Finally it’s here.  And with the Bulls team still in tact.  Game 1 @ New Jersey tonight at 6:30 CST.  The only other question(s) that will be answered tonight is the fate of Deng and Gordon’s contract extensions.  With the deadline at midnight tonight, there are only a few hours left.   Reportedly, Deng is closer to signing something, while Gordon may have to wait for the offseason to try to earn more.  My guess is that any contract the Bulls offered Gordon is well in the low-ball range, since apparently signing him restricts him from being traded for Kobe or anyone else this season.  In addition, the Bulls have the right to match any offer for him in the offseason made by any other team.  It’s sad, but it makes sense in the business sense.  Personally, I like Gordon, especially on our defensive minded team that we have, since he has been our main scoring option and kind of go-to guy in the clutch. 

Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, and the Nets are stronger than most people realize.  If they are healthy this year, I expect them to be a top 5 team in the East, and definitely playoff bound.  Tonight should be interesting.  I hope we bring it like last year’s opener.  When the Heat knocked the Bulls out of the 2006 playoffs, we had a chance to "remedy" it by playing them the first game of last season a (Bulls won by 42 points).  Much like last year, we are playing a team that beat us in our regular season finale which prevented the Bulls from getting the #2 seed, which may have been big.