It is no secret that Jay Williams and Jamal Crawford have been involved in an intense battle for the point guard position this season, but with Jay Williams currently on the injured list new factors have arisen making some decisions even harder.

Rick Brunson has been terrific for the Bulls in his three games since coming off the injured list, shooting 69.6 percent while doubling his career points average.  But the most impressive stat of Brunson's game has been his assist-to-turnover ratio, an unheard of 10-1, and according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune he has been exactly the type of player that coach Bill Cartwright has looked for to run the team.

Jamal Crawford, who outplayed Jay Williams before Williams went to the injured list, has been starting for the Bulls but Brunson has been playing just as many and in most cases more minutes than the ex-Michigan guard.  Williams practiced for the first time in a week on Saturday and is eligable to come off the injured reserve on Friday, leaving a huge question as to who will replace Williams on the sidelines.  Brunson was the obvious choice before his stellar play propelled the Bulls, but Johnson writes that the decision might not purely be of the on-the-court variety.

'From management's perspective, Williams has to be activated even though his rookie season has been inconsistent. He was the No. 2 pick in the draft, part of the core the franchise is counting on for the future and a player heavily tied into the team's marketing campaign.

Crawford outplayed Williams before the latter went on the injured list but has watched his playing time dwindle as Brunson has glittered. Still, the Bulls can't afford to put Crawford on the injured list because that would harm whatever trade value the former first-round pick has,' writes Johnson.

"I don't know," Cartwright said. "It's quite the predicament. Somebody's not going to be happy. But that's not my problem."

One solution would be to let Jamal Crawford play some time at the two guard position, but Cartwright has made it clear recently that this is not something that he will be doing any time soon.  But something has to give.

"I couldn't imagine Rick going back on injured reserve," Crawford said. "Jay will be healthy. And I couldn't imagine myself on injured reserve. It'll be interesting."

Williams countered: "I'm going to try to get my spot back."

"I feel I can help this team win," Brunson said. "I think I bring a different type of energy and aggressiveness."