It did not end in an NBA title, but the 2010-11 NBA season for the Chicago Bulls was the first season since the Michael Jordan era where the team truly felt like a championship contender. Behind the superb play of Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah, the Bulls finished with the league’s best overall record in the regular season at 62-20 and set the stage for even greater things in 2011-12.

Derrick Rose has kept Bulls’ fans interested…and hopeful.
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Before the new season gets underway, here is a look back at the top five moments for the Chicago Bulls and their fans from last season:

1. Derrick Rose named NBA MVP:

Rose cemented his status as the franchise’s first worthy successor to Jordan by claiming NBA Most Valuable Player honors for the first time in his career. There is no doubt Rose deserved it. He posted career-highs in several statistical categories. Rose averaged 25.0 points, 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds for Chicago. He is the youngest player in NBA history to win NBA MVP honors.

2. Bulls reach Eastern Conference Finals:

It had been a long time since Chicago had made a deep postseason run. For the first time since 1998, the Bulls made it back to the Eastern Conference finals. Chicago defeated Indiana and Atlanta in the first two rounds before falling to the Miami Heat in five games in the conference finals.

3. Joakim Noah builds on breakout season:

Noah missed 31 games during the course of the season because of surgery on his right thumb and played in only 48 games total. It did not matter. The Bulls center looked every bit worth his contract extension for five years and $60 million. Noah was a defensive force in the middle and posted 11.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocked shots and 1.0 steals per game.

4. Chicago reaches 60 victories:

Last April, the Bulls gave fans one more reason to believe when they crossed the 60 win plateau with just two games remaining in the regular season following a 102-99 victory over the Orlando Magic. Rose had a superhuman performance, scoring 39 points to help Chicago get to 60 victories for the first time since the Jordan era.

5. Bulls set new franchise record for 3-pointers:

Chicago made a habit of breaking the hearts of Utah Jazz fans in the late 90s en route to winning NBA titles. The Jazz were victims of the Bulls again last March. Chicago made a franchise record 18 3-pointers to beat Utah 118-100. Ironically, ex-Jazz guard Kyle Korver was one of the Utah killers. He knocked down three shots from the perimeter and finished with 17 points. Rose led the way, going 5-of-11 from the perimeter and finishing with 26 points.

When he is not working as a freelance sports reporter, John Coon never misses a chance to catch the Chicago Bulls in action. His passion for the Bulls began at seven years old when he first saw Michael Jordan play.

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Read More: Kyle Korver (F – CHI), Ronnie Brewer (F – CHI), Jamal Crawford (G – ATL), Joakim Noah (C – CHI), C.J. Watson (G – CHI), Omer Asik (C – CHI), Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks

According to a report, the Atlanta Hawks are discussing a potential sign-and-trade deal with the Chicago Bulls that would land Jamal Crawford in the windy city. The Hawks are thought to be pursuing a package centered around Bulls’ guard Ronnie Brewer. 

Chicago has been rumored to as a potential suitor for Crawford but will likely need the Hawks help to land him. The Bulls could offer Jamal the $5 million mid-level exception but Crawford is likely to find more lucrative offers elsewhere. Hence the Bulls interest in a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta. 

Other players rumored as being discussed include Kyle Korver, C.J. Watson and Omer Asik. Korver could potentially add a long range element to the Hawks’ offense while Asik would be a mighty addition to the frontcourt. The Bulls however, aren’t likely to part with Asik who is back up to Joakim Noah and is on a rookie scale contract. 

For more on the Atlanta Hawks, be sure to check out SB Nation blog Peachtree Hoops. For more on the transactions going on around the NBA, check out the SB Nation NBA hub.

Like everybody associated with the NBA, Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose is excited the lockout is nearing its end.

“It’s good, knowing that we wanted to get back to it,” Rose told CSNChicago.com in an exclusive interview. “I know guys are excited. I know I am. I’ve been working out. You see me up here working out at night, back in Chicago. Just trying to get my feel back and hopefully, we’ll do good this year.”

Rose spoke to the website after a workout at his alma mater, Simeon Career Academy. He said teammates like Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah would return to Chicago soon in advance of training camps scheduled to open Dec. 9.

“We’re fine,” Rose said. “We still don’t have a target on our back. We’re still the team that nobody talks about, so that’s fine with us. We’re just going to keep winning games and hopefully, people will notice us.”

Coming off a season in which he became the youngest most valuable player in league history, Rose’s goals remain high.

“Just to be the best,” he said. “I told you, be the best at my position, be the best when I’m on the court and continue to go out there and play hard. I know last year, that’s the past. This year’s a whole other year. I know Thibs and the coaching staff is going to really coach us harder than last year, and we’re just trying to get further than last year. That’s the goal.”

Rose also pointed to what widely is expected to be the Bulls’ opener, a Christmas Day matchup against the Lakers in Los Angeles.

“Showtime,” he said. “I hope it’s exciting. I know Thibs and the rest of the people are getting ready — the coaches — and we’re prepared for it.”

Because of a new stipulation in the pending collective bargaining agreement rewarding overachievers on their rookie contracts, Rose is due to sign a five-year, roughly $100 million extension, roughly $17 million more than he previously would’ve been eligible for. Many are calling this the “Derrick Rose rule.”

“It’s unbelievable,” Rose said. “The rule, I guess it fits me for what I achieved at a young age.”

kcjohnson@tribune.com

Twitter @kcjhoop

Chicago Bulls Star
Beer Pongin’ During NBA Lockout