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ESPN’s Basketball Power Index projects Chicago Bulls to have NBA’s worst record

By Michael Whitlow

CHICAGO - APRIL 15: Chicago Bulls mascot Benny the Bull peers over the shoulder of a student using a new computer following a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open a new Chicago Bulls Reading and Learning Center at Cook Elementary School on April 15, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls and their marketing partners Rush University Medical Center and ComEd teamed up to sponsor the renovation of the space in conjunction with the team's Read to Achieve Program. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO - APRIL 15: Chicago Bulls mascot Benny the Bull peers over the shoulder of a student using a new computer following a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open a new Chicago Bulls Reading and Learning Center at Cook Elementary School on April 15, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls and their marketing partners Rush University Medical Center and ComEd teamed up to sponsor the renovation of the space in conjunction with the team's Read to Achieve Program. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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According to ESPN’s analytical department, the Chicago Bulls are projected to have the NBA’s worst record this season.

Even when you take a deeper dive into the number projections for this upcoming NBA season, the Chicago Bulls are still slated to be one of the league’s worst teams.

According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index (BPI), the Bulls are projected to have the NBA’s worst record this season, behind the likes of the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets.

Seth Walder of ESPN’s analytical department wrote a piece on some preseason NBA projections based off the BPI model and things didn’t favor the Bulls in any form or fashion, which shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise.

Here’s Walder’s explanation on how the BPI works:

"BPI is a forward-looking model that predicts the strength of each team on offense, defense and altogether. In making its game predictions, the model takes into account factors such as the strength of the two teams, the game’s location and rest differential between the two squads. BPI simulates the season 10,000 times to create its projections for both the season and the playoffs.During the season, the model will adjust daily to include information gathered from every game that is played. But in the preseason, with no games played so far, the model is based on past performance combined with Vegas win totals."

According to the model, the Bulls have a -7.2 rating, which is 30th out of all 30 NBA teams. To sum that up, the Golden State Warriors — the No. 1 team in the BPI — have a +9.4 rating, 4.3 points ahead of the nearest team: the Houston Rockets.

In the expected wins and losses projections, the Bulls once again came in last in both categories with a 23-59 record, almost four full games worse than the Hawks.

But, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for Bulls fans: potentially getting the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

"It’s no surprise, then, that the Bulls and Hawks also have the best shot at the No. 1 overall pick next summer, with a 20.9 percent and 14.8 percent chance, respectively."

None of these numbers should be too surprising for anyone. The Bulls have one of the league’s youngest and most inexperienced rosters to date and that includes Robin Lopez and Dwyane Wade still being a part of the franchise.

Next: 5 goals for Lauri Markkanen to accomplish in his rookie campaign

Whether you pay attention to the deeper dives into the numbers or not, it’s going to be a long season in Chicago on more than just the gridiron.

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