Bulls 2010-2011 Schedule Out

While one of the city's baseball teams is still in the playoff hunt, it's never too early to turn our attention to the fall/winter sports. With the Bears getting ready to roll and the Blackhawks preparing for a title defense, it's time to get caught up with the Bulls and today's a good a time as any as the NBA released its 2010-2011 schedule today. We already knew about the Bulls' marquee Christmas morning match up against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden but now we can map out the rest of the season [PDF]. Here are a few highlights:

• The Bulls tip off the season against phenom Kevin Durant in OKC on Wednesday October 27 and open the home portion of their schedule on Saturday October 30 against the rival Pistons.
• Of course everyone will want to see the Heat so we can all boo lustfully at LeBron, right? Well, you'll have your chance in the dead of winter as Miami visits Chicago on Saturday January 15 and again on Thursday February 24.
• The annual circus trip comes in the second half of November with the Bulls going 17 days between home games (Nov. 13 til Dec. 1).
• Kobe Bryant and the rest of the defending champ Lakers roll into town on Friday December 10.
• The most chances to catch the Bulls at home are in December (10 home games) and January (11 home games). The worst is February (a paltry three home games).
• The Bulls wrap up the season with a game against New Jersey here at the United Center on Wednesday April 13.
• While the full local TV slate won't be out for a while, the Bulls will be on national television 18 times this season: ABC (2), TNT (7), and ESPN (9).

Beyond that, who knows? Some think the additions the Bulls made this season - including Carlos Boozer - and the addition of a new head coach will be enough to push the Bulls past the 50-win mark and into the playoffs again. Here's hoping. Season tickets, 11-game packages, and group tickets are already on sale while single game seats don't go on sale until October 1.