Things looking up for Bulls, but 3 big tests await this week

After accomplishing their first three-game winning streak in nearly two years, the Bulls obviously are hoping Saturday's emphatic victory in Phoenix wasn't just a desert mirage.

Watching the Bulls record 3 decisive road victories in four days served as a timely reminder that this is a team filled with playoff veterans, plus a dynamic rookie point guard. They should be capable of playing better in the second half of the season.

"It's been so long since we've won three games in a row," Ben Gordon said. "It feels like a few years back, when we were a playoff team."

Added Kirk Hinrich: "It seems like right now, obviously we're not getting carried away, but we're playing together as a team. I feel like we're trying to do the right things out there, and I think it's paying off."

No matter what level of optimism is attached to this winning streak, the Bulls' next three opponents (Houston, New Orleans and Dallas) are better than the three teams they just beat (Phoenix, Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers).

The Bulls stayed in Phoenix after Saturday's win. Coach Vinny Del Negro held a Super Bowl party at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., then the Bulls held a practice at the Suns' facility before flying to Houston late Monday afternoon.

Here's a closer look at what's in store for the rest of this trip:

Houston, today: How long has it been since the Bulls won a game when Tracy McGrady was on the court?

It hasn't happened since he joined the Rockets in 2004-05. The Bulls have lost 10 of the last 11 in the series, and the lone win came in Houston when McGrady was out with an injury in November 2005.

So the Bulls haven't beaten McGrady since the 2003-04 season, when he played on a bad Orlando team that outmaneuvered the Bulls for the No. 1 draft pick that turned into Dwight Howard.

McGrady missed Saturday's win over Golden State with a sprained ankle but is expected to face the Bulls tonight. He hasn't been himself all season, though. After eight straight years of averaging at least 21 points, McGrady is at 15.8 this season and shooting 38.8 percent.

McGrady has missed 17 games and Ron Artest (16.2 ppg, .380 field-goal percentage) has skipped 13. So the Rockets haven't built much chemistry with their regular lineup. The last time they were at full strength they lost at home to Philadelphia.

Yao Ming obviously poses a challenge for the Bulls' big-man trio of Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas and Aaron Gray. They fared reasonably well against the Suns' Shaquille O'Neal on Saturday.

But with his skills in decline, O'Neal usually misses any shot that has to travel through the air to reach the rim (as opposed to a dunk), while Yao actually has range.

New Orleans, Wednesday: This could be the first real matchup between all-star point guard Chris Paul and rookie Derrick Rose. They battled at times last summer at the U.S. Olympic team training camp when Rose played on the U.S. select squad that provided scrimmage opposition.

But Paul left Monday's game against Portland with a groin injury, so there's a chance he won't face the Bulls. He has been amazing this season, averaging 21.7 points, 10.9 assists, 2.8 assists and shooting 50.2 percent from the field.

But his teammates haven't always been running along with him.

Power forward David West just came back after missing five games, while Tyson Chandler has skipped the last seven. The Hornets are a very respectable 28-16 this season, but they lost at home to Golden State on Friday.

Dallas, Saturday: After two more days off, the Bulls will wrap up the seven-game trip in Dallas. The first meeting this season on Nov. 13 was memorable for the Bulls.

After falling behind 24-5 at the start of the game, the Bulls roared back to win 98-91 after leading by 17 midway through the fourth quarter.

Rose and Ben Gordon fared well against the Mavericks' older backcourt of Jason Kidd and Jason Terry. Rose hit 6 of 7 shots for 14 points in the third quarter alone, while Gordon scored a season-high 35 points.

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