Chicago Bulls Standing Pat At The Trade Deadline

Jan 16, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) and guard Derrick Rose (1) celebrate against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

28.

That’s the number of games remaining on the Chicago Bulls schedule. It’s not a lot, but it might just be the right amount for this deep Bulls squad to make a serious push for the second seed in the Eastern Conference Playoff race and a shot at the NBA title.

That’s right, THIS Bulls squad. The same one that started the season together in October on opening night that had most pundits predicting they would be taking home the Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy in June.

The same Bulls squad that has fought adversity all season long, whether it’s been the injuries that have kept piling on from day one, the question marks looming over Derrick Rose‘s health and shot selection, struggles at home, inconsistent play, team cohesion, issues defending and of course this familiar chestnut, Coach Tom Thibodeau grinding the players down.

Most recently rumours swirled once again around Thibs and his job security. The controversy sparked when NBA analyst (and friend of Thibodeau) Jeff Van Gundy claimed the Bulls were leaking stories to the media in an attempt to “undermine” the head coach. This then lead Bulls VP John Paxson to return fire. It got ugly quick.

About the only obstacle the Bulls haven’t faced this year is a zombie apocalypse. Give it time.

OK so that’s probably out of the realm of possibility, but if the Bulls season were a TV drama, it would be The Walking Dead. Much like the protagonists of that show, the Bulls have had only one option, march on and keep fighting. The Wizards and Cavs are nipping at their heels, like a herd of the undead, hungry to take a bite out of them.

The sliver lining to all this is that the Bulls are no strangers to adversity, they consider it character building. The words ‘ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE’ has long been a mantra of the franchise and a Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol and Rose led team isn’t about to roll over and die when times get tough.

When the season resumes, the Bulls will look to expand on their four game winning streak. Of the 28 games remaining on their schedule, 15 are at home. Their last two wins occurred on the United Center floor, one win coming against the surging Cavs (Hi zombie LeBron). It’s a promising sign for the team that had faltered often at home.

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Another promising sign of late has been the all-around play of the team. Derrick has been rounding into form, Joakim’s knee woes have subsided and he’s looked more energetic on both ends of the floor. Pau continues to dominate (leading the league in double doubles) and he is oh so close to toppling one of Michael Jordan’s records. And speaking of Joakim and Pau, if that game against the Cavaliers is anything to go by, the front court pairing looks like they have turned a corner from a compatibility standpoint. Then there has been the emergence of Tony Snell, who had fallen out of favour with Thibs earlier in the season and raised the ire of many a Bulls fan.

Add in the recently returned Mike Dunleavy, rookie Doug McDermott and soon to return All-Star Jimmy Butler (he has vowed he’ll be back for the Bulls’ first game post-break after his recent shoulder sprain) and you have a roster that should be firing on all cylinders.

You may have noticed I didn’t mention power forward Taj Gibson. The ever reliable Gibson has put up solid numbers this season but has been the subject of trade scuttlebutt for some time now. I honestly don’t see the organization jettisoning Taj for a guard or wing. The likeable Gibson is well respected in the locker room, trading him would be a mood killer for the team. Gar and Pax are smarter than that.

For the fans calling for Taj to be moved, simply put, pump your brakes. The ONLY reason Taj would be traded is if he wanted out or was causing a problem within the team dynamic. Taj has never be known to cause ripples and there are no reports of him being disenchanted, so it’s a non-issue, therefore a moot point.

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Denver Nuggets guard Arron Afflalo has been tied to the Bulls in trade talks for some time now. I’ve long championed the merits of having him in a Bulls uniform and I still wouldn’t say no, but why trade for another shooting guard when Snell is on the rise and McDermott is working his way back into the rotation? We haven’t seen either reach their full potential yet, and so why stunt their growth by bringing in a player who would eat up a lot of their minutes?

After all, there are only so many shots to go round.

As for the Ray Allen sweepstakes, it’s looking more and more likely that the Bulls aren’t in contention for the veteran guard, which leads me to believe that Gar Forman and John Paxson are more than content to stick with their current guard rotation. Sorry folks, Kirk Hinrich isn’t going anywhere.

If the organization is to fill the remaining roster spot, it’s highly unlikely they will go the trade route. Historically at this time of the year it hasn’t been their MO. Don’t be surprised if you see an old face return to the fold.

Only hours ago, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune had this to say…

Bulls like roster but would add shooter. Won't trade a big for a small. Won't trade future 1st. Will check buyout list for open roster spot.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 16, 2015

Remember there are only 28 games remaining, chemistry is key for the stretch run. The current roster are gelling more now than they have before. It’s also important to remember that championship teams aren’t built over night, nor is chemistry, so why throw a spanner in the works at this crucial point when things are going right?

It’s somewhat cliché, but it’s difficult to sidestep the age old adage ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.

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