Before Saturday night’s game at the United Center, Bulls coach Scott Skiles was asked repeatedly about the season that follows the regular season.
Six straight campaigns of heavy losing makes it tough to remember how to type the word, but it begins with a “P” and ends with a team being crowned NBA champions.
Strong defense and a 9-4 record in their previous 13 games has fueled such talk for the Bulls.
That talk might increase after the Bulls’ 102-91 victory over Boston, which is currently in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game ahead of the Bulls.
The Bulls are 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia for the final Eastern Conference whatever spot.
If such talk increases, it won’t come from Skiles.
“Especially with a young team, it could be trouble,” Skiles said. “What if we drop three in a row? Then the watch starts: `We’re three out. We’re four out.’ I felt the Bulls went down that road [in the summer of 2003] and I don’t know that it was a wise road.”
Kirk Hinrich’s dominant third quarter, a huge game from substitute starter Othella Harrington and another solid effort from Eddy Curry lifted the Bulls to their third straight victory.
Hinrich keyed a 13-2, third-quarter run with eight points and an alley-oop pass to Curry for a fast-break dunk that gave the Bulls a 73-58 lead. He finished with 22 points and a career-high tying 14 assists.
Harrington, starting for the injured Antonio Davis, contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Curry battled foul trouble again but still finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
His strong play continues to impress the coaching staff and management. Not only is it becoming highly unlikely Curry will be dealt before the Feb. 24 deadline, but management has discussed signing the fourth-year center to a lucrative extension whenever a new collective bargaining agreement is worked out.
Luol Deng added 19 points for the Bulls, who had a season-high 32 assists. Paul Pierce’s 20 points led Boston.
The Bulls have crept to second in the league behind San Antonio in opponents’ field-goal percentage and, entering Saturday’s game, had held 11 of 13 opponents to fewer than 89 points.
But Saturday’s first half featured a good, old-fashioned shootout. The Bulls led 58-52 at halftime thanks to 56 percent shooting.
“We’re starting to put together a lot of consistent games defensively,” Skiles said. “We still have our moments. Every team does. But overall, our defense is sharp. That’s how you win. Unless you’re really, really gifted offensively, you have to stop people.
“Even when the Bulls were winning titles, that was the strength. Michael was Michael. And Scottie could score. But they won a lot of games by playing defense.”
Note the reference to the dynasty days. That’s the last time the Bulls entered that stretch of games following the regular season, whatever it’s called.
