Was This the Strangest Chicago Bulls' Season Ever?

FROM MY LIVING ROOM—The very notion that the Bulls would yield the best record in the NBA in consecutive seasons is a remarkable achievement given:

The formation of the Big Three in Miami—consisting of two of maybe the top 30 players to ever play the game in their primes and a third “big-man” all star.

The random and quick assembly in the wake of The Decision, netting one-dimensional players like Ronnie Brewer, Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver, along with Euro-destined CJ Watson and the John Lucas. And the addition of Tom Thibodeau, a career assistant.

The speed and fury of a compressed season with the devastating to nagging injuries of the league’s MVP, Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Rip Hamilton and Watson.

The incredible attention a top team receives on a consistent basis and one without a true go-to scorer when Rose is hurt.

All this, and yet, the Bulls have done just that.

But it’s sort of an uneasy feeling. We should be rejoicing the Bulls—their incredible resilience, their purist execution, their furious rebounding and devotion to the game.

While the previous season was among my favorite seasons I can remember—yes, including the Bulls’ dynasty—this was its daft cousin, a season that was so irregular in execution and feel, that we’ve become cautious about gloating or eager to see its postseason version.

Derrick Rose, who has rocketed into international stardom and become one of the most sensational watches in the history of the game (proof), has had his body fall the fuck apart in front of us. With each Tribune update, noting he is ready to come back, he’s sent back to the doctor with new ailments.

No one team relies on its superstar like the Bulls and yet they stick it out and come home with the league’s best record. I’ve discussed this before: Are we learning or fighting that voice that tells us:  this isn’t real, you can’t possible believe this team is good enough to win a title, this is all a cute distraction.

This team is its own contradiction. They’re built on specialists who often don’t provide their specialties on a game-to-game basis: Joakim Noah, Korver, Boozer and Omer can frustrate, if not, annoy the shit out of TV watchers.  

Against the 76ers, it might get ugly, especially as Rose fights off his gimpiness. They should handles a team that doesn’t score with ease (sound familiar?), but I suspect the Bulls will deliver a sound performance against a team that has struggled woefully in the last month.

But as strange as this season has been, it wouldn’t surprise me if the 76ers steal a game one on Saturday.

Contact Mike Mitchell at michaelkennethmitchell@gmail.com.