Chicago Bulls: 3 ways team could surprise in 2019-2020

3. Bulls end the season as a bottom-three team

I know it seems like a total buzzkill, but something deep down in me still sees this team as the same old Bulls. I have zero confidence in Jim Boylen as head coach, which is where my doubts begin. I don’t believe he knows how to manage an NBA rotation, nor do I think everyone is bought into his style just yet (hopefully I’m wrong).

I don’t want to predict injuries, but the odds are in favor of at least one significant injury. Over the last few years, the Bulls have yet to play a relatively healthy season. Almost every significant player on this roster has dealt with a notable injury over the last couple of seasons.

Taking injuries out of the equation, there is also a chance that the Bulls fail to improve defensively. This has been one of their achilles heels since seeing Tom Thibodeau leave town, and quite frankly, I’m not so sure they’ll ever reach that level again with the current roster. Once more, I hope I’m wrong.

I do genuinely believe the Bulls could make the playoffs if all goes near-perfectly this season. But, this is the Gar Forman and John Paxson-led Bulls we’re talking about. If we’re honest with ourselves as Bulls fans, we hear the word “playoffs” and chuckle just a bit.