Seeding

As noted previously on this blog, a poll of 53 ESPN experts predicted the Bulls would finish as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference this upcoming NBA season.  This poll had the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat finishing ahead of Chicago in the conference standings.  The Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards rounded out the playoff teams.  ”Our voters have the Bulls winning as few as 30 games and as many as 55, and perhaps it comes down to what they think of reigning rookie of the year Derrick Rose, whose scintillating playoff performance was followed by a tumultuous summer,” the article says.  ”In any case, most of our panel is bullish on Chicago overall.”

There is good reason to be bullish about the team’s chances to make some waves in 2009-10.  The Bulls showed a lot of promise in their first-round playoff series with the Boston Celtics last season.  If Luol Deng can return to his 2006-07 form, I think the Bulls can hurdle the Hawks and Heat and snag home court advantage in the first round.  Dwyane Wade could get sick of carrying the Heat again and I’m not sure if the Hawks can get much better than they already are.

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