Are the Bulls Going Win the NBA Finals?

The Bulls' play in the first round has some people asking if they should be the favorites for the championship

It's been a while since I wrote a non-podcast post here on blog, but I'm back!

Today's post is definitely not pre-mature given the fact that the series is tied 1-1 and the Milwaukee Bucks still have the best player in the series (...probably).

However, there's no point in being a sports fan if you're not prone to entertaining irrational thoughts about your teams' capabilities. That's exactly what this post is about, and I have no shame in letting it be known that I am ALL the way back in on the Bulls' playoff chances for the time being. Here are a few reasons why:

DeMar DeRozan Can Be the Best Player on the Court In Any Given Game

DeRozan has enjoyed a career-defining season in his first campaign with the Bulls, but his career has often been maligned for his considerable track record of performing poorly in postseason play (primarily during his extensive time in Toronto). Following a horrendous 6-25 shooting performance in a close Game 1 loss that enabled ample criticism from his detractors, DeRozan silenced the critics with a 41-point performance that included numerous one-on-one victories against Milwaukee superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While expecting DeRozan to routinely outplay Antetokounmpo (the best player in the NBA, in my opinion) is a little outlandish, Game 2's offensive barrage proved that DeRozan has a level that he can go to that makes the Bulls a threat against any team. There are lots of other concerns that limit the Bulls' ceiling, but DeRozan's potential is not one of them.

Alex Caruso Is a Defensive Virtuoso

Caruso is somewhat of a meme to NBA fans, as his unimposing appearance (a relatively dorky Caucasian male with a headband) combined with a supreme level of confidence makes him an ironic fan-favorite.

There is no irony involved with appreciating what he brings to this current Bulls team. For a team that has struggled defensively (particularly during Caruso's absence due to injury), he brings a supreme level of disruption to the perimeter that has flustered the Bucks consistently through two games. Couple that with the return of second-year wing Patrick Williams, and the Bulls have a surprisingly strong perimeter defense. If only Lonzo Ball was healthy........

Khris Middleton's Absence

I don't want to celebrate a player's injury, but with the news breaking today that Bucks star Khris Middleton will be missing the remainder of the first round series against the Bulls, the already-competitive series appears even more winnable than before.

Vucevic Has Held Up On Defense. Can He Keep It Up?

Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has been a bit of a revolving door on defense for long stretches of this season, but his play has been bordering on good through the first two games. If he can solidify the interior even a little, the Bulls are much more dangerous.

---

All things considered, the Bulls have already accomplished more this postseason than I expected them to. There's always a chance that Giannis goes nuclear for the next few games and this post looks absurd, but as the series returns to Chicago for the next two games, there is legitimate momentum for this team. We'll see if they can maintain that energy and excitement with a couple wins at the United Center.