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Some Chicago Bulls notes to catch you up with the team. These do not include the January 17 game in New York.

The Bulls starting lineup lately is Kirk Hinrich and Chris Duhon at guard, Luol Deng and Antonio Davis at forward, and Eddy Curry at center. Guard Ben Gordon and big man Tyson Chandler are key contributors off the bench. For all intents and purposes they're like starters. Also key off the bench is forward Andres Nocioni.

Tickets to Chicago Bulls home games are among the hottest in the NBA in 2005-05. Chicago has hosted 20 home games this season and the average of 18,799 fans per game ranks 7th in the NBA. The Bulls have had three home sellouts so far.

After starting the season 0-9, the Bulls ranked 29th in the NBA in opponent scoring, giving up an average of 101.6 points per game. Chicago also ranked 22nd in opponent FG%, with opponents shooting .451 from the field. Since that time, the Bulls are 16-9 and now rank 5th (as in, 5th best) in opponent FG%, with opponents shooting .451 from the field.

With an 8-7 record in December of 2004 the Bulls enjoyed their first winning month since April of 1998.

Ben Gordon started slow but has improved practically each week. In his first seven games, Gordon averaged 7.9 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game, on miserable .323 shooting. But in his last 27 games, Gordon has put up 15.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists on fantastic .468 shooting, and a remarkable .489 from three-point range.

The Bulls have now held 22 straight opponents under 100 points. It's the longest streak in the NBA.

Since starting the season 0-9, the Bulls have gone 17-9. They're hot.

The Bulls have an unorthodox starting lineup. Kirk Hinrich and Chris Duhon, two small point guards, start alongside each other. And a few minutes into each game, Ben Gordon, a muscular but short guard, comes in for Duhon. Yet, it's working. All three guards are very defensive-minded.

In his last give games, Hinrich has averaged 15.8 points, 10.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

In Chicago's 16 wins this season, the Bulls bench has averaged 37.1 points per game, while Chicago opponent benches have averaged 27.9 ppg.

As a team, coming into today's game, the Bulls average 43.4 rebounds per game, 5th best in the NBA. They're led by Tyson Chandler, who has grabbed 9.1 rpg.