Day 11: Bulls-Pacers (Game 5)

Basketball fans are forever trying to be more than spectators. It's why you won't hear from a fan, "The Chicago Bulls needed to rebound better," but "We needed to rebound better." It's why authentic jerseys, even amongst middle age men, are so popular. It's why the Internet, and Twitter more specifically, are being used to try and get inside the mind's of athletes.

But fans are spectators. That's what they pay for -- to sit in their seats and watch their team play. Little is owed to them except for a team putting forth maximum effort. Now and then, they receive a little more. A home crowd loves to be acknowledged. Not just as thousands of color-coordinated people, but as an integral part of the basketball experience.

Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah played the Bulls' version of the Bash Brothers in Game 5. They protected the rim, more than matched the physicality of Indiana's frontcourt, and played to the crowd the way only the greatest ego-bruising duo could.

The final six minutes of the third quarter were a microcosm of the Bulls' season. With Rose sitting on the bench with four fouls, the offense struggled, surrendering most of an 11-point lead. Rose didn't sit out for more than three minutes before he reentered the game. He proceeded to score or assist on 15 of the Bulls' final 23 points to end the quarter. Included in that barrage were three Rose three-pointers, an aspect of his game he struggled with all series. The Bulls led 82-65 at that point, but as the quarter closed, Josh McRoberts was ejected for retaliating after what he called "an elbow to the throat" from Noah. Noah and Gibson buddied up like Franklin and Bash to gloat and urge the 20 thousand in attendance to do the same. They also accounted for five of the Bulls' nine blocks on the evening. It was a pretty fun night for them.

When players encourage a crowd reaction they're really saying, "You're part of this too." They want you to share, alter, or revel in the moment the same way they are. The normally mild-mannered Luol Deng did the same thing in Game 1, urging the crowd to get loud after Hansbrough put a hard foul on Rose. The Bulls rarely played to the crowd in the regular season. Maybe it's the bigger stage and the realization that home court could be a determining factor on the road to the Finals, but the Bulls have made the Playoffs more of a collective experience. It's more fun (and intense) that way.

Carlos Boozer scored two points in Game 5. If he's not scoring there's no reason for him to play, and he didn't play much. Gibson took most of Boozer's minutes, anchoring the defense along with Noah. Whether it's his toe injury or something going on mentally, Boozer needs to get it together. He had an overall excellent Game 2 and followed with three straight poor performances. Gibson will continue to get more minutes for defensive purposes anyway, but Boozer is Chicago's only legitimate low-post scoring threat. Playing on the perimeter is too risky for an entire game, especially as defensive pressure and intensity heighten deeper into the Playoffs.

I've always been a fan of Keith Bogans. I'll admit, part of the reason why I like Bogans so much is because of all the stupid ways Bulls fans have tried to downgrade, or failed to realize what he brings to the table. Bogans isn't on the floor for his offense and, as I explained in the post linked above, there are not enough shots to go around for Bogans to be a scorer anyway. Bogans is a lock down defender at the shooting guard position. He's a guy that his teammates like and respect, and a player that can get under the opposition's skin. Bogans only attempted 11 shots heading into Game 5, and he converted on four three-pointers. He made five of his seven attempts in Game 5.

Bogans' job is to keep defenses honest. The Bulls can and will win if he contributes next to nothing on the offensive end (Games 1 and 2) and they will also lose when he contributes next to nothing (Game 4). The point being that Keith Bogans doesn't win or lose the Bulls games. When Bogans can, by his standards, explode like he did in Games 3 and 5, he gives the defense something extra to think about. I would expect Bogans to have 2 or 3 games every series where he's unconscious. It's not out of the question considering he hasn't attempted a bad shot all year and 90 percent of his looks are wide-open threes. Keep thinking of replacement shooting guards. Meanwhile, Keith Bogans is quietly helping the Bulls win games.  

Day 10: Spurs-Grizzlies (Game 4)

I skipped Days 7-9 of the Daily NBA Blog because I visited my brother at college this weekend and didn't have time to write as a result. Who knew that simply stepping foot back on a college campus unleashed in me the three habits I'd since kicked so well: too much pizza, beer, and irregular sleep patterns. I still managed to catch large chunks, if not every game in its entirety and came away with a few thoughts that I forgot to write down. So much for that.

Maybe it was the Guinness, but Zach Randolph dancing to DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win," after Memphis notched a 91-88 win to take a 2-1 series lead over San Antonio, was the weekend's most memorable NBA moment. Why? Because of the improbability of the scene. If you would have told me before the playoffs that Chris Paul would hop in his time machine, single-handedly will his team to two victories over the best team in the NBA, and, in a matter of days, convince NBA observers that he was still the best point guard in the NBA, I would have believed you. If you would have told me that Brandon Roy would make four clutch shots IN A ROW, with the game on the line, to even up the series in Portland, I would have believed you. If you would have told me the Knicks would struggle, LeBron would miss a game winner, and Dwight Howard would put up 30 and 15 despite showing very little interest in the games, I would have believed all that too. But Randolph, dancing at midcourt, soaking in an adoring crowd's attention? Not for a second.

Zach Randolph is the type of athlete who hometown fans are skeptical of embracing (see: Portland, New York, LA). The fact of the matter is that Randolph as been a remarkably consistent model of productivity in his ten years in the league. He's long figured out the on court stuff (to an extent, but let's not get into that). His off-the-court behavior is what garners him the most attention and why, even after putting together his fourth 20-10 season in the last five years, he is not mentioned with the game's elite players. Why would Memphis fans, knowing Randolph is due for a screw-up, let their guard down and become emotionally invested in him? Here's one big reason:



After the game, the Spurs exited the floor, and Memphis fans stood and applauded Randolph as he danced, seemingly in slow motion, as he always does, to the beat of his own drum. He had signed a 4-year 71 million extension with the Grizzlies just days prior. Since coming to Memphis, Randolph has stayed out of trouble and played well. He deserved this moment, and I was happy for him and the Grizzlies franchise on their first home playoff win.

The Grizzlies and Pacers agreed upon a trade the day of the February 24th trade deadline that reportedly was going to send OJ Mayo to Indiana in exchange for Josh McRoberts and a 1st round pick. The trade was voided because it didn't meet the 3 PM deadline. Both sides tried to blame the other for the mix-up, but this fact remains: both teams, at least for their first round series', are better without the trade.

Mayo has been the most valuable player off a Memphis bench that has outplayed San Antonio's bench this series. Not only can he come off the bench and provide an offensive spark for the second unit like he did in Games 3 and 4, but can play major minutes if Memphis needs his three-point shooting, like they did in Game 1. McRoberts has been one of the centerpieces of Indiana's physical play. Along with Foster, he has come off the bench and not only offered hard fouls, but been aggressive on the boards. Both of these areas have given the Bulls trouble. If the Mayo-McRoberts trade goes through, I don't think either Indiana or Memphis is as successful in their respective series' as they have been up to this point.

Much of the talk after Game 4 centered around the end of the Spurs dynasty. First of all, the series isn't over. I don't think anyone would be surprised if San Antonio could mount a comeback. But even if they can pull off a miracle and advance, they're not beating Oklahoma City. All dynasties must crumble, but the Spurs have done so in such surprising fashion. They've compromised some of the defensive end and have preferred to rest Duncan more and try and outscore teams. Their biggest advantage during the regular season was their superior three-pointing shooting; tops in the league. Through the first two games in which they went 1-1, they shot 40.6 percent from behind the arc. Since then, 0-2 and 21.2 percent in Games 3 and 4.

Tim Duncan was routinely stripped when the Grizzlies doubled him. He also had a difficult time trying to pass out of the double team. Tony Parker played well, but his counterpart Mike Conley, as he has all series, kept up with him. Conley mid-range game was surprisingly effective and he only turned the ball over once. Spurs fans had been begging for Tiago Splitter to make an appearance and he finally did. Splitter provided a spark, hitting 5 of his 9 shots, but his production was negated by the collective effort of the Grizzlies' bench. Every player but one on Memphis' roster scored in Game 4. That stat says it all.

If this is in fact the end of the Spurs, then perhaps we should reflect on their remarkable regular season. Most teams gradually fade into obscurity, slowing dipping in the Playoff standings before missing the Playoffs all together and dismantling the roster. The Spurs finished one game off the NBA's best record and were 46-10 at the All-Star break. They weren't always the most entertaining team, but they always managed to surprise us in one way or another. 

Day 6: Bulls-Pacers (Game 3)

The Pacers played Game 3 like a team who knew they were overmatched. They tried every trick in the book. Flopping, hard fouls and screens, and sticking their legs out on contested threes and passes, among other things. I'm not about to criticize Indiana for anything they did. In a Playoff series, adjustments are the key. The Pacers outplayed the Bulls in different facets of Game One and Two (some may say the entire games themselves) and still came up empty. They had to do something. Sure, flopping and cheap shots are dirty and dishonest, but what were they supposed to do? Roll over? If anything, the Pacers' style of play in Game 3 was a testament to how good the Bulls are at pulling out victories, even when they don't play well.

Indiana's physical play was the story of this game. Stacey King and Scottie Pippen were ready to suit up and give a hard foul to who ever was closest. Jeff Foster and Josh McRoberts came off the bench took turns clobbering the Bulls, trying to outdo the other each time. Foster in particular drew the ire of Chicago fans when he deliberately came down on Rose's face, prompting a reaction from Rose. Not much later, he swung a blatant elbow to Deng's head, which put him to floor. That's what Foster does. He's in the league for two reasons: to get rebounds and try to get under his opponent's skin.

Some people, King and Pippen included, were quick to criticize the Bulls for failing to retaliate. I think the opposite. Let Indiana try to play their bully brand of basketball. The second Chicago tries to make this in to a shoving match is the second Indiana can take advantage of them. The Bulls are a more talented BASKETBALL team. Playing basketball is what they do best. If Indiana can get Chicago thinking about fouls and how to retaliate, they've got them off their game plan, which is exactly what they want.

I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but the bench was awful for a third straight game. The Pacers' bench has outscored the Bulls' bench 27-25 in Game One, 43-22 in Game Two (that number is a bit inflated because of Collison's injury), and 32-20 in Game Three. I maintain that the bench goes as Brewer goes, and Thibs has been weary of playing Brewer. Although he did come up with two clutch free throws and a couple big rebounds to end the game as something positive to build on.

Kyle Korver has really saved the Bulls. 13 points, 4-4 threes in Game One, 5 points and one huge three in Game Two, and 12 points and three threes in Game Three. The Pacers have been trapping Rose as he crosses half court, usually forcing him to give the ball up to Noah at the top of the key. Indiana's defense was really active today and deflected a bunch of interior passes that the Bulls normally execute. Anyway, with the trap on late in the 4th quarter, Korver will get some open looks. As strange as it is to say, he's been just as valuable as Rose in closing games this series.

The Pacers have given it a valiant effort but are probably going to be swept. Things have looked picture perfect for them at times, but ultimately they're going to fall well short. Kind of like this Jeff Foster jumper.