Here come the Bulls thundering down the stretch? Doesn’t seem likely. Why is this season different from recent Bulls seasons? Because what everyone loved about the hustling, overachieving Bulls the three previous seasons — their commitment and finishing kick — doesn’t appear to be there. In 2004-05, the Bulls finished 15-5. In the next two seasons, they closed 14-6. Anything close to that this season would assure a playoff spot and perhaps a jump to sixth or seventh in the East. However, teams a dozen games under .500 much of the season rarely do that. Sunday night’s game with the Pistons began the countdown for the Bulls’ final 20 games of the regular season, the stretch run when teams stretch for the finish line or get ready to stretch out on the beach.
1. Lakers: And they’re doing this without Andrew Bynum, who had been their best big man. How ’bout that Pau?
2. Spurs: The best team you love to ignore. Kurt Thomas may be a playoff surprise.
3. Celtics: Who said the East doesn’t matter? They’re even deeper now, with P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell.
4. Jazz: If Williams and Boozer get a title, fans might forget Stockton and Malone.
5. Pistons: TV executives have resorted to prayer to avoid another Pistons-Spurs Finals.
6. Rockets: Like global warming, you can’t quite explain them, but they seem to be there.
7. Hornets: Another team that was supposed to collapse but won’t.
8. Warriors: They were 0-6 to open
with Stephen Jackson suspended.
What if?
9. Mavericks: They wanted Shaq, and he would have fit better here. Now they’re Kidding themselves.
10. Suns: Could miss the playoffs and even gave up their first-round pick so Seattle would take Kurt Thomas. Then they missed Thomas, so they traded for Shaq. Yikes!
11. Nuggets: Odd guys out? There are nine West teams on a pace to win at least 49 games and only three in the East.
12. Magic: Their magic kingdom for a guard. Can’t take Orlando seriously until then.
13. Cavaliers: Best one-man show
in the game. But that doesn’t get you far.
14. Trail Blazers: Not a playoff team, but they’ve made a nice step and get Greg Oden and a lottery pick next season.
15. Raptors: A fragile mix, with the general manager acquiring running players for a coach who likes the half-court.
16. 76ers: Surprisingly fast finishers and a hard-working group reminiscent of recent Bulls teams.
17. Wizards: Looking back, you’d have to say Antawn Jamison was the right pick for the All-Star team over Vince Carter the way he’s held this injured team together.
18. Hawks: With Mike Bibby they should be better, but they refuse to shake a losing Atlanta tradition.
19. Bulls: Like the old line about the Boston Red Sox, 25 cabs for 25 guys. All for none.
20. Bobcats: Sam Vincent trying to avoid joining Scott Skiles to become the first all-Michigan State backcourt fired in one season.
21. Nets: Playing like they are ready to be in Brooklyn. Or anywhere else.
22. Kings: Ron Artest warned them: Get me out or I’ll ruin your team. I’ve done it before.
23. Bucks: Not unlike the Bulls, with several decent pieces but no leadership and conflicting agendas.
24. Pacers: How do so many bad people end up playing for so many good people?
25. Clippers: Chris Kaman is trying to get papers to play for the German national team. Yes, it’s embarrassing to be a Clipper again.
26. Knicks: Isiah Thomas recently set the all-time record with more than 1,000 queries about whether he’ll be fired.
27. Heat: How can Dwyane Wade and now Shawn Marion be on the league’s losingest team? In the East!
28. SuperSonics: Every time there’s a chance they can win a few games, they send players to help the Spurs or former Spurs officials somewhere.
29. Timberwolves: That Garnett thing is working out perfectly, just as they expected.
30. Grizzlies: As they say in Memphis, return to sender. Take ’em back, Vancouver. It’s a heartbreak hotel in the arena, where the announcer asks, “Are you lonesome tonight?” Someone stop me.
