CLEVELAND -- When the Chicago Bulls take the floor on Monday night for Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series, they'll be facing off against more than just LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Coach Tom Thibodeau preaches to his team the importance of focusing on the task at hand and controlling what you can control. But the reality for the Bulls is that those words are easier said than done this season. The expectations surrounding this group are higher than they have been in Thibodeau's five years as coach.
The Bulls have the talent -- and the relative health -- to win a championship. In 2011, the Bulls made the Eastern Conference finals, losing to James and the Miami Heat in five games. But even that group didn't have the burden of championship expectations from start to finish. Their 62 regular-season wins were a nice surprise and their playoff success gave fans hope that this was the start of a long championship window.
Four years and three Derrick Rose knee injuries later, the Bulls embark on their most difficult assignment to date amid the cloud of uncertainty regarding Thibodeau's future in Chicago.
That's why this game, this series, means much more to Thibodeau and his proud team than any other. It's a chance to finally knock off James for the first time on the playoff stage. It's a chance to silence those who question their consistency and to take advantage of another team's misfortune for a change after years of dealing with emotional setbacks.
If the Bulls can't find a way to beat James and the Cavaliers now, when will they ever?
That's the feeling within the organization as this series begins. The Bulls understand that they have a talented roster full of hard-nosed players. Jimmy Butler is evolving in the playoffs to become an even bigger star after his first All-Star selection this season. Nikola Mirotic finished second in rookie of the year balloting and is showing signs of becoming a high-level scorer. Tony Snell has turned into a solid bench player and has gained more confidence in his second season. Lottery pick Doug McDermott didn't play much this season, but the Bulls remain high on his ability and are convinced he will be able to contribute in the future.
The pieces are in place for the Bulls to be a solid team for several years to come. But a championship window stays open for only a precious few years, and the Bulls have a roster full of question marks in regard to their other primary players. Sure, Rose is still just 26 years old, but he has yet to prove he can stay healthy for a full season. He has played just 61 regular-season games in the past three seasons.
Joakim Noah is still just 30, but he has dealt with lingering knee issues after offseason surgery. At times, he looks like the player who won the defensive player of the year award and was an integral part of the Bulls' offense the past few years without Rose. But Noah also has looked like his body is hurting and preventing him from moving the way he would like.
At 34, Pau Gasol has been a huge part of the Bulls' success in his first season in Chicago. But after 14 years in the league, is it fair to think that Gasol will be able to play almost 35 minutes a game next season while averaging 18.5 points and 11.8 rebounds? As well as Gasol has played, his presence has also hampered Noah's offensive importance. Gasol and Noah have struggled to mesh on the floor, a fact that has flown under the radar throughout the year because of myriad other issues surrounding this team.
Taj Gibson will be 30 next month and has been dealing with several injuries throughout the season, notably an ankle issue that has caused him a lot of pain off and on during the season. He plays with energy and pride, but his body hasn't allowed him to consistently display the athleticism that defined the early part of his career.
At the top of the roster, age and health questions is the fact that the only major move it seems the Bulls will be able to make in the summer is to either sign or match any offer sheet that Butler signs. Bulls executive vice president John Paxson is already on record saying the Bulls will do just that, but that doesn't leave them much cap space to add anyone else of significance.
Barring a trade, this is the Bulls' core going into next season, one which will become even more complicated for two reasons. First, Noah will be entering the last year of his five-year deal. Secondly, the Bulls could very likely be heading into the new campaign with a different coaching staff if the tension between the Bulls front office and Thibodeau is strong enough to end their marriage. A coaching change would make for an even more uncertain future.
That's why the Bulls' time is now. They will be facing a Cavs team playing without Kevin Love (shoulder) and J.R. Smith, who was suspended for the first two games. James has won titles before, but this is the first time he will go through the pressure-cooker environment of the postseason with this Cavaliers team. The Bulls, specifically Noah, Gibson, Butler and, to a lesser extent Rose, have been building for this moment with Thibodeau for years. That's why they must take advantage of the opportunity. The time to get past James and keep moving toward a title is staring them in the face.
If they don't take advantage of this chance now, it likely won't ever happen for this core group.
Click here to listen to ESPN's Nick Friedell and Dave McMenamin break down the Bulls-Cavaliers series.