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Bulls Mon Feb 23 2009
Will The Bulls Make The Playoffs?
Between now and the end of the NBA's regular season,Tailgate will be taking a weekly look at how the Bulls playoff chances are faring against the rest of the Eastern Conference.
Here is where the Bulls stand in the East if the season were to end today: on the outside, looking in; a game and-a-half behind the Skiles-led Milwaukee Bucks for the 8th seed. Yet, thanks to last week's many trades a new --if minor-- hope surrounds the United Center. The schedule is favorable, to say the least, with only 11 road games left and less than half of their remaining games against teams with a .500 or better record.
BUT the chemistry that Derrick Rose, et al have forged since the beginning of the season has been tested lately by the misguided hand of rookie head coach/no-nothing, do-nothing, Vinny Del Negro, as VDN has taken to benching Rose towards the end of games in favor of Kirk Hinrich. [insert "WHHHHAAAA?"-ed.] While not yet utilizing John Salmons in the 2 slot in lieu of Ben Gordon. For Chicago to return to the postseason for the first time since 2007 VDN must keep giving Rose more minutes; and inserting Salmons into the shooting guard position in the starting five is a no-brainer; dude is 6'6" and a matchup nightmare for whatever sucker has to guard him, leaving Rose and Luol Deng to roam like so many preying sharks. So will the Bulls make the playoffs? Unfortunately, it's in the decision-making hands of at best a naif and at worse a stodgy coach afraid to pull the trigger on what could be an offensive force. Do you think the Bulls will make the playoffs? Tell Tailgate all about it in the comments...
Next Week: Sizing Up the Competition for the 8th seed
