Bulls Lose Close Game at Indiana 3/31/09

Isn’t this just the way it is for Chicago teams? Ones without Michael Jordan, at least. Making you feel like you don’t want to watch or can’t watch. So close, but out of reach. Just excruciating. I won't even start about our Cubbies.

And so this is what it’s beginning to look like for the Bulls, who gave up an eight-point fourth quarter lead in the last six minutes and were outscored 11-2 to close the game and lost Tuesday 107-105 to the Indiana Pacers. The Bulls to even have a chance for the playoffs now probably will have to beat the Charlotte Bobcats April 11 when the teams meet in Chicago.

That’s because with a Bobcats win over the Lakers Tuesday—could Phil Jackson have been paying back Michael Jordan for all Jordan did for him with the Bulls?—Charlotte pulled within one game of the Bulls for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. More significantly, Charlotte is tied with the Bulls in losses, the key statistic in such races, and Charlotte has the tiebreaker if the teams are even at the end of the season! This can't be happening, Charlotte into the playoffs?!?!?

So the Bulls now, effectively, have almost zero edge over the Bobcats. Other than a supposedly favorable schedule with five of their last six games at home and only one, April 9 against the 76ers, against a team that is catching fire and peaking. The Bobcats close with six of eight on the road, starting in Boston on Wednesday. Yes I did say favorable, no matter if KG is in our out of the lineup, they ARE the defending champs and when you play in their house, its going to be a tough game no matter what.

I've been really impressed with Tyrus Thomas over the past string of games. Yes he is very streaky, but he's been consitently getting better with his shot-blocking and rebounds. If we could get him to drop some points then we'd be rolling. Kirk is still struggling to find rythem and I'm hoping he shapes up come playoff time....if we get their!