It’s strange not to see injured players Eddy Curry and Luol Deng, who both played huge roles in the Bulls’ surprising success this season.
Curry, sidelined with an irregular heartbeat, led the team in scoring with 16.1 points per game and ranked fifth in the league with 53.8 percent shooting.
Deng, out after surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right wrist, has length and athleticism to finish fast breaks.
The Bulls carry on in their first playoff appearance in seven seasons with the following 12 players:
Tyson Chandler 8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 27.4 minutes
HIGH POINT: Tallied 18 points, 21 rebounds and two blocks in April 9 victory over Toronto.
LOW POINT: Missed Feb. 15 game when one friend was killed in an auto accident and another was shot the same day.
SEASON REVIEW: Ability to stay healthy one of the biggest keys to team’s success. Finished third in league in rebounds per 48 min.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Rising.
Must control emotion to avoid foul trouble.
Antonio Davis 7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 25.6 minutes
HIGH POINT: Body-slammed Brendan Haywood to the United Center court during a Oct. 25 exhibition game, setting a tone for team unity.
LOW POINT: Landed on the injured list in mid-February to rest sore everything, er, back.
SEASON REVIEW: Still hits the spot-up jumper with consistency and is a savvy defender and rebounder.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Rising
At 87 games, owns the most playoff experience on the roster.
Chris Duhon 5.9 points, 4.9 assists, 26.5 minutes
HIGH POINT: Set franchise record by making eight three-pointers (in nine attempts) during April 16 victory over Atlanta.
LOW POINT: Management asked him to play in Europe shortly after he got drafted last summer.
SEASON REVIEW: The team’s quarterback both on offense and defense. Bulls went 47-26 after he entered the starting lineup.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Rising
Shooting stroke heating up at the ideal time.
Lawrence Funderburke 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 10.5 minutes
HIGH POINT: Signed contract on April 18 to take advantage of Curry’s absence.
LOW POINT: Shooting air ball on first NBA shot in almost two years on April 20 in Indiana.
SEASON REVIEW: He signed. He scored nine points against Indiana. He’ll leave soon.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Incomplete
He’s merely big-man insurance.
Ben Gordon 15.1 points, 2.3 turnovers, 24.4 minutes
HIGH POINT: Scored 22 fourth-quarter points and hit game-winning shot on March 30 in Charlotte.
LOW POINT: Missed all 10 shots in April 9 victory over Toronto, emblematic of his late-season swoon.
SEASON REVIEW: Finished second to LeBron James with 21 double-digit fourth quarters. A spectacular scorer who struggles occasionally with defense and turnovers.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Falling
Shot 32.6 percent over final 10 games.
Adrian Griffin 2.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 9.7 minutes
HIGH POINT: Had 16 points and six rebounds in April 8 comeback road victory over New York.
LOW POINT: Disappeared in only start of season, shooting 1-for-9 in April 13 road loss to Washington.
SEASON REVIEW: One of those savvy veterans who does nothing great but a lot of things well.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Level
Typically used as calming influence off the bench.
Othella Harrington 8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 18.2 minutes
HIGH POINT: Scored 24 points on 10-for-15 shooting in big March 19 road victory over Philadelphia, the first of five straight double-digit games.
LOW POINT: Waited two full days and missed two April games while wife endured protracted labor, which eventually turned into a high point in the form of a healthy daughter.
SEASON REVIEW: The consummate professional who works hard, keeps his mouth shut and gets the most out of his skills.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Level
As only legitimate post presence, he must snap out of slump.
Kirk Hinrich 15.7 points, 6.4 assists, 36.4 minutes
HIGH POINT: Tallied 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in huge March 19 road victory over Philadelphia that snapped four-game skid.
LOW POINT: Missed all seven shots and failed to post a rebound or an assist in April 5 loss in Miami.
SEASON REVIEW: The team’s best perimeter defender, he must improve his field-goal percentage offensively.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Rising
Averaged a season-low 31.4 minutes in April, so he should be fresh.
Andres Nocioni 8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 23.4 minutes
HIGH POINT: Ignored LeBron James’ pregame handshake for Oct. 16 exhibition game in St. Louis, basically setting the tone for his approach to season.
LOW POINT: Shoved Dwyane Wade to the ground after hard foul in April 5 loss in Miami, which raised his profile but led to one-game suspension.
SEASON REVIEW: A tireless, physical defender who annoys opponents and a strong rebounder for his size. Forces too many shots offensively.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Rising
Physical style should bode well in defensive-oriented games.
Jannero Pargo 6.4 points, 34.8 percent three-point shooting, 14.2 minutes
HIGH POINT: Tallied 13 points and nine assists in April 15 40-point blowout of Orlando.
LOW POINT: Played 16 minutes the entire month of November.
SEASON REVIEW: He still commits the occasional bad turnover, but Pargo jump-starts sagging offenses more often than not.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Rising
Playing time has increased down stretch.
Eric Piatkowski 4.8 points, 42.5 percent three-point shooting, 12.4 minutes
HIGH POINT: Scored 19 points on 6-for-7 shooting in April 2 victory over Charlotte.
LOW POINT: Averaged mere 7.3 minutes during February.
SEASON REVIEW: Forgets too many plays for a veteran but remains most consistent three-point threat and is underrated finisher.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Level
Similar role to Griffin’s as spark plug.
Jared Reiner 1.1 points, 0.7 rebounds, 7.9 minutes
HIGH POINT: Making 15-man roster out of training camp.
LOW POINT: Getting shot blocked by what seemed like Shaquille O’Neal’s elbow in Feb. 5 road loss to Miami.
SEASON REVIEW: Solid practice player helped toughen up Curry behind the scenes.
PLAYOFF STOCK: Down
If playing for reasons other than foul trouble, the game has been decided.
