Then again, most NBA teams without a Steph Curry and four championship rings are dealing with that kind of scrutiny this time of year.
Health, rookies finding their way, veterans adding to the arsenal of their game, new faces and the chemistry they bring . . . go down the list.
What’s different for the Bulls, however, is there’s really only one key that matters over the next few weeks and months, followed by a bunch of intriguing subplots.
Lonzo Ball’s latest knee surgery will have all ears perked up with each re-evaluation, and first-round pick Dalen Terry’s growth will be watched.