Chicago Sports Week in Review: Bulls Finishing Strong, Cubs Start Hot

If you are a Cubs and Bulls fan, like me, you have probably immensely enjoyed the past week of performances. 

Chicago Bulls Week in Review

After a very, very slow start to the 2009 season, the Chicago Bulls have stormed back to become one of the NBA's hottest teams.

Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose have really elevated their game, but the catalyst of the Bulls' recent run has been the superb play of small forward John Salmons. 

In the Bulls' current four game winning streak, Salmons is averaging over 17 points per game, and has come up big for the Bulls in the clutch. 

Behind the great play of their new star forward, the Bulls have scored an average of 110 points per game, and have clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

But that was not enough.

Chicago has not only surpassed Detroit for the eighth spot, they are giving the Philadelphia 76ers all they can handle as well, tying them for the sixth spot in the playoffs with a record of 40-40.

Derrick Rose looks like a veteran when he is on the floor for Chicago, and he is forming a very formidable relationship with emerging power forward Tyrus Thomas, who is a candidate for defensive player of the year. 

Rose is commanding more respect with every minute he plays, and is averaging nearly 18 points per contest in the current winning streak.

Ben Gordon is contributing 25 points per game to the Bulls' winning efforts, and is playing the best basketball of his career.  If he can stay hot going into the playoffs, Chicago will be a very tough out in the postseason.

Chicago Cubs Week in Review

What a week it was for the lovable losers from the North side of Chicago. 

They started off with a solid opening day 4-2 victory over the Houston Astros, and proceeded to win the series two games to one. 

Alfonso Soriano is off to the best start in his career with the Cubs, and has already hit four home runs in six games, including a towering shot on Saturday night that put the Cubs ahead for good in Milwaukee, a game they won 6-5.

Despite a shoulder injury to Rookie of the Year catcher Geovany Soto, the Cubs have gotten both solid offensive and defensive contributions from backup catcher Koyie Hill.  The backstop hit a go-ahead home run in a losing effort against Milwaukee, but had a huge RBI double in the rubber match versus the Brewers on Sunday night.

Chicago had a 3-2 lead against the Brewers on Friday afternoon, but Neal Cotts was unable to get the job done, and Ryan Braun drove in the game-winning run to put the Cubs down 1-0 in the series. 

Strong pitching performances by both Carlos Zambrano and Ryan Dempster (both 1-0 on the season) earned the Cubs two victories on the road at Miller Park, and Chicago moved to 2-0 in their season series.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Chicago's team has been Carlos Marmol, who is undoubtedly the best relief pitcher in the game. 

If you want to dispute it, just look at the statistics.  Since 2006, no relief pitcher has more strikeouts, and no hurler has a lower earned run average.  What more can you ask for?

If there was any doubt as to who Chicago's closer was going to be this year, Kevin Gregg has helped erase it. 

The righty has struggled mightily in late-inning efforts, while Carlos Marmol has put on a show.  Lou Piniella would be wise to hand the reins to Marmol as the team's closer while letting Gregg come in during big lead situations until he is more comfortable.

It was a great week to be a Chicago sports fan, with the Cubs and Bulls extremely hot right now.  The Cubs started the season looking like the NL Central Champions should, and the Bulls have exceeded expectations greatly. 

Who knows what the future holds, but right now, this Cubs and Bulls fan is enjoying every minute of every contest.