Like every other team in the NBA, there are plenty of questions surrounding the Bulls as they get set to open the regular season Thursday night against the Spurs. Vinny Del Negro has several issues on his plate, and he has to figure them out soon. The problem is, most of the questions can't be answered after the first game, or even after the first month. These questions will be answered over the course of the 82-game grind of an NBA season.
Here are the five most pressing questions facing the Bulls going into opening night. If Del Negro and the Bulls receive a positive answer to each one of these quandaries, the coach is going to be a very happy man.
1. Who is going to replace Ben Gordon?
Gordon seemed to take all the big shots for the Bulls over the past few seasons. When they needed a basket late in games, he was the man they usually turned to. Now he is playing in Detroit, and it appears the Bulls have a huge void to fill.
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Ben Gordon will be taking big shots for the Detroit Pistons this season.
The thing is, the players don't seem overly concerned about their apparent lack of a "go-to-guy." Derrick Rose certainly will be asked to become a clutch shooter down the stretch, but Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and John Salmons will be expected to pick up the slack, as well.
That's a role that Salmons says he will have no problem filling, if that's what he has to do.
"My focus every year is just to help my team win as best as I possibly can," he said, when asked about the late-game situations. "Whatever that is. That's what it is."
Salmons also challenged the notion that every team must have one particular clutch shooter down the stretch.
"I guess it depends on the team," he said. "I think that plays out just as the season goes -- we'll see."
For his part, Rose believes that the entire team must step up all season, instead of one player in particular.
"It's everybody. It's not just one person," Rose said. "We need everybody. Like the coaches have been saying, we don't have any All-Stars or anything like that. We need everybody to join in, so that we can get [to where we want to go]."
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Rookie Taj Gibson had an impressive preseason and figures to earn regular minutes right away.
2. Will rookies James Johnson and Taj Gibson actually make an impact this season?
The guess here is yes. Gibson has quickly become one of Del Negro's first options off the bench. He is long, athletic and can score. He should provide Del Negro with quality minutes throughout the year.
Johnson's minutes may be harder to come by at first, but as the season progresses he should be able to make an impact, as well. He has already proven he can make big shots (his buzzer beater lifted the Bulls over the Jazz in the preseason opener).
He also knows what it is going to take to get more minutes off the bench -- defense.
"The coaches came up to me today saying my defense is a lot better," the Wake Forest product said after practice on Wednesday. "It started clicking finally for me, so I'm just getting in my right spots. I know I can score the ball, I just want my defense to start clicking for me and help my offense out."
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Luol Deng hopes he can regain his 2006-07 form when he looked like a budding star.
3. Can Luol Deng stay healthy and produce all season?
That's the million-dollar question. Actually, that's the $71 million question, considering that's how much Deng's new deal (which he signed before last season) is worth. He was sidelined toward the end of last season because of a stress fracture in his leg.
If it's any consolation for Bulls fans, Deng hasn't missed a practice or a game this preseason and looks to be ready to go, although he recently admitted that he is still finding his rhythm.
"I've been out for a long time. … It's starting to feel better though," Deng said after last Friday's preseason win over the Wizards. "From the first preseason game to now, my cutting, running the floor, playing defense; it just feels a lot better, a lot more comfortable doing that."
The Duke alumnus is trying to use his big season of 2006-07 as motivation.
"I went back and looked at that season, and I didn't miss a single game. I felt like it was my healthiest season," he said recently. "I didn't miss a practice that year, either. I really want to focus on that."
Deng, who is expected to help pick up the scoring punch caused by Gordon's departure, just wants to contribute any way he can right now.
"I really gotta use my versatility. I gotta really focus in defensively," Deng said. "It's not gonna be one of those things, where I have to get 20-something points, or 30 points. Some nights will be like that, but most importantly coming out there and chipping in …"
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If the light doesn't go on for Tyrus Thomas this season, he likely will be dealt.
4. Can Tyrus Thomas take the next step in his development?
If anyone tells you they know the answer to this question, they're lying. Thomas' continued development will make a major difference between whether the Bulls are a playoff contender or an average Eastern Conference team fighting for the last playoff spot.
Thomas is coming off the best season of his short career, averaging 11 points and six rebounds. He continues to flash potential, but he still hasn't managed to put all of his tools together.
If he plays hard every night, he probably will be able to do just that this season. If he doesn't … some people around town think that Gibson will end up taking his spot in the rotation and Thomas will be headed to another team.
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Joakim Noah works with assistant coach Sidney Green to refine his low-post moves.
5. Can Joakim Noah actually become a low post threat?
If you had asked me this question when Noah left Florida, I would have instantly said no. But, to his credit, the Bulls center has really worked on his game this summer and the difference is showing.
Noah was dominant at times during the preseason games and has added several new offensive moves to his repertoire. He looks like he has added a lot of muscle, and he consistently works with assistant coach Sidney Green to try and get better in the post.
"Sid is somebody I've known for a while now. His son [Taurean] is one of my best friends. It's good to have him on board," Noah said recently. "Somebody that I'm really comfortable with. He obviously works with me every day. We try to do at least 20 minutes a day just working on little shots and touch around the basket."
If Noah can continue to get better throughout the season, he will provide the Bulls with something they haven't had in a long, long time: A legitimate scoring option in the post.
Nick Friedell covers the Bulls for ESPNChicago.com.
