…it’s time to take stock of this Chicago Bulls team, to see if they can meet preseason expectations and at least reach the conference finals and perhaps finally make the NBA Finals for the first time since the Michael Jordan era ended.
What’s most noteworthy about these teams though, is the success the Pacers and Bulls have each had without their stars, especially given the emphasis the culture of the NBA places on the star system. Indiana is in third in the Eastern Conference at 32-21, while Chicago is fifth with a record of 30-22. Both are squarely in the mix of teams that are tightly packed from 2 thru 6 and a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals is eminently realistic even if Granger or Rose never saw the court this year. Both teams are built on tough defense, each hits the boards hard to close out those defensive possessions and both control the pace with a slow tempo. Beyond these core similarities, TheSportsNotebook’s NBA coverage will break down each team a little further.