Bulls might see Heat again, but regular season comes first
One theme during the abbreviated Bulls training camp is to remind everyone there still are 29 other teams in the NBA.
It's only natural for the players, fans, time out entertainers and such to assume the upcoming 66-game season is all about Miami.
The Bulls endured a disappointing loss in the Eastern Conference finals last spring, and no other team in the East stands out as a suitable rival.
Boston got another year older, Dwight Howard wants out of Orlando, and New York's grand plan apparently includes skimping on the backcourt.
So, yes, it's easy to see why people would think a Bulls-Miami playoff rematch is inevitable. Even if it is, though, the games won't be played until late May. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau is sticking with a “first things first” policy.
“I know it's a cliché, but you do have to go step by step,” he said. “When you start looking ahead … every team in this league is capable of beating you.
“I get a kick out of people saying, ‘Well, they're not overly talented.' Really? It's the NBA. Every team is talented. You've got to be ready to play. We can't afford to relax at all.”
There are reasons to believe the Bulls have a chance to beat Miami in a repeat playoff series:
ŸThe last postseason was Derrick Rose's initial experience playing beyond the first round of the playoffs. He figures to learn from it and be better the second time around.
ŸThe Bulls replaced light-scoring shooting guard Keith Bogans with Richard Hamilton, one of the NBA's best playoff performers of the 2000s. Another offensive option should be helpful late in games.
ŸHealth is always an unknown, but the Bulls weren't quite right during the last Miami series. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer struggled while playing through injuries and backup center Omer Asik broke his leg in Game 3.
ŸWith another year under his belt, Rose might get more of the foul calls typically given to James and other NBA stars. During Games 4 and 5, the Bulls were outscored by 3 points in regulation time, while Miami shot 24 more free throws.
The reason they could lose again is simple enough: The Bulls will never be able to match the star power of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
Not much has changed since the Heat rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final four minutes to beat the Bulls in Game 5 at the United Center.
Miami's only major addition is former Memphis small forward Shane Battier, a defensive specialist who will knock down a jumper once in awhile.
The Bulls will start the season with just two new players — Hamilton and rookie forward Jimmy Butler.
“We take it where we still have something to prove,” Rose said. “We know we have talented guys on our team. To win these games in the NBA, we have to play hard and play together. I think that's something we have is chemistry.
“We have the same guys. We only added two pieces. We're looking pretty good. Joakim and Booz are running the floor with us; we have Rip and Luol running the floor, so my job is much easier.”
The lockout-delayed season left roughly two weeks for training camp, and teams won't get much practice time when the games start. So it's easy to imagine the Bulls and Heat separating themselves from the pack.
Since the end of the Michael Jordan era, though, whenever the Bulls expect to be good, something usually goes wrong. They went 62-20 last season, but sustaining success is never automatic.
“We're just taking it one day at a time, one practice at a time,” forward Taj Gibson said. “We understand it's going to be a long, hard process. It's going to be even harder than it was last year.”
“You never know who you're going to match up with in the playoffs or anything like that,” Hamilton added. “You've just got to take care of the game that's in front of you.
“It's a long season, but it's going to go fast with a lot of games in a short amount of time.”
mmcgraw@dailyherald.com