Moving On Down?

No, I don't mean the Bulls are heading in the wrong direction (though it may seem like that given the circumstances).  Actually, this is about potentially moving their practice facilities to downtown Chicago, closer to the United Center.  The Bulls have practiced at the Berto Center in north suburban Deerfield for the past 20 years.  Having watched behind-the-scenes tours of the place on TV before, I can say it's as state-of-the-art as an NBA team can ask for.  But this seems to revolve more around eliminating an expense for the team I didn't even know existed until this story broke.  It also answered a question I've had for years.

Deerfield's not exactly what you would call very close to Chicago, so the distance between where the Bulls practice and play their games is ridiculous.  However, there's a way to offset this.  Apparently, the Bulls host their morning shootarounds at the Berto Center on game days and then allow their players to stay at a downtown hotel so they don't have to deal with the evening rush hour.  Having done so for my job over nearly five months now, let me tell you that the experience is not pleasant.  Players arrive at the arena a couple of hours before a game tips off, so assuming most of the players live near the practice facility, there's virtually no way to avoid backups on the expressway.  Kudos to the Bulls for not making the players deal with it.

Of course, somebody's got to fit the bill for over a dozen people at a hotel, so naturally, those expenses fall to the organization.  Move practices downtown and that's one less thing the Bulls have to cover.  It would be better for the players too I think.  The only Bull I know for sure who lives downtown is Derrick Rose, in that Trump building on the land the Sun-Times used to occupy.  I can't speak for the others, but less travel time means less drainage that just getting to their destination causes.  It would take at least a couple years to complete planning and construction, but this is something worth thinking about.  The Berto Center is the only place the players, coaches and medical staff can exclusively call their own, which is why they generally live closer to there as opposed to the United Center.  Don't make everyone commute from one part of the area to another 41 days out of the year, plus any home playoff games.  This would be more efficient.

Don't get me wrong.  The Berto Center is a terrific facility and I'm sure the Bulls could find some use for it were this plan put into action.  Maybe it's just been outgrown sooner than expected, and for different reasons to boot.  We might not hear about this again for awhile, but in any case, let's just think about the best-case scenario for everyone involved.  Folks want to commute less, not more, when they go to work.  I wonder if the players feel the same way.

Deng-erous on Defense

Laugh all you want about Carlos Boozer getting a vote for the NBA All-Defensive Team, but what isn't so funny is Luol Deng earning enough to actually make it on there.  He got Second Team honors, which is a good achivement itself.  Considering he was an All-Star this year, some accolade was bound to come sooner or later.  What about the fact that he did with a bad wrist?  We could debate back and forth about how both he and Derrick Rose battled injuries this year and yes, Rose did have the better year, at least until the ACL tear.  But Deng had the best season of his career, bar none.  His offense was amazing, but as has just been decided, his defense was more than worthy of recognizing.  Tom Thibodeau preaches defense to everybody on his team, but clearly, Deng rose to the occasion more than anybody else.

No one has ever denied his value to the club, which also raises the question of whether he should sit out the London Olympics.  A native of the host city, Deng has made no secret of his desire to represent his country during a once-in-a-lifetime event in Britain's capital.  Still, with wrist surgery on his to-do list, many fans believe he needs to put his team first.  After all, they need him on an annual basis whereas Britain only needs its sons every four years.  Still, I can't argue against sentimental value.  I must admit I have a lot of that as a person.  So if Deng wants to play, then by all means let him.  After all, the Bulls aren't likely to be title contenders next year anyway.  Rose's recovery will ultimately determine the answer to that question.  We as fans need to prepare to sacrifice a championship year so that our two biggest stars can make a fully healthy run.  That said, with nothing to lose, Deng should do his best to represent the Union Jack, get the surgery and then come back as strong as ever.

Congrats on the honor, Luol.  Keep watching your wrist doing regular activities in the meantime.

To Play or Not to Play? That is the Question

It's hard to say for sure how to feel with the news that Derrick Rose's ACL surgery went well.  That for sure is the good news.  More confusing though are the questions surrounding the 8-12 month recovery process he faces.  He could come back in January or miss all of next year.  Nobody knows and nobody will know until the events of the next several months unfold.

Several people pretending to be doctors have already stated even if those with medical degrees are able to clear Rose to play at all next year, they shouldn't say so.  Keeping his future in mind, they want Rose to sit out all of next season so he can fully regain the strength his knee had before he suffered the injury that dealt a fatal blow to the Bulls' championship hopes.  I'm not going to take either side of this debate because each side has a convincing argument.

First, there are those who want Rose to play as soon as he's able.  It's important for Rose to get back into basketball shape as soon as possible.  He'd probably be a bit rusty next year as he tries to recapture his form, but still, he'd be sending a message to the world that's he's back and a devastating knee injury wasn't enough to keep him out for long.  He wants to play.  He wants to win.  Michael Jordan had the same competitive spirit when he played (still does on the golf course in retirement) and he didn't let a broken foot his sophomore year in the league keep him out.  If he did, there'd be no 63-point performance at the Boston Garden to talk about.  It killed Rose to watch his team go down in six and were he healthy, he wouldn't have let Joakim Noah's eventual injury kill their chances.  The Bulls would probably still be playing right now.  As long as he's not risking further damage to his abilities, let the man play.

Then, you have the aforementioned "play-it-safe" folks.  Even if Rose comes back, the Bulls aren't title favorites for next year anyway.  They won't contend for a high seed and would likely have to settle for the challenge of upsetting a higher if they even got there.  Rose is around to win a championship and it would be bad to risk anything further for the sake of a futile playoff run.  It'd be best for everybody if he just took the year off so we can all know for sure he'll at least be near his old self for the 2013-14 season.  The Bulls can sacrifice a year with the length of his contract.  If they miss the postseason, a lottery pick awaits and maybe that would help provide another critical piece to the championship puzzle.  Short-term losses for long-term gains are the way to go.

Regardless of what happens, I have only one condtion.  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE BULLS TANK NEXT SEASON FOR THE SAKE OF A HIGHER DRAFT PICK.  I can't emphasize enough how much I hate this strategy in any professional sport.  You get paid to play the game and give it your all.  If you're effort is only half-hearted, you're cheating yourself and the customers paying a fortune to sit in the seats and watch.  Nobody wants to see a team not play up to their abilities.  Besides, the Bulls are better than this.  At worst, this group is a middle-of-the-pack team without Rose.  That means as currently constructed, they could land a 6 seed or finish a few spots out of the playoffs.  Not a huge difference when it comes to the draft order.  Yes, every team in the draft lottery has a shot at a top-3 pick, but we all know the Bulls got lucky when they landed the first one in '08.  They'd have even less of a chance this time around based on my projections.  Play.  Win.  Most importantly, TRY.

It's really a shame we have to have this discussion.  I'd rather be talking about the next game against the Cetlics, but sports can be cruel like that at times.  We'll continue to pray for our superstar in his recovery so that one day, he's hoisting the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy wearing a Bulls uniform.  I never got to go to any Grant Park rallies in the '90s, so someday, I'd like to remedy that.

Decisions, Decisions

Imagine being responsible for assembling the club that had the top record in its conference two years in a row.  Then, your best player and top-energy guy each go down in the first round of the playoffs.  You lose said round in six games and are faced with that "best player" as well as your other All-Star missing the start of next season.  Welcome to the worlds of Gar Forman and John Paxson. 

This will undoubtedly be the most challenging offseason for the duo since they began to split front-office duties.  While the Bulls' eliminators, the 76ers, look to upset the veteran Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals, Forman and Paxson are faced with some tough calls on what to do with this roster that has been together for the past two years.  They're on the hook for some big salaries for next year, so a big acquistion via free agency is out of the question.  They'll have to settle for mid-level talent in the market, but that means parting ways with some of the supporting cast.  With them unlikely to amnesty Carlos Boozer as they've so frequently been called to do, the Bench Mob will have to change faces instead.

There's no reason for Brian Scalabrine to stay, so let's assume he's gone.  However, the same can't be said for the expiring contracts of Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver and C.J. Watson.  Arguments can be made for both sides of their futures with the team, so let's break them down:

• Brewer - He's the ultimate defensive specialist on the team and he did an admirable job filling in for Rip Hamilton when he was recovering from the various injuries he suffered during the regular season.  I'd say he's the most likely of this trio to return, but the fact that Tom Thibodeau didn't even call for him in Game 3 against Philly makes me wonder where exactly he sits with the coaching staff. 
• Korver - One of the best pure shooters in the league and among the league leaders in three-point shooting this year.  He still doesn't impress me in the postseason though.  He did virtually nothing after Derrick Rose went down in Game 1.  It can be argued that Rose's absence had a detrimental affect on his ability to get open, but even so, he still has to find a way to create his own shot.  Last year, I don't remember anyone talking about the relationship between him and Rose when he disappeared during the Atlanta series and never found his stride again.  Yes, Rose was heavily guarded against Miami, but he was his usual self in the previous round, which I think moots this argument.  Even during the regular season, Korver would disappear at times, making him as effective as LeBron James in the fourth quarter.  All of these are reasons why Brewer has been the backup starting two-guard and not him.  We might see him back next year, but those same reasons are why I wouldn't be too sad if he wasn't.
• Watson - Like alcohol, Watson is good when taken in moderation, but not heavily.  We all learned this when he was unceremoniously cast into the role of starting point guard for a playoff team.  His shots came up short more frequently and all you needed to know about his late-game decisions came at the end of the series-clinching game.  Like Korver, there are reasons he's not thought of as a regular starter.  With Rose not likely to play until after the New Year at the earliest, or maybe at all, the Bulls can't afford to have such ineffectiveness start games for such an extended period of time.  If he hangs around next year, please keep him with the Bench Mob where he belongs.  Otherwise, see ya, C.J.

Rose and Luol Deng will be watching the first part of next season from the bench as they recover from their respective surgeries.  Assuming Brewer returns, he can probably hold down the fort at small forward until Deng returns.  As stated already, point guard is a different story.  Looking at this year's free agents, there's some help available.  The main requirement is that you start to begin the year and accept a reduced role on the bench when Rose returns.  Steve Nash is a good idea, but he might be out of the price range and even at his age, he can still start all year for most other teams in the league.  Andre Miller is more affordable, but will his abilities be wasted on the bench later on?  Also available is Kirk Hinrich, which I find to be the most realistic goal.  He's expressed a desire to return, still owns property in Chicago and remains a fan favorite here.  Given his humbleness, he'd probably accept a reduced rate to return.  For me, it'd be an excuse to fish my Hinirch jersey out of my closet.

Of course, there remains the question of whether the Bulls can pony up the dough or even make a trade for that second primary scorer they so desperately need.  For the second postseason in a row, that glaring hole was exposed.  Everyone who could make the biggest possible difference is too expensive (Garnett, Duncan, Allen, etc.), so however the front office is able to swing a deal for one that could at least approach that need, they'll have to do so carefully.  It'll be tricky, but if they play the right cards, they could strike gold somewhere.

Let this offseason be the ultimate judge of Forman/Paxson's capabilities.  They've built a winner already.  Now how do they improve that to build a champion?  If not a champion, how do they remain competitive with what they'll have next year?  Stay tuned because I'll be covering it every step of the way.

Summer Comes Early

I've composed myself (enough) to begin a post I would have rather done a few weeks from now.  Instead, the Bulls' season has already come to an end thanks to a tight 79-78 Game 6 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Andre Iguodala led all scorers with 20 points, but the last two were for all the marbles.  With the Bulls nursing a one-point lead in the final seven seconds, Omer Asik missed two free throws.  Iguodala ran coast-to-coast uncontested to draw a foul, setting up the two free throws he promptly knocked down to win the game and the series for Philadelphia. 

Luol Deng and Rip Hamilton (who easily had his best game this series) each had 19 points to lead the Bulls while Deng grabbed 17 rebounds for a double-double.  Taj Gibson, still favoring his ankle, did his best once again to make up for Joakim Noah's absence by pouring in 14.  Those three were the most responsible for keeping the Bulls in the game throughout and they came very close to pushing the series back to Chicago for Game 7.

There are many reasons the United Center will be dark on Saturday, but three in particular stand out.  They happened to be in tonight's starting lineup.  First, C.J. Watson shot poorly tonight and played too conservatively up top.  Still, he had 10 assists and appeared to have the biggest one when he passed to Asik for a dunk with less than 30 seconds to play, extending the lead to three.  Ironically, it was that duo responsible for what led to the Bulls' demise.  After Philly cut it to one, Watson brought the ball up the floor and passed it to Asik instead of dribbling it out until he was touched himself.  That leads to reason number two, though not to as big of an extent.  Asik had 10 points and played his heart out to the point of exhaustion.  But no matter what he did in the previous 47:35, you can't excuse not rising to the occasion when he was needed.  Okay, I admit he's not the best free throw shooter around and he probably wasn't on the floor at the right time.  Still, he's not notoriously bad like Shaq and Rodman were.  He even made a pair earlier in the fourth quarter.  You gotta play the cards you're dealt with and unfortunately, Asik went bust.  Third, Carlos Boozer was nowhere close to the player who showed up for Game 5.  He had 13 rebounds, but shot 1-for-11.  It got to the point where Tom Thibodeau sat him in the third quarter and never let him see the floor again.  He didn't earn his giant paycheck tonight.  Otherwise, the season is still alive.

The Sixers got it done tonight because the Bulls didn't take advantage of enough opportunities, particularly at the start of the third quarter.  Philly couldn't buy a bucket, but the Bulls turned it right back over, especially Boozer.  Overall, they shot better, especially beyond the three-point line.  The defense the Bulls are known for playing collapsed at critical times, leaving the Sixers open for opportunities that shouldn't have been there.  That combined with an offense that had questionable shot selection at times added up to the loss ending the Bulls' season after 72 games.

These last two games showed that the Bulls had learned to play without Derrick Rose or Joakim Noah in the playoffs.  It looked very possible that they had found the horses needed to get past Philadelphia and move on to the next round.  Instead, the losses of two of their best players proved too much.  The Bench Mob is best when it's the Bench Mob, not plucked to fill the gaps left by injured starters.  So many factors separate starters from reserves like capabilities, stamina and court awareness among other intangibles.  Even though the Sixers aren't the better team, they were healthier, gelled together better and above all, made the big plays when it counted.  Not having any of those advantages will almost certainly spell doom for a team, whether you're seeded first or eighth.  Even if the Bulls had come all the way back and won Game 7, the personnel needed to win a championship (i.e. Rose) wasn't there.  Still, it doesn't make a first-round exit any easier to take.  It'll be a long summer for the players, coaches, front office and fans.

I'll write a post about the offseason outlook for this team soon.  It won't come tonight because I still need to fully recover from this blow.  On another note, this blog will continue to be updated as team news breaks because that's what I'm dedicated to doing here.  Hope you keep on reading because it gives me a purpose to write.  It'll be a long summer, but I'll do my best to keep you company with everything Bulls basketball.

Not Dead Yet

The Bulls were playing the 76ers well with 2:05 left in the third quarter of Game 5.  Then, Taj Gibson rolled his ankle on Lavoy Allen's foot and Bulls fans thought "Here we go again."  After a brief sabbatical to the locker room, Gibson came back out on the floor to help finish it off.  He had eight points, but his presence showed the ethic of a true professional by playing through obvious pain.  The game itself wasn't pretty (looked like a YMCA contest at times), but the Bulls stayed alive by winning 77-69.

Luol Deng showed he indeed can step up as a leader.  He's shown it before, but it was the first time he did so in this series.  24 points led all scorers and he made four of five three-point attempts.  Three of those came as the shot clock expired, changing the whole complexion of the game and energizing the crowd, which did its job in making the United Center uncomfortable for the Sixers.  Carlos Boozer had an even bigger game than the last, recording a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds.  Six assists were one less than the game-high by C.J. Watson.  Boozer still has control issues with the ball, but the result made it matter little.  With the Bulls going to a one-game-at-a-time mentality, Boozer looked more calm under pressure and did the little things needed to give the Sixers' defense fits.  He and Deng have taken a lot of heat in this series for not filling the leadership gap left by Derrick Rose's absence.  They must have heard enough of it to change because you never would have known they haven't answered that call much yet if this was the first time you've seen these teams play in the past week-and-a-half.

Defense was the biggest factor of all.  Both teams traded stops, often within a few seconds of each other, but the Bulls did it just a little bit more.  That's why they won tonight.  Ronnie Brewer had three steals, Gibson blocked four shots and Omer Asik sent three more back.  It's been there almost all series, but the lack of offense has made it for naught.  Tonight, the Bulls got just enough of that.  Add to that their determination not to end their season so abruptly and there was no stopping them tonight.  Yes, the Sixers battled hard, but when you've got humiliation on the line despite being down your top two players, chances are you've got a monkey on your back you just have to shed.  Thanks to this win, the Bulls avoid becoming the first No. 1 seed to win just one game since the playoffs expanded to 16 teams in 1984.

One more game means one more post coming from me.  It'll come after Game 6 Thursday in Philadelphia.  I was off work tonight and I'll be off that night, so look for it to appear soon after the game ends.  Keep the faith, Bulls fans.  You never know what crazy things the playoffs can entail.

About to Go Out

Every year during the playoffs, I like to bring up from my basement a pair of bull horns my family got during the Bulls' last championship run.  I even wore them when I went to Game 2 against Indiana last year.  When the Bulls get knocked out, they go back to the underground area of my house until the postseason rolls around again.  This year, those horns look primed for an early hibernation.  Thanks to today's 89-82 Game 4 loss sans Joakim Noah, the previously powerful Bulls are one defeat away from elimination.

Carlos Boozer led all scorers with 23 points and hauled down 11 rebounds, a vast improvement from the last game.  Ditto for C.J. Watson, who collected all 17 of his points in the second half.  Taj Gibson came alive with 14 points and 12 boards while Luol Deng squeaked out 11.  For the 76ers, Spencer Hawes and Jrue Holiday continued to show everyone that yes, they do exist.  Respective scoring outputs of 22 and 20 in addition to Andre Iguodala's double-double of 14 ponts and 12 rebounds made them the leaders in giving a 3-1 series edge to Philadelphia.  Surprisingly, the Bulls both outshot and outrebounded Philly today.  Not by much, but accomplished those tasks nonetheless.  However, they had six more turnovers, which undoubtedly contributed to today's loss.

It wasn't far-fetched after Derrick Rose's injury to say the Bulls could still beat the Sixers.  To blow the series, other injuries would have had to occur.  Then, Noah rolled his ankle and everything changed.  The team looked vulnerable and their opponents took care of business on their home floor.  I have never seen a team take a 180 in the wrong direction as quickly as this group has.  I mean never.  The injuries to Rose and Noah came at the worst possible times and we're getting a quick lesson as to what happens when arguably your two best players get taken out of the equation.  There's not enough manpower left on this roster to carry this team.  Watson is nowhere near the player Rose is and while Omer Asik is good for a quarter-and-a-half at most, he's no Noah, who makes a world of difference in the previous two games if he can go.  With little room for error in a best-of-seven and being down two key guys, the Bulls haven't matched the Sixers or anything they've brought to the table.  Whatever the full reasons for it, watching this disaster unfold hasn't been easy.

If the Bulls can't win this series, at the very least win Game 5 on Tuesday.  Lose and they'll have the worst record for a top seed in NBA playoff history.  Every other No. 1 who has bowed out in the first round has always lost by one or two games.  Let's hope they have enough pride to not make that kind of history.

We In a Heap of Trouble, Son

Is it fair to say the Bulls are in trouble?  I mean really, is it?  I mean, they're only down 2-1 to the 76ers after collapsing in the fourth quarter of last night's 79-74 loss.  Not to mention Joakim Noah rolled his ankle during the game and could barely move to the point where he had to leave the game when he was needed the most.  Okay, I guess you can call it trouble or I wouldn't have given this post the title it has.

Many factors went into blowing a seemingly comfortable lead in the final frame, but I'll spare you the gory details.  Instead, let's look at some of the key players.  Overall, Carlos Boozer was the Bulls' top performer with 18 points and 10 rebounds.  Rip Hamilton had 17 points and dished out seven assists.  Joakim Noah scored 12 before departing, as did John Lucas III.  Without Derrick Rose however, those were all supporting stats that didn't have the proper direction.  Rose's presence probably means a victory.  For Philadelphia, Spencer Hawes led the way with 21 points, 10 of which came in the fourth quarter when Noah was nursing his injury.  Starting backcourt Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner combined for 33 points and Louis Williams came off the bench with 14.

The Bulls look completely lost without a proven leader.  Nobody ever called Luol Deng one except for maybe a few instances this year.  His wrist is bad, but that doesn't excuse the pitiful five points he put in last night.  Nothing immunes C.J. Watson, so far getting a big fat F in the role of starting point guard this series, from not finding the bottom of the hoop.  Nor Kyle Korver, who did the same.  I said after Game 1 that he'd be key if the Bulls are to do well in the playoffs and he couldn't deliver when his team needed him.  Again.  I want the 2011 postseason Korver gone forever, but he made an appearance at the least convenient time.

Noah's status for Game 4 is uncertain, but with the leader already gone and now the heart and soul hurting, confidence in the 2011-2012 Bulls couldn't possibly be lower right now.  The media knows it, the fans know it, and perhaps worst of all, the players themselves know it.  Rose and Noah epitomize everything that is this team.  Take them out of the picture and you get what you just saw:  a group of role players who can't find another leader amongst themselves to get out of jams.  The "sheep without a shepherd" analogy from the Gospel of Matthew fits perfectly here.  Deng should know this.  The teams early in his Bulls career consisted of just that.  He was one of those himself, yet he survived all the way here because he was the best of the bunch.  He might be an All-Star this year, but this roster is not built around him.  With his captain at the dock, this first mate isn't strong enough to lead the crew.  Neither is anyone else, which is why the Bulls are now in danger of letting their postseason end far more prematurely than previously anticipated.  History isn't kind to those teams who fall behind 2-1, so we now have to see how well this current group can handle that pressure.

No second primary scorer falls on the front office, but I'll save that for another post.  Game 4 is at noon tomorrow and a nervous Chicago will be watching.  Win and it's a whole new series with home-court advantage once more.  Lose and you can start writing your eulogies.  In either case, try and keep the faith.  You never know what the NBA Playoffs might bring.

Gotta Recover Somehow

Naturally, Bulls fans would rather see Derrick Rose out on the court completely healthy instead of presenting the game ball with his leg in a brace.  However, that's what they were resigned to before Game 2 last night.  Still, after a half of basketball, there was reason to be optimistic that the Bulls would able to handle the 76ers.  Then, the opposite happened as the Sixers outscored their hosts 36-14 in the third quarter en route to a 109-92 victory and swiping home-court advantage.  A No. 8 seed hadn't beaten a top seed that badly in over a decade.  Whatever the reasons for it, the second half was not pretty.

I'll spare the gory details of said half, but six 76ers scored in double-figures, four of them starters.  Jrue Holiday must have felt with Rose's absence, the point guard position needed some offense in the game.  He provided just that, scoring 26 points.  Louis Williams wasn't far off the bench with 20.  A lot of points came in transition, tiring the Bulls out to the point where the game became out of reach.

Joakim Noah shot an astonishing 10-for-11 from the field, leading the Bulls with 21 points.  John Lucas III made up for sitting out the last game by pouring in 15.  C.J. Watson made his playoff starting debut and scored 12.  Rip Hamilton had 10.  The starting backcourt however shot a collective 8-for-21, which is pretty bad.  None moreso though than the two starting forwards, who are supposed to be carrying the load with Rose gone for the playoffs.  Neither Luol Deng nor Carlos Boozer reached double-figures and combined to shoot 7-for-22.  If those two continue to turn in those kinds of performances, the Bulls are in trouble.  Deng can be cut some slack because of his wrist, but Boozer is the only Bull to appear in every game this year.  There's no excuse for him not to assume a leadership role.  His regular season may have been decent, but everything is magnified when fewer games are played in the postseason and so closely together.

It's not just those two we have to be concerned about.  The whole team minus Derrick Rose doesn't look good in its early stages.  I hope the loss of the reigning MVP hasn't had such a mental/psychological/whatever effect on the team that it's impossible for them to stay competitive anymore.  Heck of a time for that to be happening, just like the Rose injury.  Practically everyone still believes the Bulls will get out of this round and they probably will.  Games like last night however won't bode well when Boston awaits in the next round.  Like the Spurs in the West, the Celtics are looking to make a final run with their current crop and are very seasoned.  This is only the second year this Bulls team has been together, but that's beside the point.  What isn't is if the team doesn't wake up quickly and play like they can with no Rose out there, Miami won't get a chance to bounce them because Boston will do it first.  Tom Thibodeau has probably already sent some sort of message to his guys.

Focus on getting that home court back by winning Game 3 Friday in Philadelphia.  The last thing you want is the media labeling you a fragile bunch that can't survive even one round in the playoffs without its superstar.  In short, get back on track and retake the series lead.