[Thanks to PeteRoc for today's preview. Took last night off, seems like it was a good decision. Sam Smith always warns of the NBA's conspiracy to get the Heat more wins by making them the back-to-back opponent after a team plays Orlando. I wonder who was out last night on South Beach. -ed.]

Mama said there'd be days like this...  The Bulls enter the Magic City losers of six straight.  I signed up for this preview gig in part because I had tickets for tonight’s game and hoped this would be a hotly contested game between two teams fighting for a playoff berth.  I was hoping to provide a bunch of tidbits about the matchup.  Now… I don’t care to write much and am dreading the trip to the arena tonight, so I apologize upfront if this preview is worse than crap. 

Where do I begin?  Well, Joakim Noah is out tonight.  Luol Deng is out tonight.  And barring a miracle, Derrick Rose may be out tonight as well.  Oh, and Pargo still leads the team in shots per minute, bricks per shot, and probably salary paid per brick.  To make matters worse (as if it could get worse), tonight's game is the back end of the dreaded back-to-back.  For those scoring at home, this will mark the 17th time the Bulls have played said back-to-back, and their record coming into this one is 6 - 10.  In fairness, the team lost the first seven, so the back end hasn't been as unkind of late.  Besides, it’s not like yesterday’s game against the Magic counted as a sanctioned, professional basketball game. 

So enough about tonights game, let’s move on to other news...

Once upon a time, the Heat were 24 – 22, which more or less made them seem like a lock for a playoff spot in the eastern conference.  During those good ol’ days, the Heat (a player in the great 2010 cap space race) had dreams of landing King James and pairing him with his sure thing-to-be-resigned buddy Dwyane Wade.  Five straight losses later, the talk suddenly turned to the possibility that DWade might actually leave.  But then those five straight losses were followed by five straight wins.  And then those five straight wins were followed by four straight losses.  And somewhere along the way the status quo settled on 2010 or bust.  So now the prevailing thought seems to be the Heat will either sign a FA desirable (preferably via sign/trade) and satisfy DWade so that he resigns with what they hope is a title contending team.  Or, they won’t sign anyone of significance, thereby prompting DWade to bolt for a contender. 

So where does that leave the Bulls?  Once upon a time, the roster included names like Ben Gordon (25), John Salmons (29), Tyrus Thomas (22), Joakim Noah (23), Kirk Hinrich (28), Luol Deng (23), and Derrick Rose (20)… average age 24.  Sounds like enough pieces that a shrewd GM could leverage to make moves to improve the team hunh?  Tonight’s opponent was once in a fairly similar situation coming off an exciting playoff run featuring a new star who had exceeded everyone’s expectations and was only going to get better.  So what’s a GM to do with Eddie Jones (32), Lamar Odom (24), Rafer Alston (27), Brian Grant (31), Udonis Haslem (23), Caron Butler (23), and Dwyane Wade (22)… average age 26, who had just finished 42-40 (answer not forthcoming)? 

Well….  a FA loss here, a couple trades there, and now the Bulls too find themselves in a 2010 or bust predicament.  The fact the team is in serious danger of missing the postseason probably doesn’t help the cause.   I mean…if you’re DWade and wanted a shot at the title NEXT YEAR, will the Bulls have enough pieces? 

Oh well, I digress…  too late to turn back now…  gotta stick to the "plan."

Yours truly will be in the building tonight, but I can’t promise I’ll stay ‘til the end.  Given Miami is a short trip down from Orlando, I wouldn't be surprised if a few players got their "night out on the town" out of the way last night.  My guess is Tootsies was the best way to blow off steam (didn’t want to post a link, but you can probably guess the spot).  Also, Scottie Pippen has a residence here in S. Florida and often sits courtside when then Bulls are in town, so maybe the team will be inspired to perform well in front of a Bull great.