In no particular order...
10. It's hard for any of us as die hard Chicago sports fans to view this series with any bit of objectivity, but let's take a step back for a second and realize that we're watching a historically great NBA playoff series right now. We've all gotten so worked up over timeouts, poor officiating, and missed free throws, but damn has this been one exciting series so far.
Three of the five games have gone to OT, and another ended on a buzzer-beating three in regulation. As a sports fan, you can't ask for much more than that.
9. It's more than just that four of the five games have come down to the wire, too. A basketball game can be close but still kind of boring (see: Spurs, San Antonio). What sets this series apart is how aesthetically pleasing the style of play has been. These teams haven't given us a chance to catch our breath the entire series.
As a Bulls fan, it seems I go from elated to dejected every possession. The way both teams continuously attack the basket and take shots in rhythm has been a real joy to watch.
8. Joakim Noah has had plenty of doubters during his Bulls tenure. Haters, even. But the second year center has taken a huge leap forward in this series. Noah is averaging 11 and 11 so far, but it's more than just the hard statistics. His energy has been contagious, and it appears he's emerged as the true heart and soul of the team emotionally.
7. Rajon Rondo has developed into a very capable point guard for the Celtics over the last two seasons. Some may even consider him one of the best in the conference. But who knew he could play like this? Rondo has been torching the Bulls all series long, providing the perfect foil for Derrick Rose. Like I said before, most people knew that Rondo was pretty good, but looking at his stats this series, you'd think the Bulls were going against LeBron. The numbers speak for themselves: 23-11-10.
6. All of the attention has gone to Celtics' injuries this series, but the Bulls are pretty banged up themselves. Ben Gordon looked clearly hampered by a bum hamstring last night. John Salmons has been playing hurt for a month. And no one even remembers Luol Deng is even on this team anymore.
For all the venom Deng has received for Bulls fans the last two seasons, remember that he's still one of the best players on the team, and the Bulls are certainly not the same without him. Maybe it's not as bad as being without KG (and Leon Powe), but the Bulls can hardly be considered healthy right now, either.
5. When we think of the best pure scorers in the NBA, the first names that come to mind are Kobe, Wade, LeBron, Carmelo, and Amare. But holy hell has Paul Pierce been impressive so far. How many daggers does this dude have in him? I feel like the Bulls - primarily Salmons and Kirk Hinrich - have done a solid job contesting shots all series, but Pierce continues to hit big shot after big shot.
4. Hinrich has reminded everyone this series that he's still a starter-level player in this league. He's become a forgotten man in Chicago this season because of Rose and a few nagging injuries, but this series wouldn't be nearly as competitive without him. Hinrich has been particularly stellar the last three games, hitting eight three-pointers and defending the bigger guards that Gordon can't handle about as well as we can ask.
Either Gordon or Hinrich isn't going to be around next year (even after a series as great as this one, don't think JR will be willing to pay luxury tax in this economy), and if Kirk leaves, whatever team lands him will be getting a hell of a guard.
3. If the officiating in this series was reversed, we'd be reading 5,000 word columns by Bill Simmons every day about anti-Boston conspiracy theories. These refs have been horrible, not just in Game 5, but all series. The Boston bias has been in full swing. At some point, it'd be great if Derrick Rose could get a call going to the hoop. Same goes for Tyrus and Noah down low. The Celtics are getting away with murder.
And how, exactly, is what happened to Brad Miller at the end of Game 5 not a flagrant? Just look at this picture:
At no point was Rondo going for the ball on that play. He was going only for Miller's head. From behind. BS, I tell you.
2. Perhaps it's because of the officiating bias. Or because Boston sports in general have been insufferable since the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. But man, do I hate these Celtics. Baby Baby is a clown, Rondo is a cry baby, and I would like nothing more than for someone to run over to the Boston bench and punch Kevin Garnett in the face. Few teams this side of the Packers and Twins can get my blood boiling like these losers.
1. I've heard some people talk about how this series is over now. 'The Bulls can't win a Game 7 in Boston', they say. Please, someone explain that to me. The Bulls have been right with the Celtics every step of the way this series. Forget the fact that Boston won 21 more regular season games; these two teams are evenly matched. The Bulls are every bit as good as the Celtics right now.
Not only do I expect the Bulls to force Game 7 on Thursday, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if they won it. The Bulls have proven they can compete with the Celtics anywhere. I would like nothing more than to see Tyrus and Noah unleash some primal screams in face of the Celtics after a Game 7 victory. Don't be shocked when it happens.
13 comments:
Ricky,
You seriously can't be complaining about the refs
1. Joakim Noah has been allowed to set moving screens all series long
2. Joakim Noah main rebounding skill is over the back rebounds, which ironically is never called
3. YOUR STAR PLAYER DID NOT FOUL OUT ON A "DOUBLE FOUL" LAST NIGHT AFTER RUNNING INTO ANOTHER F'N MOVING SCREEN
You;re going to complain about Noah's screens??? How about every Boston player has learned from KG taht refs rarely call a foul when they set a screen and their feet are twice the width of their bodies??? Fuck yourself HZMLS
When we think of the best pure scorers in the NBA, the first names that come to mind are Kobe, Wade, LeBron, Carmelo, and Amare. But holy hell has Paul Pierce been impressive so far. How many daggers does this dude have in him?You don't watch many Celtics games, do you?
1. I'm a Bulls fan and I don't think we can complain about the officiating. Any bad calls we have received got vindicated by the last two fouls on Ray Allen. Also, at that stage of the game you can't call that a flagrant.
2. The thing that sucked about Paul Pierce making those shots was that he was so ice cold for the game before that.
3. People love to hate Noah, but man, that dude was a beast on the boards last night. Kids got game.
@Brian
I have to admit, I haven't watched many Bulls games this year. And completely missed the point when Noah turned from "project" to fucking awesome
My humble live-and-in-person review of last night's game on Mass Hysteria:
http://masshysteriasports.blogspot.com/2009/04/celtics-bulls-game-5-best-game-ive-ever.html
And Ricky, you're part of the family, and we still love you. It's been an honor to have such an amazing series against such a passionate fanbase. Kudos and huzzah, and may the best team win.
Wow, complaining about Noah and moving screens when you have that fat ass Big Baby making a LIVING by setting moving screens and flashing for 19 foot jumpers? Noah is a beanpole, if you can't get around him then you are a pathetic excuse for a defender.
Also, it is not over the back when Big Baby wouldn't get off the ground unless the ball was a cheeseburger.
And I don't see how that is NOT a flagrant foul. I'm sorry, Miller got jacked in the head, needed stitches, was bleeding and fell pretty hard. Even with the flagrant he would have had to make the free throws (which he obviously didn't) and then we would have been back to square one with the Bulls having the ball down 2 with the ball on the sidelines. Where is the harm in making the right call, when it still wouldn't directly impact the decision? It is not like two points are automatically awarded as if it were a goaltend or something.
Also, I really don't like BG, but he really played his heart out when we needed him.
What people fail to realize are the implications involved with flagrant fouls besides getting the ball back after the free throws.
According to TrueHoop, "As it was called a regular personal foul, Miller had to shoot the free throws himself, or be replaced by a Bull of Doc Rivers' choosing. "
"If it had been called a flagrant, Vinny Del Negro could have specified the shooter of his choice (in the playoffs, Ben Gordon, John Salmons, Derrick Rose and Tyrus Thomas are all over 80%), and the Bulls would have had the ball after the shots."
So Miller wouldn't have even had to make the flagrant free throws and Vinnie could have put Ben Gordon at the line (where he had already sunk three FTs to tie the game).
It was a bogus move by a team filled with players who lack any understanding of the word class.
It's hard to complain too much about the officiating when Ray Allen was taken out of the game on pretty weak calls. And the Bulls shot more free throws (in a road game).
I'm not complaining about the officiating as a whole.
Just the one no-call.
Great point Matt about the flagrant foul rule where the Bulls would have been able to let Gordon shoot those two free throws. I bet most people didn't know that rule existed. I certainly didn't.
Still though, that play wasn't what decided the game. The Bulls blowing a 10-point lead with 7 minutes left and Paul Pierce going crazy at the end was where the game was lost i think.
!. Paul Pierce Sucks
2. Ray Allen is Old
3. KG is better of the C's on the bench.
4. Rajon Rondo is too skinny
5. Stephon Marbury is a has been
6. Kendrick Perkins should be in the D-League
7. Big Baby is ugly
8. no one else on the team is worth mentioning.
This is a really great top ten list. Anyone can post their own list to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.
wow is this stupid. The Bulls have gotten SO MANY more calls than the celtics in this series it's not even funny. If the officiating was any more biased in favor of the Bulls....well, shoot. it couldn't be any more biased. They've gotten the benefit of the doubt at every turn.
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