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.
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