Bulls reaction: Chicago fans analyze season previews

With the 2012-13 NBA season fast approaching, various media outlets are churning out season previews for the league's 30 teams. ESPN's John Hollinger and Yahoo! Sports' Ball Don't Lie recently produced previews for the Chicago Bulls, and the writers and fans at Blog A Bull, SB Nation's Bulls blog, have some thoughts on the predictions.

Hollinger projects the Bulls, who will miss point guard Derrick Rose for a good chunk of the year, to finish the regular season with a 43-39 record and squeak into the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's No. 8 seed. Blog A Bull's JayPatt sees that as a legitimate possibility:

I personally feel the win total is a tad on the low side, but it's certainly realistic and very possible, especially if there are more injury problems.

The three-man staff at Ball Don't Lie share similar thoughts on the Bulls as Hollinger. Ball Don't Lie predicts a win total around 44 and believes this could be a difficult season for head coach Tom Thibodeau. JayPatt agrees:

Without Rose and with so many new guys, Thibs will have to quickly get this team to gel and stay afloat as they wait for their savior to come back. I have faith that Thibs can do it, but it certainly wouldn't be a surprise if things went off the rail.

The Bulls open the regular season Oct. 31 at home against the Sacramento Kings.