Postscript: In today’s Bulls-Magic New Year’s Eve game, the pattern held to soul-crushing results. The worst possible scenario played out and even Bill Wennington mugging for the HD cameras couldn’t save Bulls fans from their Debbie Downer evening.

Boylan put the Noah/Thomas duo out on the floor for the first time in his tenure… for three minutes in the second quarter. Those three vainglorious minutes were sandwiched by the usual suspects: a seven-man rotation noted for its basketball intellect and Proven Veteran goodness (or, more likely, the top seven trade suspects). Gordon ran up 40+ minutes with the assistance of overtime, sinking 16 of 27 shots on his way to 39 points. All of this makes Boylan look the genius in a close loss to perhaps the best team in the East (yes, I see you there, Boston).

Again, it’s false vindication for a flawed strategy. If the Bulls had won, Bulls fans could have taken momentary joy in the victory before sinking back into 2007-2008 seasonal depression. If they had lost big, it questions hiding the young talent.

Instead, it’s coming up roses for at least one Illinois coach this week. The rest of us? This hangover won’t go away after January 1st.