October 16, 2021: Preseason Champs

Although I did watch the Bears preseason this year, for the sole reason of seeing how Justin Fields looked, I typically do NOT watch preseason sports in general. The same way I don’t usually watch the Bears in preseason action, I don’t watch the Cubs spring training, and the Hawks or Bulls preseason. Unless there was a specific reason, I can’t get into, regardless of how excited I am for the respective upcoming season; although my eyes are always on my teams, I don’t kick into complete focus until the real games start. So the truth is, I haven’t seen much of the Bulls preseason dominance. I am excited about the Bulls season; I’m excited to see the preseason champs do it when it counts.

I’ve seen highlights, and there was a quarter I actually did watch, but that’s certainly not enough for me to confirm or deny that what has been happening on the court thus far means ring#7 will finally be on its way. I mean, the NBA doesn’t play a whole lot of defense in the regular season; how much D is actually going on in the preseason? I’m sure there is more than the recent vintage of the All Star game, but I don’t think guys are killing themselves out there. Oh yeah, and then there’s the whole “load management” thing that I’m sure is keeping the big guys on the bench during the games that don’t matter. Again, if that’s done when it counts… That’s one of the things I loved about MJ. He played in the preseason games; he played like they were regular season games. This makes sense, considering how he acted in practice… anyways… there is a reason that he is head and shoulders above anyone who ever played the game.

Back to this Bulls team, who MJ actually said should be good, and hey, if MJ says so… although his coaching/ownership career isn’t anything special. I’m pretty confident that this Bulls team WILL be good, and I don’t need to watch any preseason games to come to that conclusion. Those results may be supporting my thinking, and that’s fine, but the real case for greatness will begin on Wednesday night in their season opener at Detroit. How great can they be? Well, the East has some horses. Certainly the defending champion Bucks have to be considered the favorites. The Heat, Nets, Hawks, Celtics, and Knicks should be in the playoff mix, as should the Bulls, although I don’t really watch any NBA games other than the Bulls… because it doesn’t matter! Sure, I know the Bulls have to watch other NBA action for scouting purposes, etc, but the point is, worry about their game on the court, not anybody else’s, because the truth is, there is no “super-team” out there any more, right? The Bucks won their title “the right way” with their homegrown superstar and supporting cast. And yes, LeBum is still in the league, and that means he’s tried to surround himself with as much talent as possible, and yes they always have the NBA and its officials in their corner, but is this team built on stars of the past going to get out of the West? Am I seriously making a Bulls title prediction right now? No, not necessarily, maybe?

Just know that this optimism has nothing to do with the preseason results OK? I remember the one time the Bulls were summer league champs when Denzel Valentine hit the game winner; that didn’t equate to crap. If I had enough time, I’d go back and pull up the preseason results of all the previous champs to prove my point, but I have better things to do, like maybe watch the Chicago Sky win a WNBA title? No, not necessarily, maybe? Yes, basketball season is here, and the Bulls will be tipping off in a matter of days, and yes, I am hyped up. It’ll be 24 years this season since the Last Dance Bulls walked off as champs; that #7 has been on my mind (realistically) before, to no avail. Is this year realistic to think that? The fact that it’s even a question, even if the realistic percentage may be low right now, is taking a step in the right direction. Let the regular season begin… Go Bulls!!!