NBA Preview: Chicago Bulls' Success Depends On Derrick Rose's Health

Just like the past year, the health of Derrick Rose will dictate how far the Windy City will go in the next season. After back to back years of trying to make the best of Bull squad replete of the youngest Most Valuable Player ever, Tom Thibodeau are praying to the health gods that Rose will be spared of any more mishaps.

Despite struggling to produce a consistent rotation due to injuries the past two seasons, the Bulls were able to find some post-season success via great coaching and determined players. In 2012-2013, Chicago relied was able to reach as high as the second round behind a spectacular game seven at Brooklyn from Joakim Noah despite playing with plantar fascilitis. The second round, the team was eliminated by eventual champions Miami Heat. The past year was even more painful. After getting Rose back for 20-plus games, the former MVP went down to another season-ending knee injury during a Portland Trailblazers game in November. Now, the expectations are tempered and the team is just hoping for the best.

After going 48-34 last year and eliminated in just the first round by the up and coming Washington Wizards, the Bulls are hoping that the infusion of youth, a big man veteran in Pau Gasol and the return of Rose is enough to eke out a Finals appearance in the wide-open Eastern Conference. To do that, the team has some chemistry to do given the departures to some veterans such as Luol Deng and the addition of European MVP Nikola Mirotic and sharpshooter Doug McDermott.

Chicago Bulls Roster/Depth Chart (in bold are the projected starters):

Point Guard: Derrick Rose, Aaron Brooks, Kirk Hinrich

Shooting Guard: Jimmy Butler, Etwaun Moore

Small Forward: Mike Dunleavy Jr., Doug McDermott, Tony Snell

Power Forward: Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic

Center: Joakim Noah, Nzar Mohammed,

Offseason Additions:

Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic, Doug McDermott, Aaron Brooks

Offseason Losses:

D.J. Augustin, Carlos Boozer

Season Outlook: LeBron James has already anointed Chicago as the best team in the Eastern Conference ahead of his own Cleveland Cavaliers. It is unclear if the best player in basketball is deflecting attention from his new super team or he is actually giving reverence to the depth of Chicago. Yet, with the moves made by the Bulls' management, it appears that this team can boast the best frontline in the whole NBA. The addition of Pau Gasol adds another passing big man to the roster aside from triple double surprise from last year - Joachim Noah. Gasol can play high-low with Noah and has respectable range that is very useful in pick and roll action. It also helps that the men backing them up are equally talented such as Taj Gibson, who should be a starter in most NBA teams, and stretch forward Nikola Mirotic.

The small forward spot is the weak link the lineup given the departure of Deng but the Bulls are hoping that some of its youngsters in McDermott and Snell can develop on the defensive end while veteran Mike Dunleavy holds the fort in the meantime. Nevertheless the success of the Bulls still begins and ends with Rose. If the team from Windy City is to challenge for the trophy in June, Rose must be healthy. At this point his showing at the FIBA World Cup of Basketball leaves a lot to be desired, but the slashing guard has already shown glimpses of his old self in the pre-season especially during the game against the Cavaliers no less when he scored more than 30 points.

The Bulls will look to utilize the depth of their frontcourt as they slowly bring back Rose to playing form and reduce pressure for him to perform to his usual level. If Rose if healthy whole year, expect them to reach the conference finals. If it is the other way around, it would mean a second round exit at best for this squad.