Bulls 13th in Initial Power Rankings

ESPN’s Marc Stein has released his first set of NBA Power Rankings for the 2009-10 season.  The Bulls come in at number 13 on the list.  “With D-Rose no longer a rook, Deng back from injury and Brad Miller and Salmons in training camp, Chicago will weather Ben Gordon’s departure,” Stein writes.  ”Especially since the Bulls are a likely 2010 free-agent player, too.”  The Bulls were the fifth-highest-ranked Eastern Conference team, coming in just above the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards.  The Orlando Magic were Stein’s top choice in the East.

The reigning champion Los Angeles Lakers landed at the top of Stein’s rankings, followed by the Magic, Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs.  There are not many pundits that expect a team other than one of these five to win the title this season.  I think slotting the Bulls as the fifth-highest-ranked team in the East is pretty fitting, but there’s a chance that they hurdle the Atlanta Hawks in the standings if things go right.  I think a good goal for the Bulls this season would be to gain home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, as breaking into the top three seems a bit too ambitious for 2009-10.

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