Chicago Bulls Show a Glimpse of What Might Have Been

This is certainly not the season the Chicago Bulls thought they would have. Expectations ran high for this team, which made the playoffs last year and seemed to get even better through the draft. In the end, they became the poster children for the down year of the Eastern Conference.

Blame the chemistry, blame the coaching, blame overly tight rims at the United Center. Whatever it was, the Bulls couldn't shake it, and as a result, they will be watching a lot of Cubs games in May instead of playing their own.

The temptation is to say this was a lost season, but that view diminishes the growth the team has shown. Consistency will be the key next season, but for one night against Cleveland, fans saw what they hoped the Bulls would be when the season started. 

Big men Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah both had double-doubles and Luol Deng scored 21 of his own. Ben Gordon added 16 off the bench while Chris Duhon and Kirk Heinrich combined for 11 dimes. The combined effort overcame LeBron James' 34 points, 24 of which came in the first quarter.

There's no telling how many players off this team will be back next year, and who knows if Coach Boylan will be there to lead them.

Duhon has expressed serious grievances with the team; Noah and Thomas have had their run-ins with team disciplinarians as well, but its hard to imagine the team cutting bait on a rookie and a second-year player this early.

Duhon may have punched his ticket elsewhere this off-season, but cutting a solid bench contributor out of spite doesn't make sense either. 

Next year will be here soon enough along with a fresh start for this young team, which will get even younger on draft day. If next year's Bulls look anything like the team that beat the Cavs last night, it could be a very good year to be a Bulls fan.