It’s Year 3 of the Bulls’ rebuild, and there’s supposed to be more for them this season.
More wins, more excitement, another step closer to not just becoming a playoff team but — as vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said the day he traded Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves in 2017 — challenging for the NBA title.
It all sounds good . . . until the Bulls start playing the games.
The Western Conference is still a who’s who of NBA elite, starting in Los Angeles, where the Lakers and Clippers could very well meet in the conference finals.
But to overlook the Eastern Conference and automatically pencil the Bulls into a top-eight playoff slot would be foolish. The Heat, Nets and Pistons have all made improvements in the offseason. And then there are the Hawks, who can claim that their rebuild has been more successful than the Bulls’.
If the Bulls fall short of a playoff appearance next spring, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s an empty, lost season. Their win total seems almost certain to improve from the 22 they had last season, and if they continue to show upward movement, they’re confident that big-name free agents will begin to see Chicago as a destination.
“As I’ve mentioned many times, the internal growth of our guys is a key part of that,” Paxson said. “And I do believe when we establish winning again, that this city is a draw, that this organization is a draw. But that’s down the road.”
How far down the road?
This season should go a long way in determining that.
PREDICTED ORDER OF THE NBA BOTTOM
5. Grizzlies
4. Cavaliers
3. Knicks
2. Hornets
1. Wizards
PREDICTED ORDER OF THE EASTERN CONFERENCE, REGULAR SEASON
1. 76ers
2. Bucks
3. Celtics
4. Pacers
5. Raptors
6. Nets
7. Heat
8. Pistons
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
76ers over Bucks in six
ALL-EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
G – Ben Simmons – 76ers
G – Bradley Beal – Wizards
F – Jimmy Butler – Heat
F – Giannis Antetokounmpo – Bucks
C – Joel Embiid – 76ers
ALL-EASTERN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
G – Kyrie Irving – Nets
G – Zach LaVine – BULLS
F – Jayson Tatum – Celtics
F – Blake Griffin – Pistons
C – Andre Drummond – Pistons
EASTERN CONFERENCE HONORS
MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo – Bucks
Most improved player of the year
Bam Adebayo - Heat
Rookie of the year
Tyler Herro – Heat
Coach of the year
Brett Brown – 76ers
Coach on the hot seat
Scott Brooks – Wizards
Most underrated player
Nikola Vucevic – Magic
Most overrated player
Kyrie Irving – Nets
Big-name trade candidate
Kevin Love – Cavaliers
PREDICTED ORDER OF THE
WESTERN CONFERENCE,
REGULAR SEASON
1. Clippers
2. Lakers
3. Rockets
4. Warriors
5. Jazz
6. Nuggets
7. Trail Blazers
8. Spurs
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
Lakers over Clippers in seven
NBA FINALS
Lakers over 76ers in six
ALL-WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM
G – Stephen Curry – Warriors
G – James Harden – Rockets
F – LeBron James – Lakers
F – Kawhi Leonard – Clippers
C – Anthony Davis – Lakers
ALL-WESTERN CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM
G – Damian Lillard – Trail Blazers
G – Russell Westbrook – Rockets
F – Zion Williamson – Pelicans
F – Paul George – Clippers
C – Nikola Jokic – Nuggets
WESTERN CONFERENCE HONORS
MVP
LeBron James – Lakers
Most improved player of the year
Marvin Bagley III — Kings
Rookie of the year
Zion Williamson – Pelicans
Coach of the year
Doc Rivers – Clippers
Coach on the hot seat
Frank Vogel – Lakers
Most underrated player
Joe Ingles – Jazz
Most overrated player
Karl-Anthony Towns – Timberwolves
Big-name trade candidate
Chris Paul – Thunder
