Brooklyn had the lead just once early on, but it was almost all Bulls otherwise. They did their best to mount a late rally and take a 2-0 series lead. However, the Bulls were better at not letting themselves fall into a hole and they did it in ways not unfamiliar to their fans. There was good hustle, successful driving, great rebounding and enough passing to find open looks. These Bulls came ready to play, unlike whoever showed up Saturday. By the time it was over, much of the Barclays Center crowd had decided it didn't want to stick around for the very end because they knew it wasn't going to end in their team's favor. The Bulls just convinced them of the outcome that well.
I said the Bulls needed to reestablish Luol Deng as a primary scoring option in this game and they did just that. Deng led the team with 15 points and 10 rebounds. If he continues to play like that in this series, it will be key in advancing to the next round. Carlos Boozer had his patented double-double with a 13-12 line. Not wanting to be left out, Joakim Noah looked nothing like a player with an injured foot, joining the double-double club at 11-10. His play was a huge mental lift for his teammates, which showed almost anything is possible when you play through a problem that should limit your production, but suddenly appears to be just a footnote.
Kirk Hinrich proved to everyone he's still a worthy player on a playoff team, so his 13 points and five assists were for those who may not have seen the Bulls as much this year. Yes, he's older. Yes, he would be a bench player if Derrick Rose had been healthy this year, but he's the best the Bulls could have hoped for at the position. Nate Robinson has done well at the point too and his 11 points tonight showed it. Whether you love or hate him, he has a flair for the dramatic. If he's celebrating, you know things going well for the Bulls. Nazr Mohammed was 4-of-5 from the field and his eight points matched Marco Belinelli's total. This was as even a team effort as could be for a club looking to get back in a playoff series.
As the Bulls have proved many times this year, when all the machine parts come together, anything is possible. Look no further than the recent wins against Miami and New York. Whether they're healthy as can be or missing several key components, you can never count them out when it appears they're down. They refused to let a horrible Game 1 dictate the direction of the series. Lesser teams would have folded right away. Not Tom Thibodeau's team. They have too much self-respect and work way too hard to just quit. They wanted to a play at least one game on their terms and they now have that chance.
Game 3 of this 1-1 series takes place Thursday at the United Center. If you're lucky enough to be there, make sure you wear red. The momentum is on the right side and should the next game be a win, the Bulls will be in complete control. It sure feels good to feel like you're ahead even though you're not quite there, doesn't it?
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