Reasons for optimism or just fools' gold?

Okay, okay ... so a three-game winning streak is no big deal you say? Every team in the NBA is capable of pulling that off, especially at home, you say?

Well, this may be true, but for Chicago Bulls fans, it's been a long time coming and has Bulls fans smiling for a change.

Coming off their first three-game winning streak since January of 2000 and the teams' first three-game home winning streak since April of 1998, the Chicago Bulls have people believing they are a real NBA franchise again.

Yes, they are still at the bottom of the NBA barrel, but now, they have company.

Their recent winning streak has lifted their win total to 15, which ties them with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors for fewest wins in the league.

While this is definitely nothing to brag about, it is unquestionably a reason for jubilation for Bulls fans.

The Bulls have had the distinction of being the absolute worst team in the NBA for three years straight, but now this might not be the case.

The recent trade that brought Jalen Rose and Travis Best to "The City of Big Shoulders" has the city in an uproar.

Something drastic was needed to shake things up, and that's exactly what this trade did.

In Rose, the Bulls now have a legitimate superstar that can take a game over and is respected throughout the league, which is something they haven't had since a certain member of the Wizards "retired."

While the players they traded away were decent players, they were all second-tier type of players, not difference makers.

Furthermore, the trade has forced high school phenoms Tyson Chandler and Eddy Vurry into the starting lineup and into playing major minutes, which has resulted in inspired play from both.

Since the trade, both men have doubled their season averages in each game and have both set career highs in scoring and rebounding, impressing everybody along the way.

By the same token, everything started to look a little better for team of the '90s when Tim Floyd quit and Bill Cartwright took over.

It had become increasingly evident throughout the early part of the season that Floyd had lost his players' respect.

When Cartwright came in, respect wasn't even an issue. It's kind of hard not to respect someone with three championship rings and who just happens to be seven feet tall.

Giving us a sign if things to come, the team won their first two games under their new coach after having won only four of their previous 27.

Comparing the two coaches, Cartwright is 11-17 while Floyd was 4-23. Get the picture?

Call it what you want, but it seems the players weren't the only problem, and the proof is in the pudding.

Cartwright has this group playing hard and smart on both ends of the floor, because he demands it and that's how he played.

It was apparent that the team was tired of listening to a college coach without any NBA playing or coaching experience yelling at them and telling them what to do. The only sad part about the coaching change is that Floyd quit and wasn't fired.

The Bulls coaching change, blockbuster trade, and recent winning streak makes one wonder what could have been this year and what will be next year.

I'm not saying they would be a playoff team, but 30-something wins seems possible.

Had the coaching change been made sooner, who knows what would have happened.

You also must keep in mind the unbelievable number of injuries the Bulls had this year.

For starters, their starting point guard, Jamal Crawford, has not played a single minute this year after tearing his ACL in the offseason.

On top of that, their big free agent acquisition, Eddie Robinson, has missed 39 games and former Bull starter Ron Artest missed 25 games.

As if that isn't enough, starting point guard Greg Anthony has missed 19 games and starting power forward Charles Oakley has missed 14.

Total that up and you have 152 player games missed, which doesn't even include the 12 that former leading scorer Ron Mercer missed before being shipped to Indy.

Right there, you're looking at a total of two full NBA seasons missed due to injuries.

Looking ahead to next year, things don't look too bad for the Bulls.

Last year's lottery picks Chandler and Curry are sure to improve drastically due to their increased playing time and should come into next year ready to really produce.

A healthy Eddie Robinson and Crawford are sure to add excitement and scoring as both are projected starters.

Factor in a superstar in Rose, plus yet another lottery pick, and you have the makings of a pretty good basketball team that should make some noise in the 2002-03 season.