The Atlanta Hawks swooped in on Saturday night at the UC and showed the Bulls what the number one team in the East looks like. I had a bad feeling from the get go.
With a 27-14 record in the first half of the season, the Bulls looked to start the 2nd half on the right foot. It had been a first half of ups and downs, lately more down than up. The 2nd half started with more of the same. My confident bragging about the Bulls, about being the best team in the East, and predicting a 7th banner, and on and on… I need a reality check.
It’s not that I don’t believe the Bulls could still win it all… I still do believe that. I just have to lower my confidence level in that belief. Talking about the Bulls being the best in the East was like a slam dunk to me. There was nobody that would mess with the Bulls in our conference… you could basically punch a ticket to the NBA finals, and let the Western Conference fight it out to see who we would face. Now, I’m not even sure of that.
It doesn’t bother me that the Bulls lose some games, even if some of those losses are to bum teams; it’s going to happen. I guess my concern is about the quality of the other teams in the East. From top to bottom, the West is still better, but there are some teams in the East that are really good. I already expressed my feelings for the Wizards, but that doesn’t take away the fact that they are a good team. A team that has our number. Then you got these Atlanta Hawks… wow, they are a lot better than I thought. I didn’t see the first loss against them in Atlanta, but I did see this one. The Bulls had an impressive streak… the Hawks have a better one. This team is just as good as their record, and that’s a bad thing for us. Toronto still doesn’t scare me, but when you throw in a LBJ led Cav squad, the East is looking tougher and tougher.
Normally, age is the biggest factor and older men are bound link india viagra generic to suffer from erectile dysfunction actually seek treatment. What affects your penile artery now viagra pills wholesale will likely affect the arteries in your chest tomorrow. Today, Mississippi is a rock-rib generic cialis no prescription Republican state at the Presidential level. For instance, if anything goes beyond the levitra purchase standard limit then different unwanted health issues might arise.
After this latest loss, the Bulls sit 6.5 out of the #1 seed in the East. Part of the reality check for me is that the Bulls may not get that #1 seed, that I just knew we would get. 6.5 games out! Yes, there are still 40 games to go, but with the quality I discussed ahead of us, it will be no easy task. That being said, how important is the #1 seed? The last two times the Bulls had that, we didn’t make it to the Finals either time. Our road record is a lot better than our home record. Home court advantage may be overrated…
Plus, going all in for that #1 seed may not be worth it, especially considering the injury troubles this team has had and does have. Rose is still building up his game, Noah is coming off knee surgery and a current ankle injury, Taj has had bad ankles, Dunleavy is out, McDermott is out. Jimmy hasn’t had any major injuries, but he’s played some heavy minutes over the past couple years. I’m not saying we should turn away from our DNA, that is heart, hustle, and muscle, going all out to win every game and get that #1 seed… I’m just saying maybe it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. There are more important things than having the #1 seed, like being 100% healthy, like peaking at the right time, come the postseason.
Being 100% healthy is a prerequisite to winning a title. Not only being 100% healthy, but getting 100% from every single player on the roster. This is what it’s going to take. Do the Bulls have what it takes? Only time will tell, but it won’t be easy. Keep working, keep getting better, keep trying different combinations, keep using as much as the roster as possible… keep putting that work in, and it will pay off in the end. Let these losses be reminders of how hard this task of winning an NBA title will be. Learn lessons from these losses, and keep on playing your best. Hopefully, that will be enough…
MK
Atl hawks look scary good…wouldnt miss late in the 4th as the Bulls tried to get back into it. Still not too worried as there are a lot of games left. Bulls need to get and stay healthy so that they can gel and get their chemistry and rotations down. The talent is there, the Bulls just need the intangibles. GO BULLS!!!