It's not time to panic, but it's close

The Bulls went into Los Angeles on Wednesday night and blew out the Clippers 95-75. This is not the greatest victory in the world seeing as how the Clippers are in the bottom three teams in the League and had lost 16 out of their last 18 games.

What this victory does tell me, though, is that the Bulls can at least beat a team they are supposed to beat (not only did they beat them, but it was by 20 points), and doing it on the road is not always easy.

The whole team had a good game with Luol Deng getting 23 points and nine rebounds, Derrick Rose had 21 points and six assists, and every starter scored in double figures.

So what does this mean?

The Bulls are on a 7 game road trip right now with 5 games remaining. They have lost a game and won a game so far. Their competition is not the easiest with Sacramento, Phoenix, Houston, New Orleans, and Dallas remaining. If the Bulls can come out of the rest of these five games with a winning record for the road trip, I think they can actually make a push for the playoffs.

With their record at 19-27, it sounds like they don't really stand a chance, but thankfully the Eastern Conference is not very good. The Bulls are only a game and a half away from having the 8th seed in the playoffs right now. If they can put together maybe just a four game winning streak they will be right in the hunt.

It is not going to be easy for this team to do; they have not shown that they can put together a run like that at all this season. It just takes confidence and focus. If Vinny Del Negro wants to keep his job next year, he needs to get these guys to play at their highest level every night, and I believe if he can accomplish that seemingly impossible feat, the Bulls can make a run for the playoffs.

The Bulls play Sacramento tonight and Phoenix on Saturday. They have played both teams once this year and actually won both games. However, both games were at home and Shaq was sitting on the bench due to injury when they played the Suns.

I'm as hesitant to believe that this team can make a run for the playoffs as anyone, but until they have dug themselves a hole that cannot be climbed out of, it isn't time to panic just yet.

If you can't finish, you don't deserve a W

A few weeks ago I couldn't believe that I had watched the Bulls go into overtime with one of the Eastern Conference's best teams and then completely dominate them in the OT period. The Bulls tied the game up with a little less than 20 seconds left in regulation against the Cleveland Cavaliers, which made me groan because that meant they gave LeBron James all the time in the world to sink a game winner. Fortunately, his shot attempt clanked off the rim and the game was sent into overtime.

The Bulls proceeded to outscore the Cavs 15-6 in the extra period (not to mention they outscored them 19-6 in the final seven minutes of regulation) and it appeared that it could have been a turning point for their season. My thoughts were, 'hey, they just took over one of the best teams in the East and completely dominated them down the stretch.'  They did what winning teams do: finish the game.

What I thought was the turning point in their season turned the complete opposite direction with the Bulls losing 5 games in a row. Losses by 5 points to the Spurs, 4 points to the Knicks, 3 points to the Hawks, 20 points to Toronto (more on this in a moment), and 1 point in overtime to the Timberwolves leaves me wondering what happened to that team who finished down the stretch against the Cavs?

They just don't know how to finish. They will stay in the game for almost the entire time, but then they falter when it matters most. The Five close losses in a row proves it. But what about the Toronto game, that wasn't close right?

For those who didn't see it, the Bulls were down by one measly point to the Raptors with 6:19 left in the game.....then disaster struck. They were outscored 23-4 in the last 6 minutes of the game! That is what I call the complete opposite of finishing. That is what I call laying down and letting the other team take a dump on your face.

Then the overtime loss to Minnesota....the Bulls had two opportunities to win the game; once in regulation, and then in the closing seconds of the overtime. Super-stud rookie Derrick Rose took both shot attempts to try to win the game, but failed on both. I am not bashing Rose here at all. I'll take him shooting the final shot of the game any time. 

My problem is the TEAM doesn't know how to finish. I can understand if it happens every once in a while where it goes down to the wire and our star player misses the game winner. Fine, it will happen again. The problem with what happened against Minnesota was that there wasn't anyone else to help Rose at all. 

Sure, Luol Deng's numbers looked good with 22 points and 8 rebounds, but he didn't score a basket in the 4th quarter or in overtime. That cannot happen! When you make as much money as he does and you can't score for your team down the stretch in a close game, there is a BIG problem.

In the overtime period, Rose had the ball for the final possession of the game. He decided to drive to the hoop, and then pull up for an off-balance shot. But there was NO help anywhere. There were at least two defenders that committed to Rose when he started driving, and no one stepped up to receive a pass. I almost feel like some of the players are resenting that Rose is the go-to man now. It's almost as if they are telling him 'hey, if you want to wear the cape Superman, then let's see you do it all on your own.'

I don't know, I could be wrong about that, but one thing for certain; if this team doesn't learn how to finish a close game down the stretch, they are in for a loooong 3 months.

Intro

My name is Clark Cahill, and I am an avid Chicago sports fan; minus the White Sox that is. This blog is going to consist mostly of my opinions on the Bulls, but I will throw in some other things on the NBA when something peaks my interest. I have been a Bulls fan my whole life, and I feel like I am knowledgeable enough to give some opinions on them.