NBA Power Rankings 5-1

Oct 24, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Scottrade Center. The Timberwolves won 113-112. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

04.) Chicago Bulls (2nd in the Eastern Conference)

Here we go. Time to rip me for my rankings on the Bulls but I’m worried. With Tom Thibodeau as your head coach, you are going to pile up some huge minutes. It’s freighting because if you let our Bulls play like that, they are going to play as hard as they can because nobody has more heart than the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls clearly have some problems headed in the season this year starting with the minutes played. I’m not even that worried about Derrick Rose because his injuries mostly came from just freak plays, rather than wear and tear. But I am worried about Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah. If the Bulls lose any of them, it doesn’t really matter how well Derrick Rose is playing, the Bulls won’t have a chance to win the Eastern Conference. The second issue will be answered in the question below.

Question: It’s the 4^th quarter, how are the Bulls playing Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah?

This is something that I’m ultimately maybe too concerned with, but who is playing come crunch time? Paul Gasol had a quote just last week that made it seem like it would be him, because he didn’t come here to sit in the 4^th quarter and that’s true. However, Taj Gibson is the big man that you would want out there in the 4^th quarter of those close games. I’m worried that whoever isn’t playing in the closing minutes is going to get angry, and is going to expect to be traded.