We’ve been wrong all
this time. You actually can have your cake and
eat it, too – provided you’re the
Chicago Bulls.
Just two weeks ago, the Bulls
looked like they were firmly on the outside of
the Eastern Conference playoff race, 3 ½
games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for the No.
8 seed with just 14 games remaining. Chicago was
also in a 2-6 slump straight up (4-4 against the
spread) and threatening to take up permanent residency
in the Central Division basement. Losses to the
Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers ran the Bulls’
record against division foes to a woeful 3-12
SU.
Such a late-season slide
usually signals the beginning of Tank Time, that
glorious time of the year when handicappers make
money off teams who pack it in and give it less
than 100 percent, thanks to a combination of player
indifference and the team’s desire to improve
its lottery chances for the NBA draft. But the
Bulls have less reason than most to go into the
tank. Thanks to the Eddy Curry deal with the Knicks,
Chicago owns the rights to New York’s first-round
pick this year. And what a deal that’s turning
out to be – the Knicks have the worst record
in the NBA at 20-54 SU (33-41 ATS).
Getting the No. 8 seed in
the Eastern Conference playoffs isn’t much
of a cause for celebration. A date with the Detroit
Pistons awaits – they’ve already clinched
the conference title at 60-14 SU (35-37-2 ATS).
However, with their draft position already secure,
the Bulls have little to lose by making an honest
push for the postseason. And you never know what
kind of upset a hot Chicago team could pull off
in the first round, lest we forget the No. 8 Denver
Nuggets eliminating the No. 1 Seattle SuperSonics
back in 1994.
With that in mind, the Bulls
have gone 6-1 SU and ATS over their past seven
games to leapfrog the slumping Sixers for eighth
place in the East. This is the scrappy Chicago
club basketball fans have been waiting to see.
Coach Scott Skiles has been having difficulty
finding the right roles for his talented players;
fortunately for Bulls supporters, he appears to
have hit paydirt with a lineup that brings center
Tyson Chandler and guard Ben Gordon off the bench,
with Michael Sweetney and Chris Duhon in the starting
lineup. Chicago’s current streak began with
that roster shuffle. Gordon in particular may
not relish a return to his sixth-man status, but
it’s hard to argue with the success the
Bulls are having. Gordon had 21 points and five
assists to help Chicago dust off the Sixers 99-92
Wednesday night at the Wachovia Center, cashing
in as a 3-point underdog.

The Sixers will get their
chance at revenge Saturday night when these two
teams renew hostilities at the United Center.
Philadelphia is an abysmal 4-12 SU and 5-11 ATS
since Mar. 5. Now it’s the Philly press
that’s having the debate over the relative
merits of Tank Time. Coach Maurice Cheeks has
admitted some of his players are not showing up,
which was obvious in Tuesday’s 124-91 loss
to the Cleveland Cavaliers. If the Sixers can’t
be bothered to give it an honest effort Saturday
night, they’ll be prime “fade”
candidates for the rest of the regular season.
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Posted on Friday, April 07, 2006 @ 10:01:47
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