The United Center looks different lately. If you’ve been following the chicago bulls schedule 2024, you know the "Mid-Three" era is officially in the rearview mirror. No more DeMar DeRozan heroics in the fourth. Alex Caruso is locking people up in OKC now. Honestly, it's a weird time to be a Bulls fan, but the schedule tells a story that the box scores sometimes miss.
Basically, the 2024-25 season is a 82-game experiment. The front office finally picked a direction—youth—and the calendar reflects that shift. You've got a roster that is now one of the youngest in the league, and Billy Donovan is leaning into a "pace and space" style that has them running teams off the floor, for better or worse.
The Highs and Lows of the 2024-25 Campaign
Looking back at the start of the chicago bulls schedule 2024, the season tipped off on October 23 against the Pelicans. It wasn't a win, but it set the tone. We saw Josh Giddey taking the reins and Coby White proving that his Most Improved Player runner-up season wasn't a fluke.
Then came the Milwaukee game on October 25. That was a statement. A 133-122 win on the road against Giannis? Nobody saw that coming. It gave people hope that maybe this "retool" wouldn't be as painful as the post-Butler years. But then, as young teams do, they followed it up by getting smacked by the Thunder in the home opener.
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Key Matchups That Defined the Year
If you were tracking the schedule, a few stretches really stood out:
- The DeRozan Return: January 12 was circled on everyone's calendar. DeMar came back with the Kings. It was emotional, sure, but it also showed the gap between a playoff-ready roster and what the Bulls are building.
- The West Coast Gauntlet: March is always the "make or break" month for Chicago. This year featured a brutal six-game swing starting March 15. Houston, Utah, Phoenix, Sacramento, the Lakers, and Denver. That’s a lot of flight miles and a lot of altitude.
- The Rivalry Games: Any time the Bucks or Cavs show up on the chicago bulls schedule 2024, the energy in the city shifts. Cleveland has been a particular thorn in the side this year, especially with how they’ve handled the Bulls in the NBA Cup.
Understanding the NBA Cup and the "New" Schedule
The NBA Cup (the tournament formerly known as the In-Season Tournament) added a different layer to the November schedule. The Bulls found themselves in East Group C with some heavy hitters: Boston, Cleveland, Atlanta, and Washington.
It wasn't exactly a Cinderella story for Chicago. They finished group play 2-2. They beat Atlanta and Washington—games they should win—but got humbled by the Celtics and Cavs. That 144-126 loss to Cleveland on November 15 was a reality check. It turns out, playing at the second-fastest pace in the league (102.8 possessions per game) is great for highlights but exhausting for a young defense.
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The schedule actually shifted because of the Cup. Since the Bulls didn't make the knockout rounds, the NBA had to "invent" two games in mid-December to make sure every team hit the 82-game mark. They ended up with matchups against the Hornets and Raptors. It's kinda funny how the league handles the logistics of a tournament that doesn't involve everyone until the very end.
The Statistical Reality Behind the Dates
Why does the chicago bulls schedule 2024 feel so chaotic? It's the pace. Billy Donovan has these guys flying. Last year's stats showed them ranking near the top in transition points, and that hasn't changed.
| Month | Home Games | Road Games | Back-to-Backs |
|---|---|---|---|
| October | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| November | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| December | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| January | 9 | 7 | 1 |
November was the gauntlet. Four back-to-back sets in a single month is borderline cruel. For a team relying on Nikola Vucevic (one of the few guys over 30) to anchor the middle, that kind of schedule leads to those "scheduled losses" where the legs just aren't there in the second half.
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What to Watch in the Final Stretch
As we head toward the conclusion of the chicago bulls schedule 2024, the focus moves from "can they win" to "who is the core?"
The trade deadline on February 6, 2025, is a massive pivot point. Does Zach LaVine finish the season in red and black? Does Vucevic get moved to a contender? The games following that deadline usually look a lot different than the ones in November.
If you're looking for tickets or planning which games to watch, keep an eye on the April schedule. The Bulls have a heavy home tilt to close the year, including games against the Raptors, Blazers, and Heat. If they are hovering around that 9th or 10th spot for the Play-In Tournament, those April games at the United Center are going to be loud.
Actionable Steps for Bulls Fans
Staying on top of the chicago bulls schedule 2024 isn't just about knowing when they play; it's about knowing how to watch and what to look for.
- Sync Your Calendar: Use the official Bulls app or NBA.com to sync the schedule to your phone. With the new NBA Cup games and flex scheduling, things change fast.
- Watch the "Pace" Stat: Don't just look at the score. Look at the number of possessions. If the Bulls are under 100 possessions, they are playing the opponent's game. They want it high.
- Monitor the Injury Report: With 13 back-to-backs this season, rest is a factor. Lonzo Ball's return has been a slow burn, and his availability often dictates how the second unit functions.
- Check the Broadcasts: Remember, CHSN (Chicago Sports Network) is the new home. If you're still looking for them on the old regional networks, you're going to see a lot of "program not found" screens.
The 2024-2025 season isn't about a championship. It’s about identity. Every game on that schedule is a chance for Matas Buzelis to grow or for Coby White to cement himself as an All-Star. It's a long road, but for the first time in a while, at least the Bulls aren't standing still.