Luol Deng's Performance Has the Bulls Hopeful

On July 31, 2008, Luol Deng signed a six-year deal with the Chicago Bulls worth $71 million.

Since then, his knack for picking up a fat check each week has been the only consistent thing seen we've seen from him.

Two seasons marred by injuries, coupled with whispers that Deng's shin injury last season was not as bad as he was making it out to be, left much of his fan base frustrated.

It wasn't always like this.

Deng was signed as the future of the franchise after a 2007 season in which he averaged 18.8 ppg while shooting over 50 percent from the field.

So far, most people feel he has failed to live up to his potential.

Don't forget Chicago fans, this is the man we have in lieu of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Pau Gasol.  Paxson decided he was worth holding on to rather than including him in a deal.

Is there a happy ending to this story?

Actually, there is.

On Tuesday night, at home to Milwaukee, Deng showed every reason why the Bulls were right to hold onto him.

It was not so much his 20 points on 7-of-16 shooting that raised brows, but his 20 rebounds that went along with it.

That's right.

Twenty.

Moses Malone sightings were reported by the drunk United Center Crowd.

No.

That was just Deng.

The outburst was the lone bright spot in an otherwise dismal performance in which the Bulls trailed by 18 throughout and only managed 29 points in the first half . Somehow they still managed to carve out an 83-81 victory over the hapless Bucks.

"I'm happy that I'm healthy," Deng said. "Happy to be out there playing."

He's not the only one.

The Bull's need Deng to start stepping up because there is no one else left.

Ben Gordon is off shucking three's in the Motor City.

Derrick Rose is missing in action.

Tyrus Thomas is, well, Tyrus Thomas.

Until Rose makes a full recovery, Deng is the only guy on the roster the Bulls can count on.

The fact that the Bulls came back from 18 points down makes Deng's big night all the more impressive.

For two years, Bulls fans have waited anxiously for Deng to come good.

On Tuesday night, a city could finally exhale.