A look at the Bulls' schedule

October/November

Easily the toughest portion of the Bulls schedule: 10 of 15 games on the road, with trips to face Boston, Miami, Cleveland, the Lakers, Denver and Portland. If the Bulls are even close to .500 on Dec. 1, it will be a positive sign.

December

This is where the schedule balances out with 11 home games and just four on the road. Ben Gordon makes his first return visit with Detroit on Dec. 2, while the Bulls are at the Palace on New Year's Eve. This month won't be a cakewalk, the Bulls visit Cleveland and Atlanta, while the Lakers and Celtics arrive at the United Center for consecutive home games on Dec. 12 and 15, part of a five-game home stand.

January

There are some winnable games early in the month, but the seven-game January "ice show" road trip starts a couple weeks earlier than usual and includes stops in Phoenix, Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans. The Pistons are back at the UC on Jan. 11, while the Bulls will be done with the Cavs and Celtics on the road by Jan. 14.

February

Arguably, the softest monthly schedule. Eight of the 14 games are against teams that didn't make the playoffs last season, including three against Indiana. The all-star game is at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium on Feb. 14.

March

Plenty of home games this month, sandwiched around an odd road trip: Back-to-back games in Orlando and Miami, three days off, then back-to-back in Memphis and Dallas. Makes perfect sense. Shaq, LeBron and the Cavs finally make their first Chicago appearance on March 19.

April

The Bulls have had some soft closing schedules in recent years, but this is a little tougher than usual. The Cavs and Celtics are the last two home opponents and three of the final four games are on the road, in New Jersey, Toronto and Charlotte.