Let the Countdown Begin: Can Vinny Del Negro Make It To Christmas?

It's that time of year again.

Houses are lighting up, presents are gathering under trees, and a Bulls head coach is on the hot seat.

If ever there was a Scrooge in the NBA, you might as well give the label to the Bulls front office.

In 2001, Tim Floyd resigned on Christmas Eve, citing that it was best for himself and his family to leave, although it was said that there was pressure from Jerry Krause and Jerry Reinsdorf to settle on such a fate.

In 2003, the Bulls couldn't even wait for December when they decided to pull the plug on Bill Cartwright, firing him on Nov. 24.

In 2007, Christmas Eve once again proved to be a great pink slip day when the Bulls decided to part ways with Scott Skiles.

Which brings us to 2009.

While people are warming up next to the fire as snow falls all over the country, Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro has to be feeling some heat from his own seat.

After a tremendous second-half run last season that saw a young Bulls team take the defending champion Boston Celtics to seven games in a first-round play-off series, there were high hopes, even after losing leading scorer Ben Gordon to free agency in the off-season.

But after a fast start to the season, including wins over San Antonio at home and Cleveland at the Q, the Bulls have quickly gone south.

Starting with a 1-6 circus trip in mid-November, the Bulls have recently lost in Cleveland and against Toronto at home, but these weren't just losses, they were pitiful.

The Cavaliers game started with a solid 2 1/2 quarters that saw the Bulls go back and forth with the hosts. Then LeBron started scoring (and dancing) and eventually led Cleveland to a 101-87 victory.

Then against Toronto, the Bulls just failed to show up completely. Trailing by 20 to 30 points nearly the entire game, they lost 110-78, suffering their most embarrassing loss of the season.

That was until Tuesday night when the laughing stock of the NBA, the New Jersey Nets came to the United Center.

After a positive first quarter and a close second quarter, the Nets pulled away in the third and despite a comeback in the fourth, the Bulls lost 103-101. The Nets win was only their second all season meaning the Bulls joined the likes of the Charlotte Bobcats in falling to New Jersey.

So now it looks as if the question isn't will Del Negro get fired, but when?

For the Del Negro family's sake, maybe Gar Forman will let Vinny go while department stores still have fully stocked shelves.