Breaking down the Bulls' schedule, month by month
How will the 2008-09 Chicago Bulls will react to the typically rough early schedule? They could struggle for several weeks to get in sync with the new coaching staff. Or maybe they'll start fast by unleashing Derrick Rose on an unsuspecting NBA. Here is Mike McGraw's month-by-month look at what's in store this season:
November
The opening month includes road games against Boston, Orlando, Cleveland, the Lakers, Portland, Denver, Utah, San Antonio and Philadelphia. That's pretty much every title contender except for Detroit, New Orleans and CSKA Moscow. The Bulls do play seven home games before jetting west for the annual circus road trip, so they better take advantage.
December
Usually, this is when the Bulls catch up on their home games after the Thanksgiving trip. But this time, they actually have more road game (8) than home games (7) in December. A couple of highlights are Rose's return to his college home in Memphis on Dec. 12 and the first projected meeting between Rose and No. 2 draft pick Michael Beasley on Dec. 26 in Miami. Expect no regrets.
January
If things are clicking by then, the Bulls could make up some ground during a stretch in which nine of 11 games are at the United Center. The last of four meetings against Cleveland takes place on Jan. 15. Then comes a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee at Madison Square Garden against Mike D'Antoni, Chris Duhon and the Knicks. Expect major regrets.
February
The first leg of the ice show road trip isn't so bad (Minnesota, Clippers, Sacramento, Phoenix). But when February hits, the Bulls finish up with Houston, New Orleans and Dallas. The Feb. 4 meeting with the Hornets should be the first Rose-Chris Paul matchup. Beasley comes to town with the Heat on Feb. 12, just before the all-star break.
March
This month features some interesting home games. Chris Paul and the Hornets visit on March 14, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are here March 21, while Miami returns on March 26. Also, Boston visits the UC on St. Patrick's Day, so prepare yourself for another game pitting the green-uniformed Bulls against the white-wearing Celtics.
April
The tables finally turn on all those early road games. The Bulls leave town just once in April (on the 13th at Detroit) and play eight of their last 11 at home overall. For the third time in four years, the Bulls finish the season at home against Toronto. In tribute, Chuck Swirsky and Bill Wennington will wear ice skates while calling the game on radio.