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 The Bulls lost to the Knicks last night 105-100 in one of the most disappointing games in a very disappointing season. After being up by double digits in the fourth quarter the Knicks closed out the game on a 14-2 run and left Bulls fans questioning what the heck was going on with this team.
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 Before I get into my assessment of the Bulls, kudos have to go to the Knicks. They looked like they were down and out in the fourth quarter and made a helluva comeback. This is a game that they did not quit on and were led by former Bulls Eddy Curry (29 and 8) and Jamal Crawford (24 points) and that always hurts. Curry was unstoppable down low, as he usually is when he's motivated.....or continually fed the ball. In this game, both of these things happened.
The Bulls looked pretty good through three quarters and I fully expected them to blow out the Knicks in the fourth...only it never happened. Maybe Interim Coach Jim Boylan has been riding his veterans too much and they ran out of gas, maybe the young guys didn't step up like we all had hoped for....whatever, they didn't get the job done. This was a game, that if the Bulls were going to get back into the playoff hunt, they had to win. Now, they are left with a lot of questions because, let's be honest here, it's time to give up on the playoffs. I'm not saying to start 'tanking', but it's time to start going in a different direction this season. So, here are the questions that need to be answered.
1. Can Thabo Sefolosha play regularly at the shooting guard spot?
Sefolosha showed that he can play defense last season in the playoffs, and he showed a lot of offensive promise over the Summer on his National Team, but so far this year....he's been bad. He's the only Bulls guard who has the length, size and possibly the quickness to guard the opponents best guard. It's time to put him in the starting lineup, let Kirk Hinrich guard the point guards and see if Thabo can get the job done.
2. What position does Tyrus Thomas play?
This is turning into the Marcus Fizer situation all over again, except TT doesn't have the post moves Fizer had. Fizer wanted to play on the perimeter and it seems that TT does too, but he doesn't have the skill set to get the job done. The Bulls want him to play the power forward position, but he doesn't have the skill set to get that job done, either. The Bulls don't seem happy with Thomas and Thomas doesn't seem happy with the Bulls. Something has to be done. Find the guy a position, tell him that's his position and give him 40 games to sink or swim.
3. Can any of these players be traded?
If the Bulls aren't going to the playoffs every season, they don't need Ben Gordon. If they aren't making a long run in the playoffs, they don't need Ben Wallace. If they are looking to explore other options at the SF/PF positions, they don't need Andres Nocioni....Is any other team in the NBA interested in trading for these players. All of them could be valuable to a playoff/contending team in their own way.
I love the Bulls, but it's time to start looking at ways to improve for next season because this team isn't making a long run in the playoffs and without that.....this season is a failure. The only way to make up for it is to find out the answers to the questions above.
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