Bulls End Season With NBA's Best Record After 97-92 Win Over Nets

Tell me if before the season you had the Chicago Bulls winning 62 games, finishing with the best record in the NBA, home court advantage throughout the playoffs, the presumptive MVP and Coach Of the Year, all the while remaining a team that flat out loves to play with one another.

If you said yes, allow me to call you a liar here publicly.

Liar.

***

Without question, the Bulls have already exceeded all hopes and predictions for the 2010-2011 season. Simply reading the last paragraph sends chills through my spine, and the big games are still to come. Soon we will all know just how good this precocious team can be in its sudden championship aspirations. But for now, on the last day of the regular season, it is time to reflect a bit.

For those Bulls fans that think teams like this one grow on trees and that the cycle from Michael Jeffrey Jordan to Derrick Rose is a natural progression of an NBA team, allow me to correct you. Take a look at the twitter feed of @teamziller, who just witnessed his team's last game as the Sacramento Kings will almost assuredly move to Anaheim in the offseason. Or read Canis Hoopus' year-end post on the dreadful state of the Minnesota Timberwolves, a team so god-awful that its fans have resorted to viewing it as a sitcom simply to dull the pain of their fanhood.

No, Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Tom Thibodeau, Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer and every other member of this year's team should be enjoyed because there is a certain special feeling surrounding this team that simply does not come around very often. That is not to say that a championship is imminent, although that dream is both possible and fist-pumpingly awesome to consider, but it is worth taking a moment to appreciate that this is one of those rare times in sports that something so out of one's control actually rewards your personal investment.

The Bulls beat the Nets using Thibodeau's most extended rotation of the season. Even Luol Deng, 4th in the NBA in minutes per game, managed to play a reasonable 31 minutes. Joakim Noah, he of the recovering sprained ankle, came out with that Noah-like energy that makes him so likeable, finishing with 10 points, 10 rebounds (including seven on offense) and four blocks before banging knees with Nets center Brook Lopez. Kyle Korver scored 19 points including 10 in the fourth quarter and provided the scoring the Bulls needed with Rose and Deng sitting out late in the contest.Taj Gibson continued his stellar late-season play with nine points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes.

The Nets took advantage of the Bulls' reserves on the second night of a back-to-back and led by a point with one minute to play, but Rasual Butler hit a corner three to retake the lead and Chicago never looked back. The conversation now turns to the playoffs, which will be covered in earnest in the days ahead. But as the regular season concludes, here are a few of the incredible notes from Chicago's brilliant 2010-2011 season:

- The Bulls finish 62-20, tying the record of the Jordan/Pippen 1997-1998 team that won the NBA championship.

- Chicago won 21 of its last 23 games and was a league-best 24-4 after the All-Star break.

- With the win and San Antonio's loss versus the Suns, the Bulls claim the best record in the NBA for the fourth time in franchise history. The past three times, 1992, 1996 and 1997, Chicago won the NBA championship.

- Chicago is 28-1 all-time in playoff series where they control the home court. The only loss was against the Washington Wizards in the 2005 playoffs.

- Tom Thibodeau ties Paul Westphal for the most wins ever in a season for a rookie head coach with 62.

- The Bulls finished the season on a nine-game winning streak, their longest since 2005. It is the team's best finish in franchise history, besting the 1981 team's eight in a row.

- Final notable season averages -  Derrick Rose: 25 points, 7.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds; Luol Deng: 17.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists; Carlos Boozer: 59 games, 17.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists; Joakim Noah: 48 games, 11.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks.

Finally, what better way to leave the regular season that letting Bulls' leader Derrick Rose sum things up:

"Playoffs. It was a good season, a great season. But, playoffs."

Damn right.

Ronnie Brewer Out, Joakim Noah Questionable Tonight Vs. New Jersey

Per Bulls.com, Ronnie Brewer will not play against the Nets with what is being called a "left thumb sprain". Joakim Noah is questionable to play after re-aggravating a right ankle sprain against the Knicks on Tuesday night.

No word on their status for Saturday’s playoff game against the Pacers, but all indications from team officials, Brewer and Noah are that they will be suited up and ready to play.

Follow Zachary Lee on Twitter @rightfieldsucks

Chicago Bulls Vs. New Jersey Nets: Leaving On A High Note!

As a full-fledged, dyed-in-the-wool Chicago fan, nothing would make me happier than seeing the Bulls crush the Nets at the United Center in their final regular season game, clinching the league's best overall record at 62-20 and home court advantage throughout the postseason, for indeed those are the stakes on Wednesday night.

That said, there is absolutely NO REASON why coach Tom Thibodeau should play any of his starters (save for Keith Bogans, who doesn't count) more than twenty minutes against the dreadful New Jersey Nets. Let us list the reasons for the sake of brevity:

1. New Jersey Is Terrible -  First take into account that two of the Nets three best players, Deron Williams and Kris Humphries, are out with injuries. According to the Nets' media notes, New Jersey will trot out a starting five of Jordan Farmar, Sasha Vujacic, Stephen Graham, Dan Gadzuric and Brook Lopez. I'm sure these are all fine human beings whose mothers love them dearly, but they represent an absolutely putrid starting NBA lineup. And now that I've all but cued up the Harlem Globetrotters music for the Bulls, I'm sure these Nets will play the collective game of their lives.

2. Reciprocity - The Bulls are playing their final regular season home game at the United Center where they are 35-5, good for a share of the best home record in the league. The Nets are 5-35 on the road. The Bulls have won nine of their last 10 games. The Nets have lost nine of their last ten games.

3. The Injury Is Out - How about that for a pun? (hang head in shame) Seriously, though, it is hard to imagine a world where both Ronnie Brewer and Joakim Noah play in this game. That being said, I am the same person who wrote that Thibodeau would likely curtail his starters' minutes with the top seed in the East locked up, and Luol Deng was last seen at Madison Square Garden logging 44 minutes in a 13-point blowout. Thibodeau must swallow his food whole, redline his car's engine and sprint his dogs, because as far as I can tell the man is either full-stop or full speed ahead and never in-between.

4. The Bench Mob - The Nets reserves might actually never score against the Bulls' second unit, renowned around the league for being the best defensive five in the business. New Jersey has had its share of injuries and dressed only nine players for its Tuesday loss against the Bobcats. When you're counting on Johan Petro for quality minutes, it's time to reassess your expectations for winning.

5. Derrick Rose and Deng have performed so well and without complaint that they deserve a day off simply as a reward for an incredible year. Rose will likely win the league's MVP award and Deng may make an All-NBA defensive team, but what good is that if it doesn't even come with a hooky day?

Nets To Watch For

I always enjoy watching Brook Lopez, because he may represent the biggest inequity in effort between offense and defense in the entire NBA. To wit, the seven-foot, 265-pound center scored a robust 31 points on Monday night in 41 minutes of action. He also vaccuumed up a staggering three rebounds. If you're wondering how this could be, watch how many times you see the Bulls score tonight before Lopez even crosses half court. His nickname should be Cherry Pickins.

Bulls To Watch For

Truthfully, it's Tom Thibodeau. How much will he decide to use his starters with so many conflicting reasons in play? On the one hand, the Bulls have come this far, so why not play all out to grab home court advantage throughout the postseason and the feather-in-the-cap of the best regular season record? On the other hand, nothing is more important than having the entire team healthy for when the playoffs begin on Saturday. I don't know about you, but I'll be watching the Thibodeau tightrope all night long.

Winners of a season-high tying eight straight games and 20 for their last 22 (think about that!), the Bulls tip off the 82nd and final game of their spectacular 2010-2011 regular season at 7:00 CDT tonight at the United Center. Comcast Sportsnet Chicago has the call.

Follow Zachary Lee on Twitter @rightfieldsucks