2014 NBA Playoffs: Carmelo Would Have Been The Difference in Game 1 and 2 Losses

After watching the Chicago Bulls struggle to score down the stretch of Game 1 and unable to score for a 12 minute stretch and close out Game 2 in their opening round series against the Washington Wizards, I have only one thought in the back of my mind, "What if... Carmelo Anthony was on the floor in a Bulls uniform, right now?"

To some extent, that question probably wouldn't be necessary if Derrick Rose were healthy.

Despite struggling early on in his comeback, DRose hit that amazing game-winning shot to beat the New York Knicks in the second game of this 2013-2014 season, and all of Chicago got a glimpse that the former MVP was back... that is, until Rose was again lost for the season with a knee injury.

But with questions about how long it would be before Rose returns again to his MVP form, Bulls fans can't help but wonder, "How great of a fit would Melo be with this Bulls team?"

So far, Chicago's league best defense has not been as stout as advertised, giving up 102 points and 101 points in the two playoff games, although Game 2 was an overtime game.

But more impressive about the first two games of this opening round 2014 NBA Playoff Series with Washington, is how much difficulty this Chicago Bulls team has had with scoring the basketball when they really need to.

And that is where Carmelo Anthony would be worth every penny of the $16M... $18M... $20M+ that the Chicago Bulls, or any other team, would have to pay for a talent like Melo's.

The Chicago Bulls front office has got to be thinking the exact same thing as me; these playoff battles where the Bulls have been able to defend their way into a close, ugly game would be in the bag with a scorer like Melo-- the kind of scorer the Chicago Bulls have not had since Michael Jeffery Jordan.

So on the one hand, while we, Chicago Bulls fans want the team to battle their way back into this series the way we know Joakim and Company can and will, we are also not dreading this off-season either.

Between our two first round draft picks in the talented 2014 NBA Draft, the thought of Spanish League MVP, Nikola Mirotic, coming over this summer, and the real possibility of adding a superstar like Carmelo Anthony to this team, this is a great summer to be a Chicago Bulls fan.

Do you Bull-ieve that adding Melo is the Chicago Bulls best option this summer? What other options do think might be better? Tell us in the comments below!