Just to make things easier on themselves, newspaper columnists should probably prepare their postgame comments before games in which a team entering the United Center with a long winning streak. Considering a recent trend, it might save them the usual deadline pressure. That trend continued Thursday as the Bulls beat the New York Knicks 118-111 in overtime to snap their guests' 13-game winning streak.
Someone apparently forgot to tell the Knicks what happened to Miami when they made the trip here recently. Otherwise, they wouldn't have surrendered the lead they kept for most of the game. Then again, maybe they peaked too early when they got off to a hot start of 23-6 midway through the first quarter. The Bulls got back in it and match every Knicks run after with one of their own. They trailed by five at halftime before finding themselves down 15 five minutes late in the third quarter. That's when the streakbusters finally emerged. They took the lead early in the fourth, but New York refused to concede easily. Carmelo Anthony, who had a game-high 36 points, sank two late free throws to tie the game. After Luol Deng missed a game-winner, Anthony did the same on the other end, make free basketball possible. The Bulls outscored the Knicks 13-6 in the extra frame to send the home crowd home happy.
Everyone's favorite heart-attack causer, Nate Robinson, reared both sides of his game once again. We'd like to eliminate the risky one, but when we see the good one, it's quite a thrill. He came off the bench to score 35 points and provide his usual energy. I wonder if he's just doing his own celebratory stuff or Joakim Noah taught him more than what he previously had. Either way, you can't help but notice the way he recognizes when he's in a zone. Jimmy Butler didn't quite play every single minute like the other night, but proved his worth in big games once again, scoring 22, grabbing 14 rebounds, having three steals, three blocks and making a case to be a starter next season. Luol Deng came back from injury with 16 and Carlos Boozer, starting at center, achieved a double-double of 13 and 15. Most encouraging, Rip Hamilton had his first notable game in some time with 14 points and a game-high eight assists. Although I don't know if he'll start again this year, you have to like what he's contributed, at least for one game.
As the regular season winds down, games like this can have twofold definitions. You're impressed that the Bulls are often in these games against the top teams in the league with many resulting in wins. Then, you're just frustrated on what could be right now if they could take care of business against lesser teams. There wouldn't be a dogfight for the fourth seed in the East right now because the Bulls would have wrapped it up by now. Alas, it just isn't to be. For now, it's nice to end another long winning streak and sweep the four games this season with the Knicks. Regardless of where they end up, they won't be an easy out in the playoffs. They're an easy candidate to be an upset team in the first round should they fail to secure home-court. Sure, everyone will be giving 110 percent, but given the Thibodeau mantra that has taken a stranglehold on this team, they could be grinding harder than they've been in any of the first 82 games except perhaps the last Miami game. Scary to think about.
With no time to enjoy the victory, the Bulls are on their way to Canada to face the Toronto Raptors Friday. Time to lay down the beating they should have on Monday. We want to see Dr. Jekyll, not Mr. Hyde.
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