The Mystery that is the Chicago Bulls

     Unpredictable would be the best word to use when describing the 2012-13 Chicago Bulls season. Many thought with star Point Guard Derrick Rose going down with a torn ACL in game 1 of last year's playoffs, that this season was already in the books. Could the Bulls really hold their heads above water long enough for D Rose to come back? Would their record reflect a scenario to make it even worth it at all for Rose to come back? Should he simply sit out this year and look to come back strong for next season? These are the questions that have been asked, and it has started the unpredictability.

     So, how will Chicago be without its current favorite son? The Bulls currently sit at 21-15, good enough for 5th in the Eastern Conference standings. Most Bulls fans would say that they would take that record at this point any day of the week. The record may seem pretty straightforward to some that say Chicago is "decent" without Derrick Rose, but this season has been anything but straightforward. An argument can be made that the Bulls are the hardest team in the league to figure out this year.

     Recent evidence would support this claim. The Bulls in the last few weeks, have given the Miami Heat one of their 3 home losses, and defeated the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. In fact, Chicago is a perfect 3-0 against the Knicks this season. These wins were typical of the Tom Thibodeau era, great defense and effort to wear down the opponent. And then there's the list of head scratchers. Chicago lost at home on New Year's Eve to the lowly Bobcats, ending Charlotte's 18 game losing streak. The Bulls most recent disturbing defeat came again at home, losing to Phoenix, ending a 12 road losing skid for the Suns. These losses were keyed by poor defense, flat offense and bad execution overall. This is very uncharacteristic of Thibodeau coached teams. 

     All this points up the facts that this team is just one of those teams that you just never know what you will get. Case and point, the Bulls have one of the best Road records in the league at 10-5, while going a very pedestrian 11-10 at home. It is clear that the Bulls seem to play like that gritty and desperate team on the road, and seem to get relaxed and timid while playing at home. 

     The final verdict for me, is that we won't effectively be able to judge this year's Chicago Bulls squad until Derrick Rose can return. If healthy and effective, Rose can give the Bulls their leader and go to guy down the stretch, when the offense can become stagnant. Rose is expected to return some time after the All Star Break. Until then, I encourage all Bulls fans to continue to be positive while we continue to await "The Return" for this season. The final verdict has yet to be decided on, but if Derrick Rose can return to his old self, sentencing for the rest of the league could be set for late April, through June.