The 2011 Bulls are the Hawks of 2010

As hockey and basketball enter the stretch run, it is very difficult as a Chicago fan to decide if I want to watch the Blackhawks or Bulls.

If I had to choose one this year, it would be the Bulls.

After winning the Stanley Cup last season, the Hawks are struggling to get into the playoffs this year. With just 72 points, the Hawks are tied for ninth place in the Western Conference.

But the other resident of the United Center is playing inspired basketball. The Bulls are bringing basketball excitement back to a city that has not experienced it since Michael Jordan left in 1998.

After dispatching of coach Vinny Del Negro, the Bulls had high expectations coming into this season. But no one predicted the Bulls would be this successful.

After consecutive 41-41 seasons, the Bulls are 40-17 and are third in the Eastern Conference. They are just two games back of Boston and lead the Central Division by 14.5 games. The Bulls are also 12-0 in the Central Division this season.

I am getting that same feeling I had after watching the Hawks dominate last season en route to a championship.

This season is something special. Derrick Rose is something special. The Bulls are back.

For all those reasons and more, the Bulls are the team that I choose to watch.

Honestly, I don’t know where the season will end up, but I can definitely see the Bulls making a deep playoff run.

As far as the Hawks’ future is concerned, it is a lot more difficult to predict. Their season has been inconsistent and they still have not come together and dominated like last season. The sad reality is that the Hawks may not even get into the postseason this year.

Each time I see the Bulls either in person or on television, they play hard. There is no dogging on the court. The players hustle, the defense is aggressive and Brian Scalabrine jumps off the bench during each media timeout.

Another reason to watch is because the Bulls’ bench is stepping up in a big way. Kurt Thomas, Ronnie Brewer and Kyle Korver each provide a spark, making the games more entertaining.

I am also a fan of new coach Tom Thibodeau. Thibodeau’s defensive schemes have limited opponents to just 92.8 points per game.

Unlike the Hawks, this is a team with potential. The Bulls are taking the league by surprise and dominating teams that are “better and more complete.”

Behind MVP candidate Derrick Rose, the Bulls have already clinched the season series against the Miami Heat, handing LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh two losses in two games.

This team is special. With Thibodeau yelling from the sideline and Rose leading on the court, the sky is the limit for the Bulls.

If the Bulls do run the table and get into the NBA Finals, the Madhouse on Madison will no longer refer to just hockey games.