2011–12 Chicago Bulls season
The 2011–12 Chicago Bulls season was the 46th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Bulls finished the lockout-shortened season with a 50–16 record, or roughly 62–20 in a full season, tying the San Antonio Spurs for the best record of the season. They ended as the number one seed in the Eastern Conference for a second consecutive season.
| 2011–12 Chicago Bulls season | |
|---|---|
Division champions | |
| Head coach | Tom Thibodeau |
| General manager | Gar Forman |
| Owners | Jerry Reinsdorf |
| Arena | United Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 50–16 (.758) |
| Place | Division: 1st (Central) Conference: 1st (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | First round (lost to 76ers 2–4) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television |
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| Radio | WMVP |
Chicago started their playoff run on April 28, taking Game 1 of the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. However, that victory was marred with the season-ending injury of point guard and reigning MVP Derrick Rose, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in the final minutes of the game. Chicago then lost three games in a row and were also without the services of starting center Joakim Noah for Games 4 and 5 of the series following an injury in his left ankle during Game 3 in Philadelphia. The Bulls won one more game at home before losing the series 2–4 in Philadelphia and became the fifth number one seed in league history to lose a playoffs series against a number eight seed, following the Seattle SuperSonics in 1994, the Miami Heat in 1999, the Dallas Mavericks in 2007, the San Antonio Spurs in 2011, and followed by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023.