Step Down From the Ledge, Bulls Fans.

I was originally going to write this about a week and a half ago, pointing out the bright spots for the Bulls this season. That, however, was pushed back due to the embarrassing loss to the then one-win Nets (who haven't won a game since, by the way), followed by the infuriating collapse against the Kings.
I was really ready to take a break from watching them. My expectations for this season were extremely high, and with the decent start they came out with, they got even higher. This 4-13 stretch was killing me. But a little hope was restored to me last night, in the shape of an unlikely candidate, so let's start off my list of 5 bright spots this season with him.

1.Tyrus Thomas is back!
Okay, perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself with the exclamation point and all, but I really want to believe that Tyrus finally "gets it". Ever since we drafted him, I have wanted Tyrus to succeed. I love his acrobatic dunks, I love his shot blocking skills, I even love the fact that he developed a mid-range jumper to keep opponents honest. (Although not so much when he settles for nothing but jump shots, like he thinks he's Karl Malone) But for the past three years, all Bulls fans have wondered when the hell he was going to put it all together. Well, if Saturday's game against the Hornets was any indication, maybe he finally did it. In 32 minutes off the bench, Tyrus had 21 pts, 9 boards and 2 blocks. He was also flying all over the court (as well as diving out of it) for loose balls. Maybe it was all the pent up energy from missing the past 23 games with that broken arm, or maybe its because he doesn't want to get traded to the Kincks. Either way, all Bulls fans are hoping that Tyrus has pieced it all together, because if he hasn't...


2.Taj is Rising
I'll be honest, when the Bulls drafted Taj Gibson, I had no idea what to expect. All I knew was, besides Elton Brand, the Bulls have not had the best of luck when it comes to drafting big men, more specifically power forwards. It looks like we have finally broken that streak with the big man from USC. In 24 minutes a game, he has averaged 8 pts. and 6 rebounds, as well as providing solid post defense. At only 24 years old, with good power moves down low and a excellent mid-range jumper to boot, Taj could be the starting power forward for years to come.

3. Vinny Del Negro is a Dead Man Walking
Just about every media outlet is reporting that Del Negro is as good as fired, with the hold-up being a replacement coach. And every Bulls fan that I know is ecstatic about the move. It's no secret that the Bulls hired Del Negro strictly as a financial move, considering he was the cheapest and had no coaching experience. However, it is a move that his bitten them in the ass. Forget last season and the impressive run against the Celtics; I am not sure that Vinny has full control over the team and often looks like someone stole his puppy on the sideline. Granted, if the Bulls didn't go through that 4-13 slide, maybe we're not discussing this right now. But he did, and it's time for a change.

4.Joakim Noah is an All-Star
That statement wasn't opinion, that's a fact. If Noah does not make the All-Star team this year, then something is seriously wrong with the system. I must admit that until about halfway through last season, I hated, HATED, Joakim Noah. I hated everything about him, from his goofy hair to the way he shoots, I even nicknamed him "King Retard". You couldn't knock his hustle, but he was a black hole when the ball was passed to him in the post, you just knew he was either going to dribble it off his foot or have it stripped once he put it on the floor.
My hate started to slowly dissipate throughout last season, and by the time the playoff series started against Boston, it was long gone. He was playing defense and grabbing rebounds like a mad man, and when he stole the ball from Pierce and took it the length of the court and dunked over Pierce in the waning moments of Game 6, he provided me with one of the best plays I was fortunate to witness in person. That was it, no more "King Retard". He hustled his way into my heart, and this season has cemented a place in there for me. Thanks to an off-season program that bulked him up (Perkins and Big Baby routinely abused him in the playoffs), and focused on developing a post game, no more am I afraid when he gets the ball down low. Add to the mix him averaging a double double so far (11 pts, and 12 boards, which is good enough for 2nd in the league) and it's no secret that Noah should be an all-star, as well as a serious candidate for most improved player.

5. Derrick Rose
My love affair with Rose is well-known. From the moment the Bulls secured the Number One pick two years ago, I knew Rose was the guy. He didn't disappoint last season, winning Rookie of the Year as well as winning game one against Boston almost single-handedly. One of my only knocks against him last year was the fact that late in games he was dishing off to Gordon almost immediately and letting BG try to create his own shot (which Bulls fans know is pretty much impossible). However, a lot of that blame could be put on Del Negro, who called BG's number instead of just giving the ball to Rose and letting him do what he does best.
This season started off slow due to the ankle injury that sidelined him for the entire preseason. He (predictably) looked rusty the first couple of weeks, and some people were wondering if maybe it was a sophomore slump. He has bounced back quickly, displaying the moves and quickness that oohed and ahhed Bulls fans all of last year. Don't forget folks, he's only 21, and as long as the Bulls are able to secure one of the big free agents in the off-season (my oh my how an all-Chicago backcourt of Rose and Wade would look), his potential will fully blossom and he will be able to dominate the league ala Chris Paul or Steve Nash.

Keep your heads up, Bulls fans, there are plenty of silver linings on this black cloud of a season so far.