Don't count out the Bulls yet

While the Bulls 0-3 start is disappointing, it certainly isn’t season ending. Remember this team usually starts slow: in 2004, Deng, Gordon, Duhon, and Nocioni’s rookie season, the Bulls started off 0-9 before finally getting a victory in Utah that propelled them to a 47-win season. The Suns and Mavs also started off slow last year before winning 60+ games each, so a slow start isn’t always the end of the world.

But the first three games have given the Bulls plenty to worry about. Hopefully, most of these issues will work themselves out as the season progresses. Here’s what is going wrong right now.

Ben Wallace needs to start being Ben Wallace: I’ve never been a huge Big Ben fan, but he’s certainly better than the way he’s played thus far. Wrap your minds around this one kids: so far, Wallace is averaging more points (4.3) then rebounds (3.7).  Big Ben hasn’t showed up at all yet, and you have to figure that will turn around. Rebounding is a big reason why the Bulls are 0-3, but Wallace has averaged double-digit rebounds for seven consecutive seasons.

Kirk Hinrich needs to stop fouling: The Captain has gotten off to a poor start, averaging barely over 9 points per game, and his early foul trouble has put the Bulls in very tough position. Hinrich is averaging five fouls per game, and fouled out Saturday against the Bucks. While Chris Duhon has been a bright spot when Kirk is on the bench, the Bulls need Hinrich on the floor more often.

Luol Deng must step up: We won’t trade this guy for Kobe? While Deng’s slow start can be attributed to trade rumors and contract-extension concerns, he must begin to play better for this team to win. After a great first game, Lu got owned against Andre Igoudala and was held to just eight points against the Bucks. I love Deng as much as everyone else does, but you have to say he’s a tad bit overrated at this point in his career. Twenty years from now, people could be looking back laughing that the Bulls wouldn’t trade Deng for Kobe. Deng will bounce back, expect him to average over 20 points per game this season, but his slow start is a big reason why the Bulls are winless.

The Bulls play the Clippers, Pistons, Raptors all at home the next the three games, and then go on the road for six games (the infamous Circus Trip), which includes contests against the Suns and Nuggets. The next three games are going to be key to develop a rhythm before going on the road. The Bulls will snap out of this funk they are in, but maybe it’s time for some people to reevaluate their expectations. I wasn’t nearly as optimistic as some people were about this season, and high expectations could be a big reason why the Bulls are struggling right now. Thankfully they have the Clippers up next, the ultimate medicine to cure a bad losing streak.