The 2004-05 Chicago Bulls marked a significant turnaround for a franchise that had struggled in previous years. Under the guidance of head coach Scott Skiles, the Bulls ended the regular season with a 47-35 record, securing their first playoff appearance since the 1997-98 season, when Michael Jordan led the team to their sixth NBA Championship.
The Bulls started the season with a dismal 0-9 record, raising concerns about yet another disappointing year. However, the team quickly found its rhythm, thanks in part to the contributions of a young and dynamic roster. Key players included Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Luol Deng, all of whom played pivotal roles in the Bulls’ resurgence. Ben Gordon, in particular, was a standout performer, earning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award for his scoring prowess off the bench.
Chicago’s defense was a cornerstone of their success. The Bulls ranked second in the league in opponent points per game, allowing just 93.4 points on average. This defensive focus was instrumental in their strong finish to the season, as the team went 24-4 from February to March, a crucial stretch that solidified their playoff position.
In the playoffs, the Bulls faced the Washington Wizards in the first round. Despite a promising start and taking a 2-0 series lead, Chicago was ultimately eliminated in six games. The series highlighted the inexperience of the young Bulls roster, but it also provided valuable postseason experience for a team on the rise.
Overall, the 2004-05 season was a pivotal moment for the Chicago Bulls, signaling a return to respectability and setting the foundation for future success. The team’s blend of youthful energy and strong defense provided a glimpse of what was to come in the following seasons. The campaign was a stepping stone towards re-establishing the Bulls as a competitive force in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 47-35
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 2-4
Chicago Bulls Roster and Stats for 2004-05 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Eddy Curry | 63 | 16.1 | 5.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kirk Hinrich | 77 | 15.7 | 3.9 | 6.4 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 35.5 | 6 | 21.2 | 3.7 | 5.8 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 51.5 |
| Ben Gordon | 82 | 15.1 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 40.5 | 6 | 14.5 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 31.8 |
| Luol Deng | 61 | 11.7 | 5.3 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 26.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Andrés Nocioni | 81 | 8.4 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 25.8 | 6 | 12.8 | 8.2 | 2.3 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 35.3 |
| Othella Harrington | 70 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 6 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tyson Chandler | 80 | 8.0 | 9.7 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 6 | 11.7 | 9.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 0.0 |
| Antonio Davis | 72 | 7.0 | 5.9 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 6 | 9.5 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Jannero Pargo | 32 | 6.4 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 34.9 | 5 | 10.4 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 40.6 |
| Chris Duhon | 82 | 5.9 | 2.6 | 4.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 35.5 | 6 | 6.2 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 27.3 |
| Eric Piatkowski | 68 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 42.5 | 5 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 38.5 |
| Lawrence Funderburke | 2 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Adrian Griffin | 69 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 22.2 | 5 | 6.8 | 4.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jared Reiner | 19 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Frank Williams | 9 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Chicago Bulls in the 2005 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Washington Wizards
In the 2005 NBA Playoffs, the Chicago Bulls made their first postseason appearance since the Michael Jordan era, facing off against the Washington Wizards in the first round. Despite a valiant effort, the young Bulls squad, led by Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon, fell to the Wizards in a closely contested series, losing 4-2. This playoff run marked a significant turning point for the Bulls, signaling the beginning of a new era of competitiveness for the franchise.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24, 2005 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 103-94 | |
| Apr 27, 2005 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 113-103 | |
| Apr 30, 2005 | @ Washington Wizards | L 117-99 | |
| May 02, 2005 | @ Washington Wizards | L 106-99 | |
| May 04, 2005 | vs. Washington Wizards | L 112-110 | |
| May 06, 2005 | @ Washington Wizards | L 94-91 |
Chicago Bulls 2004-05 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2004-05 season for the Chicago Bulls.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 05, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 111-106 | |
| Nov 06, 2004 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 100-90 | |
| Nov 09, 2004 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 94-74 | |
| Nov 13, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 97-96 | |
| Nov 16, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 113-106 | |
| Nov 17, 2004 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 98-85 | |
| Nov 19, 2004 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 99-81 | |
| Nov 21, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-93 | |
| Nov 22, 2004 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 100-82 | |
| Nov 24, 2004 | @ Utah Jazz | W 101-99 | |
| Nov 27, 2004 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 96-74 | |
| Dec 01, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 92-84 | |
| Dec 03, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | L 105-81 | |
| Dec 04, 2004 | @ Washington Wizards | L 95-88 | |
| Dec 06, 2004 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 91-75 | |
| Dec 08, 2004 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 113-85 | |
| Dec 10, 2004 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 93-88 | |
| Dec 11, 2004 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 99-88 | |
| Dec 13, 2004 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 94-93 | |
| Dec 15, 2004 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 96-88 | |
| Dec 16, 2004 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 85-77 | |
| Dec 18, 2004 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 85-71 | |
| Dec 20, 2004 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 92-87 | |
| Dec 22, 2004 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 89-82 | |
| Dec 26, 2004 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 99-92 | |
| Dec 28, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 84-80 | |
| Jan 01, 2005 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 105-90 | |
| Jan 03, 2005 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 87-80 | |
| Jan 05, 2005 | @ New Orleans Hornets | W 95-89 | |
| Jan 07, 2005 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 84-78 | |
| Jan 08, 2005 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 102-91 | |
| Jan 10, 2005 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 94-85 | |
| Jan 12, 2005 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-78 | |
| Jan 15, 2005 | vs. New York Knicks | W 86-84 | |
| Jan 17, 2005 | @ New York Knicks | W 88-86 | |
| Jan 19, 2005 | @ Boston Celtics | L 92-83 | |
| Jan 21, 2005 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 95-85 | |
| Jan 22, 2005 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 100-89 | |
| Jan 24, 2005 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 107-82 | |
| Jan 25, 2005 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 111-107 | |
| Jan 27, 2005 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 101-93 | |
| Jan 29, 2005 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 101-97 | |
| Feb 01, 2005 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 107-97 | |
| Feb 05, 2005 | @ Miami Heat | L 108-97 | |
| Feb 08, 2005 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 107-100 | |
| Feb 09, 2005 | @ Houston Rockets | L 105-92 | |
| Feb 13, 2005 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 87-83 | |
| Feb 15, 2005 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 107-102 | |
| Feb 16, 2005 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 121-115 | |
| Feb 22, 2005 | vs. Miami Heat | W 105-101 | |
| Feb 23, 2005 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 100-91 | |
| Feb 25, 2005 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 97-90 | |
| Feb 26, 2005 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | W 94-90 | |
| Mar 01, 2005 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 119-89 | |
| Mar 04, 2005 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 102-99 | |
| Mar 05, 2005 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 95-87 | |
| Mar 07, 2005 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 90-85 | |
| Mar 09, 2005 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 97-84 | |
| Mar 11, 2005 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 100-97 | |
| Mar 13, 2005 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 83-78 | |
| Mar 15, 2005 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-93 | |
| Mar 16, 2005 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 100-84 | |
| Mar 18, 2005 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 94-90 | |
| Mar 19, 2005 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 94-88 | |
| Mar 21, 2005 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 105-91 | |
| Mar 23, 2005 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 94-85 | |
| Mar 25, 2005 | @ Boston Celtics | W 94-86 | |
| Mar 26, 2005 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 100-96 | |
| Mar 28, 2005 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 94-86 | |
| Mar 30, 2005 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | W 102-99 | |
| Mar 31, 2005 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-90 | |
| Apr 02, 2005 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 112-97 | |
| Apr 05, 2005 | @ Miami Heat | L 104-86 | |
| Apr 06, 2005 | @ Orlando Magic | W 102-101 | |
| Apr 08, 2005 | @ New York Knicks | W 102-94 | |
| Apr 09, 2005 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 110-97 | |
| Apr 11, 2005 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 85-84 | |
| Apr 13, 2005 | @ Washington Wizards | L 93-82 | |
| Apr 15, 2005 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 117-77 | |
| Apr 16, 2005 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 114-105 | |
| Apr 19, 2005 | vs. New York Knicks | W 92-91 | |
| Apr 20, 2005 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 85-83 |