2011–12 Chicago Bulls season

Key dates

• June 23: The 2011 NBA draft took place at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
• November 1: Chicago Bulls first game of the season, against the Dallas Mavericks was scheduled, but was cancelled due to the lockout.
• December 25: Chicago Bulls first game of the season, against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Bulls won 88–87, in Los Angeles.
• March 24: Chicago secured a spot in the 2012 NBA Playoffs with a 102–101 victory against the Toronto Raptors.
• April 12: The Bulls clinch the Central Division title with a 96–86 win against the Miami Heat.

Summary

NBA draft

Main article: 2011 NBA draft

Roster

• Tom Thibodeau
• Ron Adams
• Rick Brunson
• Andy Greer
• Adrian Griffin
• Ed Pinckney
• Mike Wilhelm
• Fred Tedeschi (trainer)

Pre-season

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | December 16 | @ Indiana | 95–86 | Derrick Rose, Luol Deng (16) | Taj Gibson (9) | Derrick Rose (4) | Conseco Fieldhouse 14,013 | 1–0 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2 | December 20 | Indiana | 93–85 | Carlos Boozer (24) | Joakim Noah (8) | Derrick Rose (9) | United Center 21,659 | 2–0

Regular season

Standings

Game log

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | December 25 | @ L. A. Lakers | | Derrick Rose (22) | Joakim Noah (9) | Derrick Rose (5) | Staples Center 18,997 | 1–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | December 26 | @ Golden State | | Luol Deng (22) | Luol Deng Joakim Noah (10) | Derrick Rose (8) | Oracle Arena 19,596 | 1–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 3 | December 29 | @ Sacramento | | Derrick Rose (19) | Carlos Boozer (15) | C. J. Watson (9) | Power Balance Pavilion 17,317 | 2–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 4 | December 30 | @ L. A. Clippers | | Derrick Rose (29) | Derrick Rose (8) | Derrick Rose (16) | Staples Center 19,426 | 3–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | January 1 | Memphis | | Carlos Boozer Ronnie Brewer (17) | Carlos Boozer (11) | Derrick Rose (6) | United Center 22,763 | 4–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 6 | January 3 | Atlanta | | Derrick Rose (30) | Carlos Boozer (9) | Derrick Rose (7) | United Center 22,166 | 5–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 7 | January 4 | @ Detroit | | Carlos Boozer (19) | Joakim Noah (11) | Derrick Rose (10) | The Palace of Auburn Hills 9,125 | 6–1 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 8 | January 6 | @ Orlando | | Derrick Rose Luol Deng (21) | Carlos Boozer (13) | Derrick Rose (10) | Amway Center 18,192 | 7–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 9 | January 7 | @ Atlanta | | John Lucas (16) | Ömer Aşık (13) | Derrick Rose (6) | Philips Arena 17,112 | 7–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 10 | January 9 | Detroit | | Carlos Boozer (23) | Carlos Boozer Joakim Noah (8) | Derrick Rose (8) | United Center 21,530 | 8–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 11 | January 10 | @ Minnesota | | Derrick Rose (31) | Luol Deng Joakim Noah (11) | Derrick Rose (11) | Target Center 19,356 | 9–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 12 | January 11 | Washington | | John Lucas (25) | Luol Deng (15) | John Lucas (8) | United Center 21,366 | 10–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 13 | January 13 | @ Boston | | Derrick Rose (25) | Luol Deng (16) | Derrick Rose (7) | TD Garden 18,624 | 11–2 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 14 | January 14 | Toronto | | Derrick Rose (18) | Carlos Boozer (13) | Derrick Rose (11) | United Center 21,962 | 12–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 15 | January 16 | @ Memphis | | Luol Deng (20) | Carlos Boozer (7) | C. J. Watson Luol Deng (3) | FedExForum 18,119 | 12–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 16 | January 17 | Phoenix | | Carlos Boozer (31) | Joakim Noah (12) | Richard Hamilton Kyle Korver (6) | United Center 21,347 | 13–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 17 | January 20 | @ Cleveland | | Luol Deng (21) | Carlos Boozer (14) | C. J. Watson (7) | Quicken Loans Arena 17,871 | 14–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 18 | January 21 | Charlotte | | Carlos Boozer (23) | Ömer Aşık (15) | Mike James (10) | United Center 21,861 | 15–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 19 | January 23 | New Jersey | | Richard Hamilton (22) | Joakim Noah (10) | Richard Hamilton (10) | United Center 21,572 | 16–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 20 | January 25 | Indiana | | Derrick Rose (24) | Joakim Noah (13) | Ronnie Brewer (5) | United Center 21,755 | 16–4 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 21 | January 27 | Milwaukee | | Derrick Rose (34) | Joakim Noah (16) | Ronnie Brewer (6) | United Center 22,368 | 17–4 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 22 | January 29 | @ Miami | | Derrick Rose (34) | Joakim Noah (11) | Derrick Rose (11) | American Airlines Arena 20,054 | 17–5 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 23 | January 30 | @ Washington | | Derrick Rose (35) | Joakim Noah (13) | Derrick Rose (8) | Verizon Center 18,357 | 18–5 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 24 | February 1 | @ Philadelphia | | C. J. Watson (20) | Carlos Boozer (9) | Derrick Rose (6) | Wells Fargo Center 18,325 | 18–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 25 | February 2 | @ New York | | Derrick Rose (32) | Carlos Boozer Joakim Noah (9) | Derrick Rose (13) | Madison Square Garden 19,763 | 19–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 26 | February 4 | @ Milwaukee | | Derrick Rose (26) | Luol Deng Joakim Noah (9) | Derrick Rose (13) | Bradley Center 18,717 | 20–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 27 | February 6 | @ New Jersey | | Carlos Boozer (24) | Joakim Noah (12) | C. J. Watson (11) | Prudential Center 15,327 | 21–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 28 | February 8 | @ New Orleans | | Carlos Boozer (18) | Joakim Noah (10) | Derrick Rose (6) | New Orleans Arena 15,456 | 22–6 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 29 | February 10 | @ Charlotte | | Joakim Noah (17) | Joakim Noah (14) | C. J. Watson (5) | Time Warner Cable Arena 19,379 | 23–6 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 30 | February 12 | @ Boston | | Carlos Boozer C. J. Watson (22) | Joakim Noah (9) | Ronnie Brewer C. J. Watson (6) | TD Garden 18,624 | 23–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 31 | February 14 | Sacramento | | Luol Deng (23) | Joakim Noah (11) | Luol Deng (11) | United Center 21,936 | 24–7 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 32 | February 16 | Boston | | Luol Deng Carlos Boozer (23) | Joakim Noah (16) | Luol Deng (10) | United Center 22,592 | 25–7 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 33 | February 18 | New Jersey | | Carlos Boozer Mike James (16) | Carlos Boozer Taj Gibson (9) | Mike James (7) | United Center 22,300 | 25–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 34 | February 20 | Atlanta | | Derrick Rose (23) | Joakim Noah (16) | Derrick Rose (6) | United Center 22,033 | 26–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 35 | February 22 | Milwaukee | | Carlos Boozer (20) | Joakim Noah (13) | Joakim Noah (10) | United Center 21,507 | 27–8 |- style="text-align:center;" |- style="background:#cfc;" | 36 | February 28 | New Orleans | | Derrick Rose (32) | Joakim Noah (16) | Derrick Rose (9) | United Center 21,919 | 28–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 37 | February 29 | @ San Antonio | | Derrick Rose (29) | Joakim Noah (13) | Derrick Rose C.J. Watson (4) | AT&T Center 18,581 | 29–8

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 38 | March 2 | @ Cleveland | | Luol Deng (24) | Carlos Boozer (11) | Derrick Rose (9) | Quicken Loans Arena 20,562 | 30–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 39 | March 4 | @ Philadelphia | | Derrick Rose (35) | Joakim Noah (18) | Derrick Rose (8) | Wells Fargo Center 19,683 | 31–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 40 | March 5 | Indiana | | Luol Deng (20) | Joakim Noah (17) | Derrick Rose (9) | United Center 22,106 | 32–8 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 41 | March 7 | @ Milwaukee | | Derrick Rose (30) | Joakim Noah (10) | Derrick Rose (11) | Bradley Center 15,389 | 33–8 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 42 | March 8 | Orlando | | Carlos Boozer (26) | Joakim Noah (10) | Derrick Rose (9) | United Center 22,127 | 33–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 43 | March 10 | Utah | | Carlos Boozer (27) | Carlos Boozer (8) | Derrick Rose (13) | United Center 22,158 | 34–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 44 | March 12 | New York | | Derrick Rose (32) | Taj Gibson (13) | Derrick Rose Ronnie Brewer (7) | United Center 22,863 | 35–9 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 45 | March 14 | Miami | | John Lucas III (24) | Carlos Boozer Taj Gibson (8) | Carlos Boozer (5) | United Center 23,028 | 36–9 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 46 | March 16 | Portland | | Carlos Boozer (22) | Carlos Boozer (14) | Joakim Noah (5) | United Center 22,022 | 36–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 47 | March 17 | Philadelphia | | C.J. Watson (20) | Joakim Noah (11) | Joakim Noah Taj Gibson (4) | United Center 22,225 | 37–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 48 | March 19 | @ Orlando | | Carlos Boozer (24) | Carlos Boozer (13) | Joakim Noah (5) | Amway Center 18,998 | 38–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 49 | March 21 | @ Toronto | | Luol Deng (17) | Luol Deng (10) | Joakim Noah (5) | Air Canada Centre 17,869 | 39–10 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 50 | March 24 | Toronto | | Carlos Boozer (24) | Carlos Boozer Luol Deng (10) | John Lucas III (6) | United Center 21,841 | 40–10 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 51 | March 26 | Denver | | C.J. Watson (17) | Carlos Boozer Taj Gibson (7) | C.J. Watson (8) | United Center 22,274 | 40–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 52 | March 28 | @ Atlanta | | Luol Deng (22) | Carlos Boozer (9) | John Lucas III (5) | Philips Arena 16,290 | 41–11 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 53 | March 30 | Detroit | | Luol Deng (20) | Joakim Noah (12) | C.J. Watson (5) | United Center 22,385 | 42–11

|- style="background:#fcc;" | 54 | April 1 | @ Oklahoma City | | John Lucas III (19) | Taj Gibson (11) | Kyle Korver John Lucas III (4) | Chesapeake Energy Arena 18,203 | 42–12 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 55 | April 2 | Houston | | Luol Deng (24) | Carlos Boozer (13) | Carlos Boozer (7) | United Center 21,936 | 42–13 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 56 | April 5 | Boston | | Luol Deng (26) | Carlos Boozer (14) | C.J. Watson (8) | United Center 22,423 | 43–13 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 57 | April 8 | @ New York | | Derrick Rose (29) | Carlos Boozer (16) | Derrick Rose (4) | Madison Square Garden 19,763 | 43–14 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 58 | April 10 | New York | | Richard Hamilton (20) | Luol Deng (10) | C.J. Watson (7) | United Center 22,131 | 44–14 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 59 | April 12 | Miami | | Carlos Boozer (19) | Carlos Boozer (11) | C.J. Watson (9) | United Center 23,015 | 45–14 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 60 | April 15 | @ Detroit | | Derrick Rose (24) | Joakim Noah (17) | Derrick Rose (9) | The Palace of Auburn Hills 17,450 | 46–14 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 61 | April 16 | Washington | | Richard Hamilton (22) | Carlos Boozer (13) | C.J. Watson (8) | United Center 22,307 | 46–15 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 62 | April 18 | @ Charlotte | | Richard Hamilton (22) | Ömer Aşık (15) | Richard Hamilton (6) | Time Warner Cable Arena 14,221 | 47–15 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 63 | April 19 | @ Miami | | John Lucas III (16) | Joakim Noah (10) | C.J. Watson John Lucas III (4) | American Airlines Arena 20,008 | 47–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 64 | April 21 | Dallas | | Luol Deng (22) | Joakim Noah (14) | Derrick Rose Joakim Noah (8) | United Center 22,945 | 48–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 65 | April 25 | @ Indiana | | Kyle Korver (20) | Joakim Noah (14) | Derrick Rose (7) | Bankers Life Fieldhouse 18,165 | 49–16 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 66 | April 26 | Cleveland | | John Lucas III (25) | Joakim Noah Taj Gibson (12) | C.J. Watson (8) | United Center 22,563 | 50–16

Player statistics

Season

• Statistics with the Chicago Bulls.

Playoffs

Game log

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1 | April 28 | Philadelphia | | Derrick Rose (23) | Joakim Noah (13) | Derrick Rose (9) | United Center 21,943 | 1–0 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 2 | May 1 | Philadelphia | | Joakim Noah (21) | Joakim Noah (8) | Richard Hamilton Joakim Noah (5) | United Center 22,067 | 1–1 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 3 | May 4 | @ Philadelphia | | Carlos Boozer (18) | Carlos Boozer (10) | Richard Hamilton (7) | Wells Fargo Center 20,381 | 1–2 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 4 | May 6 | @ Philadelphia | | Carlos Boozer (23) | Taj Gibson (12) | C.J. Watson Carlos Boozer (4) | Wells Fargo Center 20,412 | 1–3 |- style="background:#cfc;" | 5 | May 8 | Philadelphia | | Luol Deng (24) | Carlos Boozer (13) | C.J. Watson (7) | United Center 22,093 | 2–3 |- style="background:#fcc;" | 6 | May 10 | @ Philadelphia | | Luol Deng, Richard Hamilton (19) | Luol Deng (17) | C. J. Watson (10) | Wells Fargo Center 20,362 | 2–4

Playoff statistics

|- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" | | 6 || 3 || 21.3 || .500 || || .353 || 4.7 || 1.3 || .2 || 1.6 || 3.3 |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | | 6 || 6 || 33.3 || .422 || || .714 || 9.8 || 3.0 || .8 || .3 || 13.5 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" | | 5 || 0 || 16.6 || .250 || || .000 || 3.8 || 1.8 || .8 || .2 || 1.6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | | 3 || 0 || 1.3 || || || || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" | | 6 || 6 || 38.0 || .456 || .364 || .571 || 8.3 || 1.5 || .8 || 1.5 || 14.0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | | 6 || 0 || 22.8 || .457 || || .682 || 6.5 || .7 || .7 || 1.7 || 9.5 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" | | 6 || 6 || 28.5 || .414 || .333 || .818 || 3.2 || 3.0 || .2 || .0 || 13.0 |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | | 6 || 0 || 15.7 || .409 || .308 || .500 || 1.7 || 1.5 || .5 || .5 || 3.8 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" | | 5 || 0 || 18.8 || .450 || .385 || 1.000 || 1.4 || 1.8 || .0 || .0 || 8.6 |- style="text-align:center; background:#f0f0f0;" | | 3 || 3 || 15.0 || .731 || || .636 || 9.3 || 3.0 || .7 || 1.3 || 15.0 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" | | 1 || 1 || 37.0 || .391 || .500 || 1.000 || 9.0 || 9.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || 23.0 |- style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" | | 6 || 5 || 27.3 || .241 || .250 || .750 || 2.2 || 5.5 || .8 || .0 || 7.3 |}

Awards, records and milestones

Awards

Week/Month

• On January 16, Derrick Rose was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week (January 9 – January 15)
• Coach Tom Thibodeau was named Coach of the Month for December–January.
• Coach Tom Thibodeau was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for March, 2012.

All-Star

• Derrick Rose was voted as an All-Star for the 3rd consecutive time, 2nd consecutive time as a starter.
• Luol Deng was voted as an All-Star reserve for the 1st time.
• Coach Tom Thibodeau was selected as Head Coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars.

Transactions

Main article: List of 2011–12 NBA season transactions

Overview

Trades

Free agents

Many players signed with teams from other leagues due to the 2011 NBA lockout. FIBA allows players under NBA contracts to sign and play for teams from other leagues if the contracts have opt-out clauses that allow the players to return to the NBA if the lockout ends. The Chinese Basketball Association, however, only allows its clubs to sign foreign free agents who could play for at least the entire season.

References

References

1. [https://www.espn.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/7866701/2012-nba-playoffs-chicago-bulls-derrick-rose-suffers-torn-acl-philadelphia-76ers Bulls' Derrick Rose tears ACL], [[ESPN.com]], April 29, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
2. [https://www.espn.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/7892542/chicago-bulls-center-joakim-noah-hurts-ankle-philadelphia-76ers Joakim Noah injured in Game 3], [[ESPN.com]]. May 5, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
3. [https://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=395624 76ers Upset Bulls To Advance To Second Round], [[The Sports Network]]. May 11, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
4. (October 27, 2010). "Report: NBA draft moving to Newark". ESPN.com.
5. (July 19, 2011). "Chicago Bulls announce 2011–12 schedule". nba.com/bulls.
6. Mahoney, Brian. (December 2, 2011). "Shorter NBA schedule has 42 back-to-back-to-backs". Yahoo! Sports.
7. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/03/24/bulls-take-102-101-ot-victory-over-raptors/ Bulls take 102-101 OT victory over Raptors], [[Chicago Tribune]]. March 24, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
8. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/04/12/bulls-bench-strong-in-overcoming-heat-96-86/ Bulls bench strong in overcoming Heat 96-86], [[Chicago Tribune]], April 12, 2012. Retrieved May 21, 2012.
9. "Bulls stats". nba.com/bulls.
10. "Bulls' Rose, Lakers' Bryant named NBA Players of the Week | NBA.com".
11. "Thibodeau, Brooks named Coaches of the Month {{!}} NBA.com".
12. "Bulls' Thibodeau named the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for March".
13. "Archived copy".
14. "All-Star Game {{!}} All-Star 2012 {{!}} NBA.com".
15. [https://www.espn.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/7576804/chicago-bulls-tom-thibodeau-coach-eastern-all-stars Tom Thibodeau to coach East at ASG], [[ESPN.com]], February 15, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
16. [https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/6815642/ "FIBA: NBA stars can play overseas"]. ''ESPN.com''. ESPN Internet Ventures. July 30, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
17. Sun Xiaochen. (August 21, 2011). "New rule shuts door on NBA stars". [[China Daily]].