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As a long-time resident of Chicago (whose heart remains with Detroit sports), I’ve developed an affinity for the Chicago Bulls.

(Okay, Pistons fans– please don’t hit the back button or curse me as Judas Iscariot. Hear me out!!)

Its been difficult to survive this long as a Pistons fan without Fox Sports Detroit. Yet in the last few years, I haven’t missed a single televised Pistons game or a Pistons/Bulls bout here at the United Center (I’ve never seen Our Boys lose here in Chicago…). As a Pistons fan first and a basketball fanatic second, I still have to get my fix. In the past few seasons, the Chicago Bulls on Comcast Sports Net have helped quell the hunger inside me for the hoop, the hardwood and the ball. Wait a minute, that didn’t sound right…

But having watched the Bulls for the last few seasons, its hard to fight the sense of admiration I’ve gained for this young team. They play solid, defensive ball. They are un-selfish and team-oriented. There aren’t any big egos. Their talent has been regularly glossed over by the media, yet they consistenly shock their competition. Does this sound like any other team in the NBA you can think of? That’s right, our very own Detroit Pistons.

Needless to say, it is going to be very difficult to maintain an objective respect for the Bulls this season. That new center of theirs, who looks familiar yet I can’t place his name, brings me only pain and resentment when I see him play. Thanks to him, I can no longer look at this young team as a growing talent who reminds me of my favorite team a few seasons back. The Bulls are now Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Nocioni, and… shoot– lost his name again. But a rose by any other name would still have thorns.

…Moving right along. I’ve watched the last three Bulls pre-season games. The Bulls starters, and their big new guy, are performing as we’d expect. No big story there. But I saw a single player’s performance that stood out– a big surprise. Mr. Viktor Khryapa is a soon-to-be monster.

The Bulls acquired Khryapa with Tyrus Thomas in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers for LaMarcus Aldridge, Chicago’s first round draft pick in the offseason. In tonight’s game against Toronto (the only game Toronto has lost in the pre-season), Khryapa’s short time on the court was terribly fruitful. He was all over the court, in every play, with amazing defensive coordination and awareness of his own teammate’s presence– which led to some jaw-dropping assists.

In 11 minutes, Khryapa scored nine points on 4 for 6 shooting (including one trey), with 5 rebounds and two assists. The numbers here don’t tell the whole story. His presence on the court reminds me of only one other dominant small forward in the game– Mr. Tayshaun Prince. Often, when you look at Tay’s numbers, you don’t see the whole story about how vital he is to that game’s outcome. Khryapa, young as he is, brings a similar energy and presence to the game that Tayshaun does so well.

Am I saying he’s as good as Tayshaun? Hell no. But in my opinion, he’s the only remarkable surprise in Chicago this season, and he is a welcome surprise to their team. If that one new center they signed wasn’t on the team, Khryapa would be a reason for me to like the Bulls even more…

But as a Pistons fan, I must say this– watch your asses this season, Chicago Bulls. The Detroit Pistons have a new-found hunger, and you don’t want to play them when they’re hungry… My prediction for the Bulls/Pistons games in the regular season? Pistons 3, Chicago 1.