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.
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