Chicago Bulls roundtable discussion: Welcome to the regular season, Bulls fans

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 13: Bobby Portis #5 of the Chicago Bulls and OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dives for a lose ball during a preseason game at the United Center on October 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 13: Bobby Portis #5 of the Chicago Bulls and OG Anunoby #3 of the Toronto Raptors dives for a lose ball during a preseason game at the United Center on October 13, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. 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. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Michael Whitlow: What are your expectations for the Bulls this season? Is it really going to be that bad?

Daniel Greenberg: The Chicago Bulls are going to be awful this season. It’s going to be really difficult to watch this team play.

Dru Berry: My expectations are extremely low for this season, but even though I say that, I’m more excited than I thought I’d be for the season. I’m kind of looking forward to seeing different guys try to step up into bigger roles. I’m looking forward to seeing what Denzel Valentine really is. I’m definitely NOT looking forward to all of Niko’s pump fakes.

Craig Brallier: I think the season will be better than everyone thinks, but only if you watch optimistically. Watch guys like Dunn, LaVine and Lauri and see what they do well and how they’ll fit into the future. They’re obviously not contenders, so you’re going to have to find reasons to stay positive, rather than mope around about all of the losses.

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Willie Lutz: If you’ve read anything I’ve composed over the summer, you’d know there’s two different sides to my expectations: light, logic-based optimism based on the first-round talent and crippling, unbreakable pessimism considering the front office. Even if they don’t win a lot of games, I really need to see “watchable” basketball from the young bunch. If the games are watchable, the team is probably growing, which means a quicker turn-around. However, if it’s a lot of turnovers and missed 3s, there’s much left to do surrounding this roster.

Nicholas Niendorf: I expect to see the culture in Chicago change for the better this year. I think the Bulls have a really dedicated group of guys who are going to work their butts off and have some great chemistry. That being said, the Bulls are going to be absolutely terrible. There are going to be a lot of nights where fans have to remind themselves to hate the play on the court, not the players. Here’s to hoping for cheap tickets to games.

Matt Ostrowski: While my expectations are very, very low, I really don’t think this season is going to be that bad. Maybe I’m weird, or maybe I’m an optimist. I don’t know which one it is, but consider me more excited to watch young guys play their butts off than Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo pound the ball into the ground for 16 seconds of the shot clock. The Bulls probably won’t win many games. However, if the young guys buy into what Hoiberg is selling and the ball keeps zipping around like it did in the preseason, it could be somewhat fun to watch them play and some guys hopefully develop.

Matthew Price: Oh, it’s really going to be that bad. Zach LaVine remains out for a while, and other than Lauri Markkanen, is there anybody even worth watching? A team where Robin Lopez will be the best player is a scary, scary thought.

Really though, I think this season will be representative of Bobby Portis smacking Nikola Mirotic into the hospital … you already thought things were going to be bad and you’re realizing it’s going to be even worse.

Daniel Coughlin: I expect Chicago to win a few more games than they should, because they are constantly a disappointment in their current management arc. They have a lot of bad pieces, a lot of potential rotation guys that will get starters minutes and a rehabbing Zach LaVine. I genuinely hope they take as long as humanly possible to bring him back because I’m concerned he’ll add three or four wins. I’m pretty sure I had a dream that they were the worst team in the league, but only by like one or two games. We’re finally reaching peak Chicago basketball – an inverse reality. Bad is good, and by that logic, they will be very good this season.