Since my last post, the Bulls wrapped up the top seed in the East thanks to Miami's recent loss to Boston. So these last two games are more about getting people in sync than fighting for playoff positioning. The Indiana Pacers have been a worthy opponent this year, but despite the game never being blown open to epic proportions, I felt confident about things from the opening tip. The Bulls controlled the tempo early and never looked back, winning 92-87 in their final road contest of the regular season.
Derrick Rose played only 26 1/2 minutes tonight and didn't fare too well from the field, shooting 3-of-11, but made all four free-throw attempts to finish with 10 points. He also led everyone with seven assists, showing he's at least finding opportunities for others again. Tonight was a good night for the often streaky Kyle Korver, who led the Bulls with 20 points and going 4-for-6 from downtown. Carlos Boozer had a good shooting performance of 8-for-10, scoring 16. Sticking with a theme of nice performances from the big guys, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson respectively had 14 and 10.
This is what the Bulls are going to have to do all playoffs long: get out to a controlling rhythm early so that the hill for their opponents to climb will be a steep one. I'd like to see a lot of what I saw tonight in the team sense. Yes, there'll be times when it appears the other team is launching some sort of comeback, but don't make it easy. Any team can get out to a nine-point lead at any given time, but the dynamics of such a thing can be different. If you have that lead and look vulnerable, the momentum can shift to the other side, which is all that would be needed to complete a comeback. If you play strongly under those circumstances however, you'll keep the momentum for yourself and that mean the difference between winning and going home as the league likes to declare come the postseason. Nobody is going to roll over for the Bulls, especially away from the United Center. They'll be foes, not foils. Everyone wants an upset and everyone wants to be the team to pull it off. Therefore, control is everything in the playoffs and if the Bulls don't possess it, they'll be going home without a ring.
The regular season wraps up tomorrow at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers, whom I hope continue to make leaps and bounds with Kyrie Irving in the future. Even so, let's send them into the offseason with one more bad taste in their mouths. Hey, a division rival has to do that, right?
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