Its the final leg of the Bulls season. We are injured. Yet we fight as hard as we can to stay in the game (more so the last 2 games, win vs. Philly and a good game vs. Cavs). With this hard effort, we can slide into the playoffs. In the next 12 games, we could go 9-3. I see the Cavs, Celtics and Suns or Bobcats as our hurdles. The Raptors however have a harder schedule. They too have been falling hard as of late. They face Jazz, Nuggets, Cavs, Celtics, Hawks. Especially with their disinterest at times, some of the other games will be tough ones for them as well. They do have one more game left then we do. As of right now, we are down 2 1/2 games of that 8th spot.  Also, not sure if we end in a tie if its conference or head to head, but the Raptors are 2-0 vs. the Bulls this year. It breaks down like this: (favorable in my eyes for us). 

Italics are home games**** 

It's that time of the season again. Being a Chicago sports fan when all our hopes and dreams have came crashing down. But as a Chicago fan, we always look at things we can "feel good" about. Now, the last two Bulls games have been an eye sore, BUT one thing gave me hope for once.

To start, I have to say, all year I have complained about how bad James Johnson has looked on the court. He flashed point-forward goodness, but for the most part, junk. I have believed with a full competing roster, he would of been a D-League upcomer. That however (for now a tleast) has changed. I know the last two games in Florida have been filled with future non-Bulls and junk time players, but JJ showed me something. Maybe it is my internal sickness to look for something good in the bad (something I have learned being a life-time Cubs fan), but I saw something. 

I saw the ball stick with JJ too much, bad defensive rotation, and the Ty Thomas sickness of wandering. I did see however, a 6-9 forward who brought the ball up with speed and didn't dribble it off his foot. I saw a player who shot the corner three and make it. He had a few drives (even though it was against the benches or on cruise control Magic) that showed he could get to the basket. Something he should of shown earlier in the season at a more CONSISTENT rate. 

Now the next couple of weeks will be bad. There is still a small hope for me personally that we are not out of it. For the record, I will not only watch Bulls games, but from this point foward, any team that is against the Raptors, Ill root for. I see there losing streak as the only way we get into the playoffs for a 1st round exit. But for the Bulls games, I will look for a few things.....

1. The development of Johnson. I honestly have changed my stance on him. I can see him being a good 7th man. A good point-forward too, or I hope he can. We've had too many young players that were busts...Paging Mr. Fizer....

2. Watching to see if Deng can find his game again. He has shown some spots in the old Deng we have been waiting for, but for the most part, he's underachieving. I want to see him work more on the corner three he has been shooting this year. I also want to see him do good for 2 reasons.

2a. To get him back to where we want him, he can be a good player to go along Noah, Rose, and tbd free agent star (fingers crossed).

2b. Get him back to a player with value. If this is it, can we pawn him off to someone else and use that in free agency?

3. Really take a look at Warrick and Flip. We have 6 players under contract next year. That means, if we sign one star, we have little money to bring in other good pieces. These guys wont be the cheapest of cheap, but may be better fillers than Edgar Nahara (spelled really wrong but oh well, lol). 

4. Acie Law was a lottery pick. He doesn't play much, but an end of rotation player. I want to see him play more. I saw some good drives (and horrible drives) against the Heats' 3rd stringers. Another cheap fill in perhaps?

5. JOE ALEXANDER.... why you ask??? Well.... I believe he could be the first player in awhile (ever maybe) to foul out in under 6 minutes. Is that morbid? Perhaps... but this guy is just another tall kid with wasted talent. 

So for that, the last 2 games showed me JJ and what he can build on. Some things to look forward for in the next few weeks. And why Alexander will be a camp cut somewhere next season.

This is something I have been wondering. How can we get enough cap space for someone of star caliber and yet keep a descent roster. I mean a complete roster, because by the look of "potential and rumor" deals, we lose players. Players, bodies, whatever... there is a league minimum to have. I feel that if we get rid of Ty Thomas and Kirk Hinrich sometime before summer, don't resign Lindsey Hunter and Brad Miller, we are left with some holes to fill. I am in line with the next guy, sign someone big, but is there a consequence to it? Will are starters be top 3 in the East, yet have a bench that reminds you of JV? 

So let's say Hinrich or if we are LUCKY and get rid of (or if he opts out, which realistically wont happen unless his agent is some sort of wizard) John Salmons instead and don't resign anybody on this squad, we have 6 players under contract, 7 if both Hinrich and Salmons stays. We have money for one big free agent (even though a certain sports network and site continue to say we can get two, but not true) or a few pieces. What do we do, do we whiff and end up signing Pargo to 2 years and settling for David Lee? (don't get me wrong, Lee is a fine player, but not fine to have hope for) Even more so, with this money potentially going to a free agent or two, we have to keep in mind a few things... will there be a lockout after the CBA runs out? And after this season, Noah, Rose, Taj, and James (belongs in D-League) Johnson all will need extensions... well personally I hope not JJ.

So with all this pre-trade deadline and perhaps big summer hype, like in 2000, will we whiff and strike out and setlle on Ron Mercer again? I will love and follow this team no matter what, but if nothing is done to take the next step, I might just go insane asking myself what's next.