Bulls' Time Is Near, But Not Here Yet

Perhaps their day will come -- next year, the year after that. Perhaps they'll be the new beasts of the East, and perhaps they'll start hanging banners from the United Center rafters once more -- and ones that can be hoisted with no thanks to the most famous alumnus from the University of North Carolina.

Perhaps.

But not this year. Now way, no how. These Chicago Baby Bulls aren't there yet -- and I'd say that even if the Pistons had squeaked by with close victories in Games 1 and 2 of their conference semifinal series, instead of two blowouts totalling 47 points in margin. Heck, I'd say it even if the Bulls had managed a split in Detroit.

The Bulls are a fine team -- let's get that straight right now. I'm putting them, right now, somewhere between the 1989 team that stretched the Pistons to six games in the conference finals, and the 1990 squad that forced a game seven in Auburn Hills (thanks to Scotty Pippen, otherwise known as the Migraine Heard 'Round the World).

So does this mean Pistons in six-and-a-half games?

No, but in terms of their maturity as contenders and their pugnaciousness, that's where I feel the 2007 Bulls are. Hence the feeling that 2008 could be their year. Or 2009.

But one thing is for certain, and this is something that is not the bi-product of the 20/20 vision that is hindsight: the Bulls were certainly not a Ben Wallace away from winning the whole kit-and-kaboodle, when they signed the center to a fat contract last July. I never believed it then, and I don't believe it now. Nor will I ever believe it. The Bulls are finding out what the Pistons discovered last spring: that there has to be some low post scoring to counter the defensive prowess from your center man.


Wallace needs help if Bulls are going to take the next step

But the Bulls are also finding something else out: the ascent from first-round KO to the land of milk and honey is rarely made in one fell swoop. And when you add in the little factoid that the Bulls are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 1998, then that ascension is even more difficult to make in just 12 months.

Last season the Bulls couldn't get out of the first round. No great crime in that, especially considering that the team that drummed them out went on to win the championship. But it's a bit much to think they can now springboard to a berth in the conference finals, when they're only just beginning to hone their playoff skills. Especially against a team as experienced, deep, and focused as the Pistons.

I have no idea what the Bulls are going to do with Wallace for the duration of his contract. He needs some help down low. On too many nights Big Ben proves the adage: Any team that employs Ben Wallace as its starting center will have to learn to play four-on-five, offensively. And that isn't always neutralized by the occasional feeling that you're playing six-on-five, defensively, when Wallace patrols the paint.

Pistons coach Flip Saunders recently called Wallace the best weak side, help-out defender in NBA history. That can give you that 6-on-5 effect.

But Ben wasn't the missing piece, and that shouldn't surprise anyone. If it does so to the folks in the offices at the United Center, then shame on them.

Meanwhile, the Bulls will continue to get a playoff lesson in this series -- one that they just might use to vanquish their professors in the near future. This year. The year after.

Wouldn't be all that surprising. If they get some more help -- and if the Wallace contract leaves them with any money to do so.