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Leading up to this season, it seemed that talk concerning Bulls’ players’ height and their lack of it dominated discussion among Bulls fans and NBA prognosticators. There were also questions raised over how long it would take to integrate this year’s new Bulls players acquired in trade and through free agency. The first half of the season opener against the Charlotte Bobcats seemed to confirm those concerns. Yet from the third quarter on last night this young team showed again that heart cannot be measured in inches.

On the heels of a short pre-season accompanied by the application of recently changed dress standards within stadiums and on benches, the new-look Chicago Bulls players appeared dressed for success according to new NBA rules. Yet their defense and crisp offensive display showed up unfashionably late in the third and fourth quarters, when they became the talk of the party, game 1 of the new 2005-06 NBA season.

After getting run right off the floor by the second-year expansion Charlotte Bobcats for the first half, the Bulls regrouped. Led by the energy and persistent attack of Chris Duhon, the recently re-signed point guard, as well as the newly-signed free agent Songaila and veteran bench-warmer Piatkowski, they erased a 25-point deficit en route to their first win of the year in as many tries.

It took the revived Bulls an uncharacteristic 30-9 production in the fourth quarter keyed by a surgical 3-point basket by the steely Songaila with some 5 plus seconds left in regulation to tie the game.

In the overtime period a series of well-executed passes to Chandler and dunks along with two critical free throws by Songaila confirmed the earlier prognosis. The Bulls recovered with suffocating defense and unselfish ball-sharing to take this game and send the disappointed Bobcats away.

For Coach Skiles, working in the new faces, Sweetney ,Thomas, Allen and Songaila, who came in trade from the Knicks and arrived via free agency was no big deal. That was because he was counting primarily on the players from last year to provide the team’s leadership and spark. In the end, it was a combination of all factors. The game points total reflected a shared effort on offense and defense.

Bulls Snorts: In the season opener, Chicago Bulls fans were cheered by the effort of guard Chris Duhon, who displayed the leadership and cool demeaner expected of him when he re-signed as a free agent this summer.

In addition, Darius Songaila displayed the deft shooting touch and crisp passing he is known for. His calm leadership will be a big plus. Evidence shown of that includes his killer tré in the game’s closing seconds and his pair of free throws in overtime.

Not just some green kid from college, Songaila, in fact, has several years experience playing on Olympic teams from Lithuania, including the team that came within two points of putting away Team USA, the group led by Garnett, Carter, Mourning and Kidd that went on to win the gold medal in 2000.

Putting on his cape: Eric Piatkowski relishes playing the savior role for his team, although he does not enjoy sitting on the bench all game and being the last player inserted into the game, as was the case in this game. That seemed besides the point, however, as his fourth quarter three’s helped shift the momentum and make an overtime period and win possible.

Next up for the Bulls are the perennial playoff contender New Jersey Nets, who are fresh from a crushing defeat at the hands of the renewed Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls travel to New Jersey to take them on Saturday night. The Bulls will arrive with a somewhat hobbled Kirk Hinrich, who had to wrap his ankle for a sprain he suffered from landing on Gerald Wallace’s foot. Coach Skiles says he should be ready to play tomorrow.

The Nets are in Toronto tonight, where Vince Carter returns to play his previous team, then return home to host the Bulls on Saturday. ESPN recently evaluated the Nets as “a championship caliber team with a strengthened bench.”

However, they are challenged at the center spot, where 6’10” Marc Jackson is supposed to fill the bill and Jason Collins has trouble rebounding and blocking shots. In any case, Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich will certainly have his hands full with the explosive Jason Kidd. New Jersey has been playing several players out of their natural spots, so it will be interesting to see how Skiles takes advantage of that.

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