NBA Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls are Poised for Epic Run Over Next 14 Games

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By @brianneal23

Derrick Rose Joakim Noah

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Coming into the 2014 NBA season, the Chicago Bulls were expected to be one of the top two seeds. However, small worrisome injuries bit the team hard early on.

Jimmy Butler had a thumb injury coming into the season. Derrick Rose sprained both of his ankles in one game, and then had a hamstring scare. Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah had ankle injuries as well. Even Pau Gasol missed a few games.

What that all led to was a rather average 9-6 record through the first 15 games.

However, the Bulls finally have their full starting lineup intact and back in play, and it showed tonight against the Toronto Raptors.

Following a tough win over the surprisingly elite Memphis Grizzlies, the Bulls got Rose and Gibson back from illness and injury, respectively, and they needed every bit of firepower. A 129-120 win over the Eastern Conference‘s top seed showcased that Chicago is finally on track and ready to take their rightful place as a top-two seed in the East.

Since that 9-6 beginning, the Bulls have gone 9-3, beating teams like the Raptors, Grizzlies, Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers in the process. They’ve been doing it with tough defense and even better offense, especially tonight, when Butler continued his spectacular streak of offensive showings while Rose bounced back from missing two games with an illness to score 29 and lead a franchise-record 49-point fourth quarter to win the game.

And even more exciting is the fact that the Bulls have a very favorable schedule coming up over the next 14 games. They play only four road games, and only five games against teams with winning records (Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards three times).

Now I’m not saying they’ll go 14-0, but 11-3 or 12-2? Don’t be surprised, especially since nearly their full complement of players are available finally. The Bulls have a golden opportunity here to keep their three-game win streak going and pick up a big chunk of Ws, while potentially taking over the top seed in the East, as they’re currently three games back of the team they beat tonight.

So, Bulls fans, get excited. We’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg, and this team is ready go off.

Brian Neal is an NFL contributor for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @brianneal23.

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