The 2015-16 Bulls season is shaping up to be scarier than usual.
That goes for whether you’re a fan or one of the team’s opponents.
Tuesday’s season opener against LeBron James’ Cavaliers (a 97-95 win) at the United Center provided a glimpse into how explosive the Bulls can be if they have their act together–and how disappointing they might be if they don’t.
BULLS OPPONENTS SHOULD FEAR …
Derrick Rose’s first step
Oh, it’s still there all right. Although he played only 32 minutes, Rose was able to get to the rim basically at will Tuesday. His double vision might need time to recover, however; he shot only 8-of-22 from the field in scoring a solid 18 points.
Nikola Mirotic’s offense
What the second-year forward lacks on the defensive end he contributes on the other, whether it’s hoisting 3s or putting it on the deck and attacking the basket. It has been only one game, true, but he seems to be growing into his role as a starter. Really, the Bulls will take 19 points and nine rebounds from him every … single … night.
The Bulls’ versatility
Chemistry will take most of the season to build considering the Bulls are adjusting to a new coach and all the changes Hoiberg and his staff are making. Yet fans can expect their depth to carry them (and not just because injuries are a real possibility) and create matchup nightmares for the opposition. All 10 Bulls players who saw the court Tuesday contributed at least 14 minutes. That should pay off in the long run.
BULLS FANS SHOULD FEAR …
Nikola Mirotic’s defense
Let’s just say the 24-year-old has a lot of room to improve. The Cavs’ Kevin Love shook Mirotic easily several times, including a play that led to a dunk for the game’s first bucket. That wasn’t the only time he left his teammates out to dry, either.
Their own punctuality
The United Center was only about half full at tipoff. Some of that could be attributed to the havoc President Obama’s visit wreaked on traffic. Still, there were plenty of empty seats throughout the night. Are fans really that skeptical?
The Cavs
Let’s not forget the defending Eastern Conference champs played without starting point guard Kyrie Irving and bench stalwart Iman Shumpert on Tuesday. The next time the Bulls host the Cavs, which is in early April, we’ll have an even better idea of whether Chicago truly can expect a deep playoff run.
Only 81 games to go, folks.
Chris Sosa is RedEye’s sports editor. @redeyesportschi
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