Bulls

The Bulls finally found out just how good it feels to be a bully. The wedgies, the purple-nurples, the swirlies, the 24-point beatings . apparently picking on someone smaller and weaker was just what the doctored ordered.

Last night the Bulls went into Miami standing tall, having won three games in a row and feeling confident they could repeat their opening-night historic win against the Heat and notch their fourth win in a row.

After fending off a motivated Hornets team at the United Center Friday night and coming back from 18 points behind in the fourth-quarter to beat the Bucks in OT in Milwaukee Sunday, the Bulls suddenly find themselves on a roll. And according to general manager John Paxson, the frenzy for the streaking Bulls has hit a fever pitch in Chicago.

When rookie Thabo Sefolosha heard Scott Skiles mispronounce his name and tell him to get in the game with more than 30 minutes left, the entire crowd at the United Center knew the game was in the Bulls' hands.

For Bulls fans, Monday night seemed like déjà vu. Watching their team play three strong quarters of basketball, then relinquish the lead with less than three minutes to play has been an all too familiar theme this season. Same [expletive deleted], different day.

For the amount of time equivalent to a Britney Spears' rehab stay, the Bulls' bandwagon was loaded and gaining momentum. That's what three big wins in a row will do for a team. But a disappointing, if not typical, loss in a hot and cold weekend has jettisoned all but the truest Bulls fans.

The trade deadline has come and gone, and the Bulls are hedging their bets with their current lineup. There was, however, no shortage of trade rumors surrounding the team throughout the past few weeks. Below we break down several of the trades that almost happened.