Before the calendar flipped to 2010, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro was asked to sum up what was a tumultuous 2009 for him.
''Let's just say it was an interesting year,'' he said.
Not many people thought Del Negro would survive into 2010, but he did -- and the Bulls bring a three-game winning streak into tonight's game against the Orlando Magic as they begin to push the issue of Del Negro's job status to the back burner.
''We are getting our confidence now,'' center Joakim Noah said. ''It feels good to win three in a row. Obviously, [tonight] is gonna be a good test against one of the best teams in the NBA.''
Playing the Magic also will be a big test for Noah, who has been a double-double machine this season and is averaging 10.4 points and 12.5 rebounds. There has been some talk of Noah making the All-Star team, and he can make a strong case by playing well against Dwight Howard, the likely starter for the Eastern Conference.
But it's doubtful next month's All-Star Game will be on Noah's mind tonight.
''I'm just trying to grab as many rebounds as I can and try to control the game,'' he said. ''I'm just trying to be aggressive on the offensive end, and every time the ball goes up I just try to put myself in a position where I can get extra possessions for my team.''
Noah did exactly that Thursday in a 98-87 win over the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills by grabbing 21 rebounds to tie his career high. The Bulls had a 49-33 rebounding edge.
Although the Pistons are struggling and have dropped nine straight, the way the Bulls won was encouraging that they can turn things around in the final four months of the season.
Derrick Rose, after being limited by an ankle injury for about the first six weeks, is healthy and playing the way he did in the second half last season to win the Rookie of the Year award in a runaway vote.
Rose had a team-high 22 points and now is the team's leading scorer -- surpassing Luol Deng -- with an average of 18 points.
The play of Tyrus Thomas also was a bright spot. He had 19 points off the bench, going to the free-throw line a career-high 14 times as the Pistons struggled to match his quickness.
Since his return from a fractured left forearm, Thomas clearly has helped the Bulls' depth and athleticism.
The only negative for the Bulls Thursday was 24 turnovers, which is about twice as many as any coach would like but something Del Negro knows he'll have to occasionally live with.
''We have young players, a lot of young players, and young players make mistakes,'' Del Negro said. ''They get a little overanxious, they get a little bit quick, and that's what happens sometimes.
''As players mature in this league, you get more control of your game, you understand it a little bit better, where you pick your spots. Turnovers are gonna happen, but we have to find a way to keep 'em down to give ourselves a more consistent opportunity.''
Despite all the hysterics of the last few weeks about Del Negro's abilities and the team underachieving, the Bulls (13-17) actually are in decent position considering everything that went wrong the first two months. They are seventh in the East with a chance to move up to fifth if they play well.
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