39 against the Pelicans in 2016-17).

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    • The very next day, Chicago will then head to take on the Dallas Mavericks, who recently drafted rookie standout Dennis Smith Jr. The 19-year-old averaged 17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.2 steals per game in six Summer League appearances. He shot 45.7 percent from the field and 34.6 percent from downtown, showcasing his versatility.

    However, the Bulls have Lauri Markkanen, a big man who can shoot; in three  tSummer League contests, Markkanen averaged 14.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in 32.7 minutes of play.

    Oct. 6 marks Chicago’s home opener, as they host the Milwaukee Bucks. While the Bucks may not have made any headlining offseason moves, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, they really did not have to. Milwaukee finished sixth in the Eastern Conference, two spots ahead of the Bulls, and went 3-1 against Chicago last year. On the other hand, there is nothing like a home crowd, preseason or not.

    The Bulls then get to welcome Rondo back to the United Center on Oct. 8 before heading off to visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 10. And yes, this also means seeing former hometown hero Derrick Rose. While the Cavaliers very well may be without current point guard Kyrie Irving by the time October rolls around, they did sign Rose to a one-year, $2.1 million deal earlier this summer.

    It is true that numbers do not always tell a player’s whole story (especially in Rose’s case), but he did still average 18.0 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game last year — certainly not 2010 Chicago Rose (25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists a contest), but it could be worse.

    The last preseason matchup will take place at home on Oct. 13 (a Friday, no less) against the Toronto Raptors. The Bulls went 2-1 against the Raptors last year, but Toronto finished third in the East. With the return of Kyle Lowry, it is hard to imagine the organization falling from grace.

    Now it must be said that at the end of the day, preseason is mostly an opportunity for new guys to get a feel for their team outside of practice. In other words, anything can happen, and those results do not necessarily reflect what is to come during the regular year.

    However, the bad news for the Bulls is that as a unit, they looked completely lost during Summer League. Between Kris Dunn and Cameron Payne both having to leave for personal reasons, Denzel Valentine shoving teammate Nikola Jovanovic mid-game and Paul Zipser spraining his ankle… things were messy for Chicago this summer.

    This would only be made worse by the possibility of Dwyane Wade being bought out, Zach LaVine still rehabbing and Nikola Mirotic‘s future being up in the air.

    Next: The biggest winners and losers of 2017 NBA free agency

    Even so, Chicago Bulls fans should get excited for things to tip off on Oct. 3. After all, any basketball is better than none.

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