One season after Boozer (.532) and Noah (.508) drained more than half their shots, their conversion rates have dropped considerably. Boozer started the week at .481, while Noah checked in at .482. Among those in the rotation, only Luol Deng has shot better (.432) and scored more (17.4 points) than last season.
Rose even has his fingerprints on one of the few areas of improvement this season. The team has attempted 2.2 more free throws per game, an indication that some of the easy shots of old have been contested this time around.
So how many losses can a bum knee be worth?
Through 32 games, the Bulls own a 19-13 record. Based on their 32-7 mark with Rose last season, they would be on a 26-6 pace now. That would put them three games ahead of the Miami Heat in the race for the top playoff seed in the East.
The good news for the Bulls is their worst nightmare may soon be behind them. Rose has resumed non-contact drills, taken part in shootarounds and fully expects to be ready for the stretch drive.
“We’re not trying to evasive,” general manager Gar Forman said earlier this week. “We just have stayed true to the process of taking things step by step, knowing we have to get him back to 100 percent. Once he’s at 100 percent and cleared medically, he’ll be ready to play. We’re optimistic that he’ll be back.”
For the sake of argument, suppose Rose returns immediately after the All-Star break, as has been widely speculated. Let’s also make a conservative guess that the Bulls split their 20 games before then and win two of every three with him the rest of the way. As it stands now, that projects to a 49-33 record, the No. 3 seed and homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
I’m not convinced that even with Rose of reasonably sound mind and body, the Bulls are deep and athletic enough to make a serious championship run this spring.
Yet if I’m a conference rival, I sure as heck don’t want to meet them in the first round, either.
Paul Ladewski is a long-time Chicago-area sportswriter and columnist. He is an occasional contributor to SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.
Think the Bulls miss Omer Asik a little bit?
Bad mistake to dump him.
Probably won’t see this, but I just want to point out that while the Bulls ABSOLUTELY miss Omer, they certainly did not “dump” him. Long story short, the Rockets were able to use a loop hole in the CBA regarding second round picks that forced the Bulls’ hand.
the bulls are not a championship team. even with rose, they would be lucky to be a seventh seed in the west. the thunder would destroy them in a series. they should play next season and not this one.
Thibs knows D, but he doesn’t know O. This team needs more than Rose, and no, I don’t mean Pau Gasol, either. An upgrade at off guard should be first on the list.
Every time you think the Bulls have turned the corner, they play like garbage against the Suns at home. Even if Rose comes back strong, this team has problems. Belinelli, Hinrich and Robinson can’t be trusted off the bench.
Excellent analysis. Knew the Bull weren’t the same team without Rose, but I never saw it broken down like this. The coverage in Chicago is lame, sort of like the Bulls bench.
The Bulls bench has come on lately to be much better then what this article points out. They started off slow (just like the 10/11 bench did) but have really brought it the last 15 or so games.
having a superstar makes everyones job easier so its no surprise that the numbers are down across the board. Just look at the knicks this year w/o melo and people say they are one of the deepest team in the league.