For the most part, this was one of the most frustrating games to watch all season.
Coming in as favorites to win the East, we all, including the players themselves, likely overlooked the Pacers. But Indiana gave the Bulls their best, making big basket after big basket. All game long we waited for the big run that would close the gap and eventually put the game away, but it never happened. At least not until the game was at it's most crucial moment. With about three and a half minutes left, Boozer fouled Hansbrough on his fast break dunk to put the Bulls in a 10 point hole. It was at that moment I almost turned off the game.
But boy, I'm sure glad I didn't. The final few minutes of today's game turned one of the season's more frustrating games into a great reminder. The playoffs are thrilling. These games are no longer just about records, they are about surviving. We scream and we cheer not because we don't want to lose, but because we can't lose. Not in the playoffs, not when your season might be over if you do.
Nobody knew this fact better than the Bulls star players. Derrick Rose took over in his typical MVP fashion, exciting the (league's best) home crowd that was so loud it made us watching at home feel like we were there. Noah's defense in the final three minutes was furious, defending the pick and roll that had killed us all game long brilliantly, and closing out the game stuffing Josh McRoberts like he was Charles Smith in 1993. And Deng, yes Luol Deng, showed rare emotion picking up a technical foul and motioning for the Madhouse on Madison to get loud and carry them to victory.
This game was fun. We didn't play well, we made a lot of mistakes, and there are some things to be concerned about. But in the end what I'll take out of this game is that the 2011 NBA Playoffs is going to be a damn good time. Let's enjoy.
A couple game notes:
- Carlos Boozer was awful today. His offense was decent in the first half when he wasn't in foul trouble, but overall his defense and bad decision making killed us. This is my biggest long term concern for this team in the playoffs.
- The Pacers actually played really well. They aren't going to be the easy out we (or I) thought they'd be. I like their coach, they come to play, and they can really make shots. Don't be surprised if this series goes six games, but don't be discouraged by that either.
- People are going to harp on Rose being 0 for 9 from three. Although true that he didn't have it going from behind the arc, he did throw up a heave to end each of the first three quarters, so he's really only 0 for 6.
- More on the last note: One thing that statheads don't factor in when knocking Rose's efficiency is that he's such a big part of this offense that he ALWAYS takes those end of quarter and end of shot clock heaves, which knock down his overall shooting percentages. I don't have the numbers in front of me, but here's a good estimate.
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