Originally Published: October 20, 2009
Expert predictions: Chicago Bulls
Predicted Finish For Chicago Bulls: 2009-10
| ANALYST | COMMENT | PREDICTIONS |
|---|---|---|
 |
J.A. Adande, ESPN.com | Adande's picksTwo things that are easy to forget: Luol Deng, who has battled injuries, was the Bulls' top player three years ago, and Derrick Rose was only a rookie last season. Those two facts will have the Chicago Bulls in the thick of the playoffs. |
Central: 2 |
 |
Jon Barry, ESPN | Barry's picksLuol Deng is back but the loss of Ben Gordon is going to be tough to overcome. They have officially become Derrick Rose's team. James Johnson is the steal of the draft. |
Central: 2 |
 |
Chris Broussard, ESPN The Mag | Broussard's picksChicago could certainly crack the top eight, but don't expect it to build on last season's historic series with Boston without Ben Gordon. The Bulls should've found a way to keep him. Period. They'll recognize the error of their ways soon enough. |
Central: 3 |
 |
Chad Ford, ESPN.com | Ford's picksDerrick Rose is the future of the Bulls, but I think they'll miss Ben Gordon's fourth-quarter heroics badly -- Gordon's hot streaks were good for about 10 wins a year for the Bulls. Rose will pick up some of the slack, but Chicago still lacks the low-post scoring presence to take some heat off its guards. |
Central: 3 |
 |
Jemele Hill, ESPN.com Page 2 | Hill's picksI have my doubts as to whether the Bulls are ready to stop teasing us and play up to their potential. While Deng's return is a huge plus, not having Gordon as the consummate dagger-maker will cause a significant ripple effect. Rose is good enough to replace Gordon's late-game heroics. |
Central: 2 |
 |
John Hollinger, ESPN.com | Hollinger's picksHot bandwagon team after taking C's to seven games last season, but let's chill for a year. Loss of Gordon leaves a hole, Thomas-Noah frontcourt remains mismatched and depth will be a problem if the rooks don't deliver right away. |
Central: 3 |
 |
Jalen Rose, ESPN | Rose's picksIf Luol Deng is back playing at a high level, the Bulls will be in the mix in the East. Sky's the limit for a Rose-Salmons backcourt, and Kirk Hinrich will be productive every night. |
Central: 2 |
 |
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com | Sheridan's picksI don't buy the argument that Jannero Pargo is a poor man's Ben Gordon, but the Bulls will be OK getting their fourth-quarter points from John Salmons now. And with Noah and Rose arching upward quickly, this is a solid team. |
Central: 2 |
 |
Marc Stein, ESPN.com | Stein's picksPut me in the camp that says D-Rose's Year 2 maturity, Luol Deng's return from injury and having John Salmons and Brad Miller for the whole season will enable the Bulls to keep building on that epic Boston series. Even without Ben Gordon. |
Central: 2 |
 |
David Thorpe, ESPN.com | Thorpe's picksChicago's memorable playoff loss should help unify what has been a somewhat disjointed collection of talent. Brad Miller and Joakim Noah form the best combo of passing centers in the game, which helps make up for the Bulls' lack of scoring in the paint and the loss of Gordon. |
Central: 2 |
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