2006–07 Chicago Bulls season

The 2006-07 Chicago Bulls finished with a record of 49-33 in the regular season and reached the second round of the NBA playoffs, making it, at the time, their most successful season since the retirement of Michael Jordan, but nevertheless leaving some doubt amongst fans as to whether the team could compete for an NBA championship in the near future.

2006–07 Chicago Bulls season
Head coachScott Skiles
General managerJohn Paxson
OwnersJerry Reinsdorf
ArenaUnited Center
Results
Record49–33 (.598)
PlaceDivision: 3rd (Central)
Conference: 5th (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Pistons 2–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionCSN Chicago, WGN, WCIU
RadioWCKG

In the playoffs, the Bulls swept the defending NBA champion Miami Heat in four games in the First Round, before losing to the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Semifinals.

Offseason

Whereas previous seasons under General Manager John Paxson focused mostly on allowing the young players which comprised the core of the Bulls' roster to develop, before the '06-'07 season Paxson made an expensive free-agent signing in the form of Ben Wallace. Many fans were excited about the veteran experience and star power Wallace brought to the team, though some questioned if he was the best fit for the team, as Wallace had always been known for his defense, and many believed that the Bulls' biggest problem was a lack of inside scoring.

On July 20, the Bulls traded Tyson Chandler to the New Orleans Hornets for J.R. Smith. However, six days later, Smith was traded again, this time to the Denver Nuggets, in exchange for Howard Eisley and two second-round draft picks.

NBA Draft
Main article: 2006 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Club Team
1 2 LaMarcus Aldridge (traded to Portland) F  United States Texas
1 16 Rodney Carney (traded to Philadelphia) F  United States Memphis

Regular season

The Bulls got off to a rocky start, posting a record of 3-9 in their first 12 games. The criticism by some in the offseason about the signing of Ben Wallace seemed to gain some validity, as Wallace appeared to show his age and was not always able to put up big rebounding numbers as he had been known for with the Pistons. However, as they had in the 2004-05 season in which they started 0-9, the Bulls performed better as the season went on and finished 49-33. The record was good enough to receive the #5 seed among the 8 teams qualifying for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Bulls, however, lost their final game of the season to the New Jersey Nets[1] which would have boosted them to a #2 seed and given them an easier path to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Season standings
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Detroit Pistons 5329.646-26–1527–149–7
x-Cleveland Cavaliers 5032.610330–1120–2110–6
x-Chicago Bulls 4933.598431–1018–2312–4
Indiana Pacers 3547.4271822–1913–288–8
Milwaukee Bucks 2854.3412518–2310–311–15
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Detroit Pistons5329.646–
2 x-Cleveland Cavaliers5032.6103
3 y-Toronto Raptors4735.5736
4 y-Miami Heat4438.5379
5 x-Chicago Bulls4933.5984
6 x-New Jersey Nets4141.50012
7 x-Washington Wizards4141.50012
8 x-Orlando Magic4042.48813
9 Philadelphia 76ers3547.42718
10 Indiana Pacers3547.42718
11 New York Knicks3349.40220
12 Charlotte Bobcats3349.40220
13 Atlanta Hawks3052.36623
14 Milwaukee Bucks2854.34125
15 Boston Celtics2458.29329

Record vs. opponents
2006-07 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NOK NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —3–11–30–41–30–21–11–22–01–11–32–00–22–00–41–22–01–20–21–23–11–31–11–11–10–20–22–20–21–3
Boston 1–3—2–20–31–20–21–10–40–21–11–30–20–21–11–22–21–12–20–23–11–31–30–22–00–21–11–11–30–20–3
Charlotte 3–12–2—1–22–20–21–12–21–10–21–20–22–00–22–22–21–11–21–12–22–22–20–20–21–11–10–20–31–12–2
Chicago 4–03–02–1—2–21–11–13–11–10–23–10–21–11–13–14–00–21–32–03–11–22–11–12–00–21–12–02–20–23–1
Cleveland 3–12–12–22–2—0–20–21–32–01–13–12–02–02–01–34–02–02–11–12–21–23–10–21–12–02–01–13–11–12–1
Dallas 2–02–02–01–12–0—3–11–10–33–12–02–13–14–02–02–04–02–04–02–02–02–02–23–04–03–14–02–01–21–1
Denver 1–11–11–11–12–01–3—0–23–11–22–02–13–12–22–02–02–21–12–21–11–11–11–23–12–21–23–11–11–31–1
Detroit 2–14–02–21–33–11–12–0—0–21–12–22–02–02–02–13–11–14–01–12–14–03–11–11–11–10–22–02–10–22–2
Golden State 0–22–01–11–10–23–01–32–0—2–11–12–20–43–10–20–22–11–13–11–11–12–01–32–13–11–33–11–12–21–1
Houston 1–11–12–02–01–11–32–11–11–2—1–13–12–24–02–02–02–22–01–32–02–02–01–32–23–02–23–01–11–32–0
Indiana 3–13–12–11–31–30–20–22–21–11–1—1–11–12–02–24–00–20–41–12–12–22–20–22–00–21–10–21–20–20–3
L.A. Clippers 0–22–02–02–00–21–21–20–22–21–31–1—2–23–02–02–01–21–12–21–11–12–02–23–12–20–42–20–21–31–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–21–10–21–31–30–24–02–21–12–2—2–21–10–23–12–01–20–22–01–11–31–23–12–13–11–12–11–1
Memphis 0–21–12–01–10–20–42–20–21–30–40–20–32–2—0–20–22–10–21–30–21–11–10–42–21–21–31–21–11–31–1
Miami 4–02–12–21–33–10–20–21–22–00–22–20–21–12–0—2–12–03–11–11–30–41–30–22–02–01–12–02–12–03–1
Milwaukee 2–12–22–20–40–40–20–21–32–00–20–40–22–02–01–2—2–01–20–21–31–32–10–21–11–12–01–11–30–21–3
Minnesota 0–21–11–12–00–20–42–21–11–22–22–02–11–31–20–20–2—1–11–32–01–12–01–32–22–21–21–30–21–31–1
New Jersey 2–12–22–13–11–20–21–10–41–10–24–01–10–22–01–32–11–1—1–14–02–22–20–20–21–10–20–22–22–04–0
New Orleans/Oklahoma City 2–02–01–10–21–10–42–21–11–33–11–12–22–13–11–12–03–11–1—2–01–10–20–31–23–10–42–20–21–21–1
New York 2–11–32–21–32–20–21–11–21–10–21–21–12–02–03–13–10–20–40–2—2–11–30–21–11–10–21–11–31–12–2
Orlando 1–33–12–22–12–10–21–10–41–10–22–21–10–21–14–03–11–12–21–11–2—2–10–22–01–11–12–00–42–02–2
Philadelphia 3–13–12–21–21–30–21–11–30–20–22–20–21–11–13–11–20–22–22–03–11–2—1–11–11–10–22–01–31–10–3
Phoenix 1–12–02–01–12–02–22–11–13–13–12–02–23–14–02–02–03–12–03–02–02–01–1—4–03–11–22–12–01–31–1
Portland 1–10–22–00–21–10–31–31–11–22–20–21–32–12–20–21–12–22–02–11–10–21–10–4—2–20–42–21–12–22–0
Sacramento 1–12–01–12–00–20–42–21–11–30–32–02–21–32–10–21–12–21–11–31–11–11–11–32–2—0–42–11–12–10–2
San Antonio 2–01–11–11–10–21–32–12–03–12–21–14–01–23–11–10–22–12–04–02–01–12–02–14–04–0—4–02–02–22–0
Seattle 2–01–12–00–21–10–41–30–21–30–32–02–21–32–10–21–13–12–02–21–10–20–21–22–21–20–4—1–12–20–2
Toronto 2–23–13–02–21–30–21–11–21–11–12–12–01–11–11–23–12–02–22–03–14–03–10–21–11–10–21–1—0–23–1
Utah 2–02–01–12–01–12–13–12–02–23–12–03–11–23–10–22–03–10–22–11–10–21–13–12–21–22–22–22–0—1–1
Washington 3–13–02–21–31–21–11–12–21–10–23–01–11–11–11–33–11–10–41–12–22–23–01–10–22–00–22–01–31–1—

Postseason

The Bulls opened the playoffs by defeating the defending champion Miami Heat in a 4-0 sweep. The Heat were hindered by a nagging injury to Dwyane Wade, but nevertheless most observed felt that the Bulls had outplayed the Heat in the series.

East First Round

(4) Miami Heat vs. (5) Chicago Bulls

April 21
Miami Heat 91, Chicago Bulls 96
United Center, Chicago
April 24
Miami Heat 89, Chicago Bulls 107
United Center, Chicago
April 27
Chicago Bulls 104, Miami Heat 96
ABC
April 29
Chicago Bulls 92, Miami Heat 79
Chicago wins series, 4–0
American Airlines Arena, Miami

Last Playoff Meeting: 2006 Eastern Conference First Round (Miami won 4-2)

In the second round, the #1 seed Detroit Pistons quickly put a damper on the excitement of Bulls' fans by soundly defeating the Bulls in Game 1 of the seven game series, holding the Bulls to 33% shooting and only 69 points.[2] The Bulls would continue to struggle, scoring just 87 and 74 points in games 2 and 3 respectively, and finding themselves in a 3-0 series deficit. The Bulls stayed alive by winning games 4 and 5, scoring triple digits in each game, but then suffered a 95-85 defeat on their home court in game 6 to end their season.

East Conference Semifinals

(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (5) Chicago Bulls

TNT
May 7
Chicago Bulls 87, Detroit Pistons 108
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
May 10
Detroit Pistons 81, Chicago Bulls 74
United Center, Chicago
May 13
Detroit Pistons 87, Chicago Bulls 102
United Center, Chicago
TNT
May 15
Chicago Bulls 108, Detroit Pistons 92
The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills
ESPN
May 17
Detroit Pistons 95, Chicago Bulls 85
Detroit wins series, 4–2
United Center, Chicago

Last Playoff Meeting: 1991 Eastern Conference Finals (Chicago won 4-0)

Awards and records

Roster
2006-07 Chicago Bulls roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHt.Wt.From
PF 35 Allen, Malik 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Villanova
C — Andriuškevičius, Martynas (IN) 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 250 lb (113 kg) Lithuania
PG 11 Barrett, Andre 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 172 lb (78 kg) Seton Hall
PF 42 Brown, P. J. 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Louisiana Tech
SF 9 Deng, Luol 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Duke
PG 21 Duhon, Chris 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Duke
SG 7 Gordon, Ben 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Connecticut
SG 44 Griffin, Adrian 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 217 lb (98 kg) Seton Hall
PG 12 Hinrich, Kirk 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Kansas
SF 38 Khryapa, Viktor 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Russia
SF 5 Nocioni, Andres 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Argentina
SG 2 Sefolosha, Thabo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Switzerland
PF 50 Sweetney, Mike 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 275 lb (125 kg) Georgetown
PF 24 Thomas, Tyrus 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Louisiana State
C 3 Wallace, Ben 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) Virginia Union
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Regular season
Chicago Bulls statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Malik Allen 60110.6.415.000.8242.0.3.3.34.0
Andre Barrett 604.8.500...81.2.0.01.3
P. J. Brown 724920.2.407.000.7874.8.7.3.76.1
Luol Deng 828237.5.517.143.7777.12.51.2.618.8
Chris Duhon 783024.4.408.359.7522.24.0.9.17.2
Ben Gordon 825133.0.455.413.8643.13.6.8.221.4
Adrian Griffin 54110.8.473.000.7892.01.1.6.12.5
Kirk Hinrich 808035.5.448.415.8353.46.31.3.316.6
Viktor Khryapa 3307.0.386.000.7311.7.6.3.02.2
Andres Nocioni 533126.5.467.383.8485.71.1.5.514.1
Thabo Sefolosha 71412.2.426.357.5112.2.8.5.23.6
Mike Sweetney 4808.0.433..5612.5.6.2.23.2
Tyrus Thomas 72413.4.475.000.6063.7.6.61.15.2
Ben Wallace 777735.0.453.200.40810.72.41.42.06.4

Playoffs
Chicago Bulls statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Malik Allen 506.8.167..1.4.2.2.2.8
P. J. Brown 101022.8.493..7394.71.2.8.28.3
Luol Deng 101041.0.524.000.8078.72.41.0.722.2
Chris Duhon 9019.1.290.316.8001.82.3.3.13.6
Ben Gordon 101039.5.415.436.9213.83.8.9.120.4
Adrian Griffin 402.3.000...3.0.3.0.0
Kirk Hinrich 101036.2.376.302.7694.27.5.9.312.1
Andres Nocioni 10019.7.360.333.7223.5.8.2.58.8
Thabo Sefolosha 9011.0.385.375.5831.9.8.2.03.3
Mike Sweetney 103.0.500..000.0.0.0.02.0
Tyrus Thomas 10012.2.390..6333.4.61.0.55.1
Ben Wallace 101036.9.566.000.5009.51.41.51.78.7

Transactions

References
  1. ESPN - Chicago vs. New Jersey - Recap - April 18, 2007
  2. ESPN - Chicago vs. Detroit - Box Score - May 05, 2007
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