Top Ten Reasons Why the Bulls WON'T Make the Playoffs

Last year they were supposed to contend for the Eastern Conference title.

Last year they were supposed to make the leap to the upper echelon of the NBA.

Instead they failed to make the playoffs, ended up 16 games under .500, fired Scott Skiles and left fans grasping at straws trying to figure out why.

Unfortunately things won't get better this year Bulls fans and another summer spent trying to figure out why is imminent.

10. Who's Number Two?

Derrick Rose is going to be the focal point of this team. He's going to be counted upon to be the face of the franchise, the savior, the everything to the Bulls.

But every great player needs a great sidekick to win in this league and I'm not sure the Bulls have one.

Luol Deng is positioned to be, and thought to be the best sidekick option for Rose. But this only comes years after Pax steadfastly believed Deng would be the number one.

There's absolutely no question he's got the skills to play the role, but whether or not he grabs it instead of just taking it is going to be the difference maker for him and this team.

9. Brutal Schedule Early

In order, the Bulls play at Magic, at Cavs, Suns, Cavs, Hawks, Mavs, Pacers, at Lakers, at Trail Blazers, at Warriors, at Nuggets, at Jazz, at Spurs, at 76ers.

Look at those games and honestly tell me how many games you think the Bulls will walk away with.

Momentum is a funny thing and the Bulls may not find out what momentum actually is until the first week of December when they might win a few games in a row.

8. The East is Alive

For years the perception has been that the power of the NBA resides solely in the West.

Slowly but surely the power has been migrating back towards being even, if it's not there already. One of the toughest tests for a young team like the Bulls is beating the teams you're supposed to. Learning how to go for the jugular late in games is an acquired skill for most, but a genetic trait for guys like Kobe Bryant.

There's some stiff competition in the East, even from the lowly teams like the Pacers, Hawks and Bobcats. This Bulls team is going to struggle to consistently play with the same hard nosed mentality former coach Scott Skiles so desperately tried to instill.

7. Slow Down Young Man

I love his effort, but Tyrus Thomas needs to understand how to let the game come to him and quit playing 150 mph whenever he steps onto the court.

The energy he puts forth is off the charts, but that's not enough if you're committing turnover after turnover while failing to recognize where the open man is when you're trapped in the paint.

6. Team of Bench Players

I've heard people describe this team as being one of the deepest in the Association.

But the entire roster, outside of Derrick Rose and Luol Deng, probably wouldn't start on any other team in the league. If there's one thing Pax is good at it's finding blue collared bench players willing to play selfless basketball night in and night out.

Yet the Bulls are in desperate need of some special players and not just good players. Derrick Rose is a start, but right now there's nobody on this team I could count on in a close game late in the season.

5. He's Good, But He's Still a Rookie

You're not going to find a bigger Derrick Rose fan than me.

But the truth of the matter is D. Rose is still a rookie and will have some ugly affairs throughout his first season as a pro. The point guard position is the hardest to learn in the pros and despite his freakish talent and basketball I.Q., Rose is going to struggle.

He's going to win us some games and he's going to lose us a game here and there. But with a guy like him you'll gladly let him work through it because he's going to be a top ten player in the league someday.

4. Nope, Still No Interior Defense or Offense

As bad as we thought things were when Ben Wallace was still on the team, prepare to see something a whole lot worse with him gone.

Teams will realize early on that the Bulls have a pretty good perimeter defense and will instead choose to attack down low early and often. Everyone proclaims the NBA is now built for the guard position, but don't forget the best guards in the league can drive the lane and the Bulls don't have anyone to stop them.

Who are you scared of down low on this team?

Aaron Gray?

Let me put it to you this way: Over/Under on how many posters you'll see Aaron Gray getting dunked on next year? At least six.

3. The "I'm Gonna Get Mine" Factor

This is primarily for Larry Hughes and Ben Gordon, but could extend to anyone on this team is the ship starts sinking early on in the season.

The writing is on the wall, so to speak, for these two guys and this year serves as the only opportunity for them to build a highlight reel before they're kicked to the curb.

You can already see Hughes chucking up shots at will in the preseason and things will progressively get worse as the season wears on. Same too goes for Little Ben when he finally gets over having a very sore big toe.

Winning games won't be nearly important to them as putting up impressive stat lines that will entitle them to big money contracts in the future.

2. Trigger Shy GM

The same guy who passed up a deal that could have brought Kobe Bryant to Chicago is the guy who is responsible for some how clearing up the log jam the Bulls have at the guard positions.

It's essential for Pax to somehow move anyone at that position for something in return that will help this team. With Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, Thabo Sefolosha, Larry Hughes and Derrick Rose all fighting for playing time, it's obvious someone has to go.

But the problem is Pax is too hesitant to pull the trigger on a deal and there's a strong possibility this conundrum will remain for the entire season.

1. Rookie Coach

Let's not forget how we ended up with Vinnie Del Negro. Instead of going out and getting the guy we wanted, Pax and Reinsdorf decided to play games and eventually got burned.

The bottom line is My Coach Vinnie has no idea what he's doing. Oh sure, he's been around the game for a very long time, but strolling the sidelines as the head coach is something he's never experienced.

Some guys go their entire lives working up to the big show, but Vinnie bypassed all of that and landed the head gig for one of the most storied franchises in the NBA.

Realistically I'd mark down at least five automatic losses due to his inexperience.