Month of Truth for Bulls

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Feb 1, 2005 6:27PM

Chicagoist has watched enough Bulls games this season to know the truth, but for many .February is the month that will prove whether the Bulls are back. Following a January that saw the Bulls win 13 of 16 games, there remain doubters who question how a team that's floundered for 6 seasons and started this season 0-9 can get so good so quickly. They point to how many home games the Bulls played, and how many games were played against poor teams like Atlanta and the fast-fading Knicks.

February, the Bulls play only three of 11 games at home. They face some of the NBA's elite teams, including Miami (twice), Cleveland, Minnesota, Dallas and Sacramento. And the four rookies are all beginning to "hit the wall" as the season extends longer than any they've faced previously in their pre-NBA careers.

Chicagoist is realistic and doesn't think they'll play as well in February as they did in January. But they'll escape the month in decent shape. They can go 6-5 or 5-6, remain over .500 and still remain in line for a playoff spot. Still more thick than thin. And maybe a little more respect from the doubters.