Bulls Preseason: Grades, thoughts and more

Oct 16, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) gets hugged by Chicago Bulls forward Nikola Mirotic (44), Chicago Bulls guard Kim English (24) and Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) after he shot a last second three-point basket to beat the Atlanta Hawks 85-84 during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The 4-4 preseason record shouldn’t signify the entire eight-game preseason for the Chicago Bulls. With their superstar looking like his old self, an X-factor who is due a significant payday before Halloween and a loaded front-court depth chart that produced nicely throughout the month, the Bulls are primed and ready for one of the biggest seasons in the organization’s 48 seasons in the NBA.

Sure, the Bulls blew a double-digit fourth quarter lead on Friday night against a probable lottery-bound team in the Minnesota Timberwolves and finished at .500 for the preseason.

Sure, Jimmy Butler suffered a sprained left thumb and missed the final two games of the preseason after a tremendous stretch to begin his campaign towards a new contract.

And sure, “the NBA’s best defense” didn’t look like the typical lockdown defense that fans are used to seeing from a Tom Thibodeau-led team.

But, championships aren’t won in October.

Let’s take a look at the good to go along with the bad (and ugly) for the Chicago Bulls in the preseason.