(CBS) Leave it to this continually baffling Bulls team to put critical thinkers in an impossible position. Those always looking for an elusive path out of the basketball wilderness and back to title contention are maddened by their seeming embrace of mediocrity, the chance to tout fleeting success as evidence of something sustainable and reliable, yet keeping them in their commercial sweet spot.

The Bulls say some things and then do others, often based on the whims of the market and the desperation of the decision-makers. Sometimes they win, as much of the time they don’t, and the cycle repeats itself ad infinitum as players and coaches come and go.

Rooting against one’s team is sour for sports fans, but that’s what anybody with a brain was doing as this regular season dripped away, hoping the Bulls could snag a spot in a fertile draft lottery and possibly flipping Jimmy Butler for even more young assets in a real shot at a reboot. Yet they backed into the playoffs and now find themselves in complete control of a Celtics team that outperformed its talent level and is faced with serious mismatches.

And the Bulls are even interesting to watch, with this version of Rajon Rondo who decided to play and coach Fred Hoiberg not throwing handfuls of random bodies on the court, instead sticking with a rotation that seems to have renewed purpose. Whatever it has become, it works better.

I’ve no idea what it means when this is all said and done, and I’m fairly sure nothing that’s occurring in this series is getting the Bulls closer to winning a championship, but it would be silly to want it to fail just because.

If it doesn’t seem to matter anyway, it might as well keep going.

It's just a jerk statement:

"Rooting against one’s team is sour for sports fans, but that’s what anybody with a brain was doing as this regular season dripped away,"

So a fan that cheers for his team to win while spending time in front of the tv or money and time at the stadium lacks a brain?

Great show today.

I have a hard time spending any time or money on a team when they suck.

That's fine, but that's not really rooting against them. I don't know anyone I consider a fan who would root against his team. How could a fan root against the team? If you do, you're not really a fan, are you?

There are certainly times when I pay less attention to the Sox than others, but it has more to do with the way they suck than simply just them sucking.

What bernstein doesn't seem to grasp is that without real fans who root for their team even when they are bad and watch games in person and on TV when they suck, there wouldn't be a team around for him to watch when they get good. He's like a fucking parasite.

I didn't read Bernstein's article because I don't want to vomit, but I will occasionally root against my team if they're so bad I just want to kick the TV. The Bears in recent years are an example. 3 or 4 years ago, they pissed me off so much I hoped they lost every game by 70. Unfortunately, last year, it turned into apathy.

That's fine, but that's not really rooting against them. I don't know anyone I consider a fan who would root against his team. How could a fan root against the team? If you do, you're not really a fan, are you?

There are certainly times when I pay less attention to the Sox than others, but it has more to do with the way they suck than simply just them sucking.

What bernstein doesn't seem to grasp is that without real fans who root for their team even when they are bad and watch games in person and on TV when they suck, there wouldn't be a team around for him to watch when they get good. He's like a fucking parasite.

But the Greater Show is on ESPN 1000. See ratings that just came out showing WSCR getting spanked hard in all but the morning slot.

That's fine, but that's not really rooting against them. I don't know anyone I consider a fan who would root against his team. How could a fan root against the team? If you do, you're not really a fan, are you?

There are certainly times when I pay less attention to the Sox than others, but it has more to do with the way they suck than simply just them sucking.

What bernstein doesn't seem to grasp is that without real fans who root for their team even when they are bad and watch games in person and on TV when they suck, there wouldn't be a team around for him to watch when they get good. He's like a fucking parasite.

This goes back to FF's thread about tanking, though we've obviously discussed that subject numerous times. Pro-tanking and being a fan can be a coherent position - it's merely a fan who takes a long-term perspective on his team. I'll admit to wanting the Bears or Bulls or whomever to lose in order to get a better draft position, or to prompt the firing of a bum coach who otherwise would be extended if the team backed into the playoffs.

I know it works differently in baseball with the draft and all, but hypothetically speaking, if the Sox losing the last game of a 60-something wins season means they're in a better position to draft the next Mike Trout, are you rooting for them to win that game? I'd rather take an embarrassing loss and Mike Trout.

I didn't read Bernstein's article because I don't want to vomit, but I will occasionally root against my team if they're so bad I just want to kick the TV. The Bears in recent years are an example. 3 or 4 years ago, they pissed me off so much I hoped they lost every game by 70. Unfortunately, last year, it turned into apathy.

might as well say 'fuck it' and try to enjoy it while it lasts ...

The Bulls signed Wade. They were not bad enough to get a top pick. We should as fans root for the to lose so they have a tiny chance at a top pick? This is not, they are so bad already they mine as well lose.

There's nothing to be gained by them making the playoffs - there's no arguing against that -

Too much NBA fandom is "We need to tank to get a good player in the draft. This is such a terrible draft, there's no one good after about #4." What's the point? It's a sport that's wildly popular around the world and every year it can only produce four new players for the top-flight league and everyone else on a professional trajectory is a stiff?

I'm guilty of it myself, but I think the problem is fans who fancy themselves as GM's from playing video games and fantasy sports, and it has become impossible for MANY of us to just live in the moment and root for our team rather than always looking long-term. I don't know if it's fixable at this point, even personally, but it's certainly more fun and carefree to simply be a fan in the moment and not worry about how the team will be in three years. Of course, you couldn't have the attitude that championships are all that matters. If that's the actual belief, then there is nothing philosophically wrong with tanking. But only one team wins the championship each year, so I find that to be a mindset that almost always ends in disappoint and, eventually, apathy.

I'm guilty of it myself, but I think the problem is fans who fancy themselves as GM's from playing video games and fantasy sports, and it has become impossible for MANY of us to just live in the moment and root for our team rather than always looking long-term.

I don't mean to sound like an old guy shaking his fist,

but fans used to root for Mickey and Willie and now they root for Theo and Billy. Enjoy the game however you want. The problem is it's a lot harder to lie to yourself that you're Willie Mays than it is to lie to yourself that you're Theo Epstein. The real truth is you're not close to being either one.

I don't mean to sound like an old guy shaking his fist, but fans used to root for Mickey and Willie and now they root for Theo and Billy. Enjoy the game however you want. The problem is it's a lot harder to lie to yourself that you're Willie Mays than it is to lie to yourself that you're Theo Epstein. The real truth is you're not close to being either one.

i think a lot of people (Bernstein for sure) find the process of getting to a championship and all it entails more interesting/fun than the games themselves

i think a lot of people (Bernstein for sure) find the process of getting to a championship and all it entails more interesting/fun than the games themselves

DT, Danny just has trouble rooting for anything that doesn't ultimately result in a championship and isn't the highest level of sports achievement. Thus his disdain for lower level non-pro sports. But most fans don't think this way. They only see the game in front of them and watch it for entertainment purposes. It's not some epic movement or championship determining game. The fact of the matter is they are watching to enjoy the game and have some rooting interest.