At the start, the Bulls didn't really deserve this one as they were getting blown out. They brought it to within eight at the half and took a lead late in the third quarter. With a close contest winding down, all they had to do was protect the lead. But Rose and Luol Deng showed shades of the 2008 Memphis Tigers, a team Rose knows all too well, by missing four straight free throws at the end of regulation. That prompted Carmelo Anthony to hit a three that sent it to overtime. During the extra session, the Bulls found another lead, but the defense failed on the Knicks' final possession, getting outrebounded and outhustled. Several times, they had a chance to take the ball back and didn't. Again, Anthony made them pay by knocking down a three, which proved to be the game-winner after Rose missed the final shot. It sent the Garden patrons, Ben and Jerry Stiller among them, into a frenzy.
All this loss does is magnify a problem the Bulls have had going back to last season. Not so much against lesser opponents, but more so in marquee match-ups such as this. Being unable to put away Miami in Games 4 and 5 of last year's conference finals when they had a chance sent them home. Just this year, Rose missed a couple of chances to send Miami to a loss on its home floor. On the flip side, this was Rose's first game in weeks, so a little bit of slack has to be cut here. What about Deng though? He's supposed to be No. 2 on a team that doesn't really have a second-tier scorer. Yes, his wrist is not completely healthy right now, but at least he's been playing. They had a chance to steal a game they shouldn't have come back in and gave it right back. Now, Anthony's clutch play will be the top story on SportsCenter tonight after the Masters recap. The ability to close has to improve against teams superior to the Bucks and Raptors of the world or the Bulls will be watching the Finals on ABC again this year.
Were it not for Rose however, they might not have had a chance. He scored 29 points, far from the 13 Deng and Carlos Boozer each had. More proof of his value to the team, even if it has the best record in the NBA. On the other hand, his eight turnovers led everybody and that didn't do his team any favors in regard to the final score. Taj Gibson poured in 11 points and Joakim Noah reached 10.
I'll try not to let this dampen my Easter spirit when I visit my relatives later. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Bulls will play these very same New York Knicks. It'll be in Chicago this time. When the Pacers won there earlier in the year, Rose stated he wasn't happy with the celebration they had. Next time around, the Bulls creamed them. If today's postgame festivities were no different, he'll have a similar plan in 48 hours. No matter that the Knicks celebrated with their own fans. It felt like they just won Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Rose and the rest of the team will try not to let it happen again. They've lost three of four now, so they need to get it back together at some point.
I'll close by announcing I'll be making the journey to the United Center next Monday when the Bulls take on the Washington Wizards. No idea what I'll be doing for that post, but since it's the only game I'm likely to get to this year, I'll try and make it a special one. Happy Easter to you and yours.
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