One thing left in my notebook from the Bulls' 88-84 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night is a comment from Lakers coach Phil Jackson assessing the Bulls before the game.

"They've got the personnel and they seem dedicated to what they're doing," Jackson said of the Bulls. "It's tough sometimes for kids to come in and find a way and get their mind straight and become pros, but this crew seems to be coming to that level of professionalism that it takes to be serious about winning.

"We've said they're gonna be in this top five or six in the East, but right now they look like they're gonna be above that. They look like they could even be in the three or four spot."