At first glance, the 2005-06 Chicago Bulls are a very ordinary team.  They are so average, in fact, that they finished the season with the exact same amount of wins as losses.  None of their players were selected to the All Star game.  The leading scorer averaged well below twenty points per contest.  And no one in league circles is giving them any chance to advance in the playoffs.

So why is the Windy City so excited?  How did the franchise manage to rank second in the league on this year's attendance list?  And how come the microphone explodes each night (along with the crowd) as the lineup of fairly non-descript players takes the floor?

Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of this year's team is how it was consistently shattering the molds of conventional NBA thought.  Three of the four team leaders in minutes played were point guards.  There was no star.  There was no dominant inside scorer.  Players were moved in and out of the starting lineup based more on their effort than their stats.  And head coach Scott Skiles did a masterful job of coaching, maximizing the talents of his players and covering their weaknesses far more effectively than his scalp.       

The one thing this current Bulls team did considerably better than average was play defense, leading the entire league in opponent's field goal percentage.  Rivals shot worse against the Bulls than any other team for the second year in a row.  Opponents quickly discovered that there was no such thing as the sure shot. 

Though Chicago lacks great defenders, their rotations were quick, the passing lanes were crowded, and every shot was contested.  The Bulls were physical on the defensive end for forty eight minutes a night, making bodies drop in the paint and out on the perimeter through a combination of relentless aggressiveness and teamwork.     

The Bulls were not as prolific on offense, however, and often experienced extended mid game scoring lapses.  Though they run set plays well and passed the ball unselfishly, Chris Duhon can't shoot on the move, Luol Deng plays robotic, Andres Nocioni is undersized and wild, and Kirk Hinrich can't get to the line when his jumper is not falling. 

But every night when the fourth quarter rolled around, Ben Gordon stutter-stepped through double and triple teams to knock down seven or eight unbelievable clutch shots.  Terror rains drenching in defenders as the diminutive guard amazed crowds with his uncanny ability to score with spectacular fadeaways, teardrops, runners, long distance threes, and off-balance scoops.  While the Bulls offense is nothing special, Ben Gordon's most certainly is.                      

But the one trait that has resonated with locals more than any other is this current squad's ambition to be quenching the thirst of the organization's lofty expectations.  The bumbling days of Jerry Krause, Tim Floyd, and a cast of mismatched youngsters are over.  General Manager John Paxson now presides over the club, and he systematically tore down all the excuses that had been built up by the previous regime.  The result is a team with the mindset to acquire wins instead of lottery ping pong balls.  And the majority of fans have recognized this for the significant change in attitude and aspiration that it is. 

Paxson has further appeased the fan base through efforts to rally round the family.  Scottie Pippen was given a lot of money to retire a Bull.  Michael Jordan checks in at games and practices from time to time.  Assistant coaches Pete Myers and Johnny Bach are two more links from the earlier days.  And a banner was hung in the rafters to honor the previous management's contributions to the organization.         

A final reason why many Chicagoans have embraced this Bulls team is because it might be the only NBA roster void of malcontents.  Paxson bought out the contracts of underachievers Eddie Robinson and Tim Thomas.  He sent halfhearted (no pun intended) Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford to the Knicks in separate deals. 

When police pulled over Marcus Fizer and discovered a gun under his seat and a pocket full of shells, the burly forward was not re-signed.  The sum of the moves is a positive, distraction free, working environment for the remaining players.  And in at least one NBA city, the main day to day storylines revolve around basketball.

Saturday night the Bulls will tip of against the Miami Heat in the first of what will likely be a short playoff series.  And while most Chicago basketball fans are simply happy to see their club in the postseason for the second year in a row, others dream of the powerhouse this club is poised to become with one more shrewd off season.  And while Grant Park is unlikely to be hosting any championship rallies this summer or next, Chicago is buzzing because there might be some bulls on parade shortly thereafter.

Scott Larson is married and lives in Madison, Wisconsin.  Originally from Chicago, Scott borrows from his dual sports residency and follows the Bears, Badgers, Bulls, and Bucks.