Chicago Bulls: Biggest strengths and weaknesses for 2017-18

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 11: Fred Hoiberg of the Chicago Bulls huddles during the Chicago Bulls All Access practice on October 11, 2016 at the Advocate Center in Chicago, Illinois. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images /

Strength No. 1: Rebounding

Thanks to a favorable schedule down the stretch, the Bulls finished the 2016-17 campaign with a 41-41 record. Although this is nothing to be overly excited about, there were a few areas in which the Bulls actually performed well.

One of those areas was rebounding. Butler, Lopez and Gibson all averaged more than six rebounds per outing. Additionally, both Rondo and Nikola Mirotic averaged more than five per game.

Behind this balanced attacked on the glass, the Bulls were the third-best rebounding team in the NBA last season, averaging 46.3 per contest. That’s the good news.

The unfortunate side of this story is three of the five players I just mentioned are no longer on the team. In other words, this young core will have to step up in this area to replace the production of the top two rebounders from last season.

It is a certainty this will be one of the areas that Fred Hoiberg will stress during training camp. If the young Bulls can find a way to duplicate the production of the players who have departed, controlling the glass will be a strong suit for this year’s team as well.

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