No LeBron? No problem!  Chicago is rolling, and for the first time since 1998 they’re the East’s number 1 seed

SCOTT JACOBS

Maybe the Chicago Bulls didn’t need LeBron James afterall.

Last night red-hot Chicago did something they haven’t done since their Michael Jordan glory years — that being, lock up the East’s number one seed, just months after missing out on both LeBron and D-Wade.

Though many pundits expected them to land one of the two big fish from that epic free agent class of 2010, the Bulls ended up with neither, and were forced to build a team the normal way — through savvy signings and progression from their young guys. 

Well, Derrick Rose has developed into a stud, and Utah Midwest (the Bulls brought in 3 Jazz players over the summer — Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Brewer) has become a potent trifecta for a Chicago team that has pulled off an incredible feat — from 8th to 1st in one season.

Boozer paced the Bulls with 24, Brewer chipped in 12, and Korver added 10 more as the Bulls defeated the horrendous Cavaliers (irony much), giving them their 59th win of the season.  Of course it was the Cavs who knocked out the Bulls in last season’s playoffs, behind who else, LeBron James.

But while the Heat have shown great inconsistency against the league’s best, and feature a clear shortage of quality big men, the Bulls have found the perfect balance: great defense, fantastic point guard, strong inside post game, and terrific outside shooting.  That’s the recipe for success in the NBA, and o yeah, Rose.

The third year star who fatefully fell into Chicago’s lap, because the Heat failed to get the first pick a few years ago (instead ending up with Michael Beasley) is having a breakout MVP caliber year for the Bulls averaging 24.9 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and most importantly has become the unquestioned leader on a team where everyone knows their role.

Throw in a fantastic first year head coach in Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls have the pieces — young or not — to make a run deep into the playoffs and maybe well into June.  This all coming after a slew of injuries that the Bulls valiantly withstood early on in the year.

So for all you Super-team lovers and mega-team dreamers, maybe the Bulls have a lesson to offer up: if you build a team the right way and add the type of pieces, like a Boozer, like a Korver, like a Brewer that are going to put you over the top, you can be a much better team than someone who has 3 superstars and precious little else.

Nope, the Bulls didn’t get LeBron.

Maybe they never needed him in the first place.

Photo: Getty

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