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Bulls Wed Aug 11 2010
Bulls News: Schedule released, a new signing, Pippen and Jordan team up again
The slow trickle that is the NBA summer news cycle continues to go on, drip by drip.
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This week were treated to finding out exactly who is playing who, and when. We already knew that the Bulls would open the season (and ESPN's coverage) with a showdown with the Oklahoma CIty Thunder. Set your DVRs now for that one.
Find the entire schedule here.
As a sign of the growing respect for this team, the Bulls will be on national television a whopping 27 times throughout the year. Unfortunately, this is where the good news ends. The Bulls recieved no help from the schedule makers in their hope to become major players in the Eastern Conference.
A full season in the NBA is tough work no matter how the games are scheduled, but what really gets to the players are back-to-back's and heavily loaded weeks. Bodies simply need a day or so to recover as the season progresses. The Bulls will be faced with a daunting task.
As Sam Smith states in his recent piece, "once again the Bulls are getting a brutal schedule of back-to-back games with 23 for the season, far more than all the top contenders. The Lakers, seemingly being set up for a three peat, have just 15 sets of back to backs while Boston and Miami have just under 20 each."
Seems a bit unfair from the Bulls' fan perspective, but all the team needs to do is remain healthy entering the playoffs and they will have a shot against any opponent.
Read more about the most intriguing games of the season from ESPN Chicago.
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Another roster spot was locked up this past week as the Bulls signed Keith Bogans.
This will be the last you hear about Keith Bogans.
Hey, at least his head seems to be in the right place.
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Scottie Pippen's years of supporting Michael Jordan will finally be rewarded as he is enshrined in the Hall of Fame this Friday. While it was never a doubt that Pippen would one day be among the most respected in the game, it was a question of just who would act as the presenter.
After Jordan's regrettable Hall of Fame speech during his own induction, many thought that he would not return to the scene of the embarrassment. Thankfully for fans all over the world and especially in Chicago, Jordan will be the man to present his most talented partner.
USA Today sums up Scottie's career very succintly by noting that "Pippen...averaged 16.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists, won six titles with the Chicago Bulls and was part of the Dream Team that won the 1992 Olympic gold medal. Pippen also won a gold medal in 1996."
Congratulations, Scottie!
