So, the Bulls are playing the first game of their dreaded circus trip this evening against the Kings. The Kings are a surprising 5-4. Look out for Andres Nocioni’s hustle!

And according to this morning’s Tribune, the Bulls are above .500 (5-4) for only the second time heading into this thing since their title run ended in 1998, which is kind of pathetic. But I guess that means they’re improving! Once they come out the other side of these six games, though?  They’re likely not going to remain above .500. After the Kings, they have the Lakers (Pau Gasol is expected to be back, gulp), Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Jazz and Bucks. Outside of the Jazz, all these teams are off to great starts. Prove me wrong, Bulls. Prove me wrong.

If nothing else, this should be a good barometer to see where the Bulls are at this juncture in the season.

Anyway, we all know they call it the circus trip because Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to the United Center for like two weeks, and it’s sort of hard to run a circus and basketball and hockey games there at the same time. But Joakim Noah, who’s been through this twice already in his career with the Bulls? He knows nothing of this.

From the Daily Herald (via BAB):

The Bulls haven’t done a very good job of explaining some of the lingo to players. Joakim Noah had no idea why the Bulls’ annual November road swing is called the circus trip.

Answer: Because the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus moves into the United Center for about two weeks, forcing the Bulls and Blackhawks to hit the road.

“That’s why they call it the circus trip?” Noah said. “I was like, ‘Why do they always call it the circus trip? What’s so circus about it?’ I didn’t even know that.”

And my love for Joakim Noah grows.