<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MIAMI, April 16 (Ticker) -- Luol Deng had the happiest of birthdays. On the day he turned 21, Deng scored 26 points on 12-of-17 shooting as the Chicago Bulls rallied past the Miami Heat, 117-93, to clinch their second straight playoff berth. Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni added 18 points apiece and Kirk Hinrich chipped in 17 and eight assists for the Bulls (39-41), who won for the 11th time in 13 games to move into a three-way tie with Indiana and Milwaukee for sixth place in the East. Washington (39-40) is in fifth place but has not yet clinched a playoff spot. The Heat held a 40-25 lead with 10:45 left in the second quarter, but the Bulls outscored them, 33-13, the rest of the half and pushed their advantage to 88-74 entering the fourth quarter. Chicago led comfortably throughout the final 12 minutes. Antoine Walker had 22 points to pace Miami (52-28), which will be the second seed in the East and could face Chicago in the first round. All-Star guard Dwyane Wade scored eight points in the first quarter but was blanked thereafter, spending much of the second half on the bench. </div> Source Well guys, it was a nice run and at least we know what this team is capable of. Next season, we will show everybody how good this team really is and we will secure a playoff spot. I think it's safe to say that this is going to be one of the last times that we are lottery bound before the Jameer-Dwight era puts us to the top.
Dwight's going to have an all-star year next season and I'm pretty sure Orlando is going to be a good playoff team next year.
It was inevitable. No worries-- I can't believe we held out to "having hope" within 2 games of the end of the season.
It just sucks cuz this would have been an awesome story if we could have made the playoffs. Either way they ended the season on a tear and showed people that they are for real. Next seaon will be something else, i got my lower bowl season tickets knowing its gonna be special next year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting smokrockz:</div><div class="quote_post"> Either way they ended the season on a tear and showed people that they are for real.</div> Just like Golden State last year?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">Just like Golden State last year?</div> If you see how much fun these guys are having and how unselfish they are playing and how young most of them are, no we won't be like GS last year. Also we play in the Eastern Conference in the worst division in the NBA. Dwight, Jameer, Darko, Hedo form a pretty good group of players that have gelled. All of them still aren't in their primes yet(well maybe Hedo) and still can improve a lot. As long as we keep the majority of the team intact and not mess with chemistry too much, then we should be fine. (meaning resign Stevenson/Ariza and jsut draft a SG/SF in the draft)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">Just like Golden State last year?</div> No, you retard
