Bottom line: Bulls need to improve

So that's all there is to the Bulls' season.

No more overtimes. No more tie scores. No more lead changes.

Especially no more games after the Celtics beat the Bulls 109-99 in Game 7 of their pulsating NBA East first-round playoff series.

Thus ended two weeks of great theater. The Bulls certainly were responsible for their share of the thrills, spills and chills.

"My only thought of this series is 'hard,'" Boston head coach Doc Rivers said of what was being called the best NBA playoff ever. "I don't say 'great.' I say 'hard.'"

The Bulls gave the Celtics everything they wanted, blow for blow, point for point, gasp for gasp.

"This was probably one of the most mentally hard series I've had to deal with," said Paul Pierce, the MVP of last year's NBA Finals.

All that said, please, let's not talk about it being a moral victory for the Bulls because they took the defending champion Celtics to the limit.

What this turned out being was a lost opportunity. Yes, the Bulls were valiant; no, this was in no way a victory.

Boston - with injured heart and soul Kevin Garnett out the entire series - was ready to be beaten. But the Bulls couldn't beat them. They weren't good enough to beat the Celtics even with Garnett in street clothes.

"We just couldn't make enough shots," Bulls head coach Vinny Del Negro said.

Consequently the Bulls started the series stuck in the middle of Eastern Conference mediocrity but couldn't climb to mediocrity's upper level.

That would have been a big step for a team attempting to grow with emerging star Derrick Rose at point guard.

The Bulls just couldn't do it. They just weren't ready to make the plays down the stretch that are the significant difference between a playoff team and a second-round playoff team.

So where do the Bulls stand now as one season ends and another essentially begins for any playoff loser?

Still with a long way to go, that's where.

The Bulls have a cornerstone in Rose, another true NBA starter in John Salmons and what looks like a bunch of sixth men surrounding them.

Seriously, the Bulls will be legitimate contenders only when guys like Tyrus Thomas, Joakim Noah, Brad Miller, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng and others either become much better or settle into roles as reserves.

That includes Ben Gordon if he the Bulls can re-sign him. He's a hotshot who should be coming off the bench to provide instant energy and instant scoring.

The best thing about an ambitious team like the Bulls qualifying for the playoffs is that failing teaches what it takes to succeed.

The Bulls have to get into the gym and work on what prevented them from moving deeper into the playoffs.

Rose has to learn how to play defense. Noah has to get stronger. Thomas has to improve his offense. Deng has to get tougher. Del Negro has to study more film. General manager John Paxson has to acquire a couple starters who can nudge the others to the bench.

"I know we have a lot of work to do," Del Negro said.

The goal should be fewer theatrics and more playoff games.

mimrem@dailyherald.com