As the Bulls exited a fourth-quarter timeout Friday night, a funny thing happened at the United Center.
The near-sellout crowd of 21,246 rose and cheered something other than an on-court fan contest or a promotional giveaway.
The crowd rose to cheer the on-the-court product.
The Bulls deserved it, using another all-around team effort to dispatch New Orleans 84-79 in a home opener that did nothing to stem the feelings of renewal surrounding this team.
There are new faces in Jay Williams and Donyell Marshall. There are new faces–instead of empty seats–in the 300 level. There’s even a new public-address announcer for home games in Steve Scott.
Heck, with everything coming up seashells and balloons, Scott sounded great Friday night.
“There has been so much negativity surrounding our organization,” said Jalen Rose, who led the Bulls with 21 points. “When you’ve lost more than 60 games the last few seasons, people say, `Here come the Bulls again. It’s an easy win.’ We’re trying to change the attitude.”
Two games do not a season make.
But consider this: The Bulls didn’t win their second game last season until Nov. 29. Two seasons ago, it took them until Nov. 30. Three seasons ago, the “milestone” came on Dec. 10.
You get the idea.
It’s the Bulls’ first two-game winning streak to start a season since 1996, and with successive victories over one of last season’s Eastern Conference finalists and a team many pick to be an Eastern Conference finalist this season, confidence is high.
Especially because of the way the victory came about.
With the Bulls leading 61-56 after three quarters, coach Bill Cartwright started Fred Hoiberg, Eddie Robinson, Marcus Fizer, Jamal Crawford and Marshall for the fourth quarter. Six minutes later, after a 14-3 run, the lead was 16.
All five players scored in the run.
“Sometimes our role is going to be like that,” said Marshall, again impressive with 15 points and 12 rebounds for his 110th career double-double. “It shows how much deeper we are. If you look at our bench, we have two or three guys who could start on another team. But nobody’s complaining.”
Five reserves played at least 20 minutes, with Crawford, who had six rebounds and five assists, playing the entire fourth quarter because Williams sustained a minor chest bruise. The bench is averaging 36 points.
Rose, who scored 11 straight points in one third-quarter stretch, didn’t even enter until 7:12 had elapsed in the fourth.
“Guys are taking pride in their roles,” Rose said.
The Bulls held Baron Davis to 14 points on 5-of-21 shooting and limited New Orleans to four fast-break points. Jamal Mashburn led the Hornets with 21.
About the only downer is that Eddy Curry failed to grab a rebound for the second straight game. But Tyson Chandler looked impressive with 10 points in 23 active minutes.
“We were not in sync offensively,” Cartwright said. “We played well defensively.”
Late in the game, Crawford attempted a wild runner that typically would draw the ire of Cartwright. Instead, Fizer tipped it in and Cartwright just shook his head and smiled.
That’s the way things are going these days for the Bulls.
