BullsEye Blog

It sure does feel good being on a two-game win streak, doesn't it? I know the Bulls' new interim coach Jim Boylan would agree. The Boylan-led Bulls aren't really doing a whole different from a game-plan standpoint, but the change at the head coach position has seemed to re-energize this team, as has Jim's biggest move: Moving Ben Gordon back in the 6th-man position in the rotation. Since Gordon's return to the bench, he's averaged 28 points and has made 5 of 10 from the 3-point arc. The Bulls have scored over a hundred points in both games since the change in the starting line-up, so I'd say it's a safe bet that Chris Duhon will be on the court at the start for the remainder of the way.

The Bulls are making shots, pushing the ball, and playing with a lot more intensity than they have all season. Scott Skiles talked about making the Gordon/Duhon swap for a while, but didn't do it. Hindsight is almost alway 20-20, and it sure does look like this time is no different.

Let's hope we're talking about the Bulls' first 3-game win streak of the season as we begin the new year! The Bulls take on the Orlando Magic from the United Center in their second straight matinee, coming up at 1:00 on the WGN Superstation!

Have a safe New Year's Eve everyone!

Red

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I'd like to wish all Bulls fans a very, Merry Christmas, and say thank you for supporting your team when they've been both "naughty and nice." It being Christmas day, it got me to thinking about the days when Bulls Basketball was as much a part of the X-Mas day festivties, as opening gifts and having a big dinner with family and friends. I liked when we played on Christmas day, because it meant that we were one of the premiere teams in the league, playing against another one of the NBA's best, and it always ended up being a great game. It also meant that we'd be able to spend much of the holiday home in Chicago. Now, playing the day after Christmas means that we have to fly to wherever we're playing on the 26th, today. The NBA requires all teams to travel in the day before a game, and that's what we'll do this afternoon... head out to San Antonio, for tomorrow night's game vs the Spurs (WGN 7:00 Bullseye.)

Hopefully, we all be able to share our Christmas days together again soon... for that would mean the Bulls are back where they belong: among the NBA's elite.

Have a great day everyone... see you tomorrow night from San Antonio.

Red

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The thing about Aaron Gray, when you talk to the coaches and to Aaron himself, they feel he was ready before he got the call last Tuesday against the Lakers. But the fact is, he's getting the opportunity now. It takes time for a rookie to move into the lineup like that. When he came in against the Lakers, in a game of athletic ability, he was not lost out there and that was a good sign.

Assistant coach Jim Boylan said, "Aaron has not made the opponents' scouting reports yet. Once he does, it will be a whole new world for him." We'll see...at least he's out there giving the Bulls someone in the low post they can go to. He moves the basketball really well and knows what to do down there with great footwork.

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The Bulls are heading out on a four day road trip. It's kind of nice to get them out of town. Because when they are at home, they are either shopping with their wives or doing something to keep them constantly busy.
On the road they go out with a couple of buddies, do their shopping, have a good meal and relax.
You don’t have deal with the holiday company and everything else. You get your mind more on basketball. Its nice when you are playing games during Christmas time.

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Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant is a game that fans circle on the calendar anyway, but with the trade rumors involving Kobe at the start of the season, this game has even greater importance for the fans.

A lot of people thought the Bulls were on the verge of getting Kobe Bryant. I don't know if that was ever true - probably not - but people wondered because he's the kind of Jordanesque scoring talent at the top of the NBA in this day and age. That makes this game a bit more "juicy", I guess.

The Bulls have won 6 of their last 9 games once they got out of November and off the Circus Trip to the West Coast. You're seeing the team play better ,but I think this is where we're going to find out what this team is made of starting tonight against the Lakers; then on the road in DC and Boston; at home against the Rockets; at San Antonio after Christmas; at home against Milwaukee; then at New York, followed by a New Year's Eve matinee against Orlando back at the United Center.
This is where you're going to find out if the Bulls have made the turn - if they have made the turn, they'll come out with a positive record against this tough schedule. If not, if they struggle through the games against this stiff competition, obviously, there's much more work to be done.

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As part of the NBA's "Heritage Week", the Bulls are wearing their throwback uniforms from the 1995-96 season, a season in which they became the only team in NBA history to win 70 games....their final record was actually 72-10.

The thing about the Bulls' 72-win team, when compared with this year's Boston Celtics team, is that both teams put together their new pieces very quickly. The year before, Michael Jordan returned to the Bulls in March, in time for the play-offs...but with Horace Grant on Orlando, the Bulls were undermanned on the boards and lost to the Magic, who eventually reached the NBA Finals that season. It was obvious the Bulls needed one particular commodity - they needed a rebounder and they brought in Dennis Rodman. And everyone wondered how that was going to go. Would Dennis Rodman blow up the locker room? And it went just perfectly. It came together really quick and I'll never forget down the stretch after the Bulls had gotten their historic wins, that Scottie Pippen kept telling people, "It don't mean a thing without the ring."

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I wouldn't say the Bulls are completely in sync yet, but they have played a little better the last week or so... that said, the upcoming schedule is a favorable one, and I really think a nice win streak starts tonight against Seattle. The Bulls won both meetings last season.

I feel tonight is a very win-able game, despite the Bulls shooting woes lately, mainly due to Seattle's inability to find their identity with new star Kevin Durant. The Sonics have won 3 of their last 4, but are only 5-16 on the season. If the Bulls stop Durant, who's leading all NBA rookies with a 20.3 average, they should have enough to get within a game of .500 at home (3-5 going into tonight.)

Tomorrow night, the Bulls face an Indiana (10-10) team on the road that isn't really in tune yet, either. The Pacers are also dealing with another Jamaal Tinsley "distraction," and hopefully the Bulls can continue their past successes against Indiana.

Friday... the Bulls come home to play the Knicks and I look for them to really be up for it. I don't think they were game-ready when they faced them at the Garden at the end of the "circus trip" and I don't think they'll make the same mistake again.

After a couple of days off, the Bulls could realistically be on a 3-game win streak when they meet the Lakers next Tuesday night... their toughest opponent during this stretch. We were right in the middle of "Kobe Gate" during the first meeting with the Lakers in L.A. and it resulted in a Laker blowout. Thankfully, that situation has resolved itself, and it should be a different Bulls' team Phil Jackson and company sees next week at the UC.

4-0 streak? Maybe. If not, their 4th win may come the following night in Washington against a Wizards team who is facing the rest of the season without their star Gilbert Arenas.

December has been nice to the Bulls the past few years, hopefully history repeats itself!

Red

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The Bulls didn't have enough to beat one of the NBA's toughest last night in the new-look Celtics, but Scott Skiles and company got another nice performance out of Andres Nocioni (team-leader with 18 points), confirming the best role for Nocioni is probably coming off the bench.

While some think putting Andres in the starting five could work, the energy, hustle and toughness he brings into the game always seems to come at the right time. Nocioni scored five in an 11-0 run that pulled the Bulls within 86-81 with 57.9 seconds remaining. I think it's a no-brainer for Skiles.

Last night, it came back to a familiar refraim: "We didn't make enough shots despite good looks"... hopefully, Andres' determination can continue to fuel the Bulls when the rest of the team does go cold from the field, although he, too, struggled going 1 for 7 from the 3-point line (8-17 FGs).

Back at it Tuesday night vs Seattle on the WGN Superstation... I'll join Wayne on the Bullseye starting at 7 central, in what should end up being a Bulls win. See you then.

Red

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The people don't realize is how good the Celtics are defensively. The reason according to Doc Rivers is Kevin Garnett. KG came in with a defensive mentality and attitude - all the Boston people say if you're best player is your best defender, you are going to be a good defensive team. That's the key and he's been the key and breathed new life into this franchise. It's a good story for the NBA because the Celtics haven't been relevant since the mid-80's. They are a premiere franchise like the Dallas Cowboys or New York Yankees. Like them or not, you need these franchises to be relevant to spice things up around the league.

When you have three great playesr on one team as the Celts do with Allen, Pierce and Garnett, you think of other great threesomes like Chamberlain/Baylor/West with the Lakers in the early 70's. Obviously, the Bulls had MJ/Pippen/Rodman, a different kind of trio, but three guys who were the best of what they did in the game. Boston has three great scorers and they have the chance to be talked about in this vein for years to come.

Wayne

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Well, I sure am happy to turn the calendar over to December! For the fourth season in a row, the Bulls suffered through a rough November, going 3-10, and giving them a combined .300 winning percentage since 2004 in the month. The good news, the Bulls are 125-84 over the same stretch, from December on.

The coach in me really can't believe that the Bulls keep finding themselves in this position. I'm sure the players feel the same way... no team hopes to get off to a bad start. My first year as a coach we lost our first three and then went on to make the playoffs. Look at the 1991 team... they lost their first 3 and went on to win a championship. It happens... and here's some reasons why November is often a tough month.

I compare it to a baseball team coming out of spring training... it takes a while for some players to get in sync. Some hitters are notoriously slow starters, and some pitchers don't start hitting their stride till the weather heats up a bit. I think the Bulls don't get in sync till after the "circus trip" and they play a nice stretch of games at home, and play more games a week. I think any player in any sport would rather play games...getting in a routine usually helps confidence, etc.

This Bulls' team has confidence that they can come back from a poor start because they've done it, and that's half the battle. Look for the shots to start dropping and the team to play better basketball on both ends.

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The Bulls, after 24 offensive rebounds against Atlanta on Tuesday, are #1 in the league in offensive rebounds with 14.2 per game. Part of that, of course, is that they aren't making many shots - they're last in the league in FG% overall and last in shooting from 3-point range. At least in the Atlanta game, the defense was good from the start through the end of the game. A lot of times they'll come out sharp defensively and that will kind of fade as they struggle offensively. And part of that is because when you struggle offensively, you're out of position on defense as well.

Stringing wins together, even here in December which has been a kind month to the Bulls over the last couple of years, won't be easy because after Charlotte tonight, the Bulls play Dallas on Monday, go on the road to Charlotte and Detroit before coming home to play the Celtics next Saturday at home. It will be difficult to string wins together, even at home.

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