Three things the Chicago Bulls need to do to be in the title mix

The Bulls’ quest for a title this season may be hampered by these three roadblocks.

Hope springs eternal for every NBA team at the season's start. Every team — from the powerhouses to the minnows — starts the same way: at 0-0. However, it doesn't take long for parity to even out and for the elite teams to separate themselves from the pack. 

Despite their storied history and impressive roster, there are several reasons why the Chicago Bulls aren't one of the frontrunners to win the title this year. Let's take a look at what these are.

Absence of Zo

When Lonzo Ball was up and running, the Bulls were an elite team that took on and conquered all comers at the start of the 2021-2022 season. There were suddenly talks of deep playoff runs and even title contention.

However, Ball's injury in early January dealt a devastating blow to the Bulls' title hopes. Without their star point guard and floor general, the rest of the team struggled to keep up on offense and defense, leading to poor performances. DeMar DeRozan tried to shoulder much of the load on offense, but he lacked Ball's passing ability and vision, which made it hard for the team to create easy scoring opportunities.

Listless D

Ball's impact goes beyond the offensive side of the floor. His stellar defense was also key to the team's success, with his quick hands and active feet allowing him to pounce on even the slightest of mistakes from opposing players.

Unfortunately, without Ball, the Bulls' defense became sluggish and sloppy. Their rotations were erratic, and they often looked disorganized on that end of the floor. The team's defense, which began the season in eighth in points allowed per possession, eventually plummeted to 26th when the season ended, no thanks to the extended absences of Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams.

Although Caruso is back, and young guard Ayo Dosunmu has been installed in the starting five to replace Ball, the team still lacks the defensive toughness and cohesion that made them such a fearsome opponent in earlier parts of the season.

Lack of depth

Don't get it twisted; the Bulls' offseason signings of Goran Dragic and Andre Drummond are solid on paper. Dragic is a proven floor general who can run the show and provide secondary scoring when needed. On the other hand, Drummond is a dependable big who can provide rebounding, blocks, and scoring on offense. The 6-foot-10 center has even shown some three-point shooting!

However, these two players are not enough to compensate for the team's lack of depth. Both players are aging, and the Bulls will have to rely on them for heavy minutes if they want to be serious title contenders, and that's a risky proposition. This means the bulk of the lifting will have to be shouldered by DeRozan, Vucevic, and Zach LaVine, who is still getting into the groove after knee surgery in the offseason.

With the talent and depth of their rivals, it will be tough for the Bulls to overcome these challenges and go all the way in 2022-2023. But anything can still happen with the determination and hard work of players like DeRozan, Vucevic, and LaVine.