Back by very little demand, it's time to blog the playoffs. After a several month layoff, I will cater to my original fans that were psyched about my classic posts ripping Asik to shreds (who has turned into a very very decent role player).
The Good:
Well, Derrick Rose. Yes, that's pretty much it. The rest of the team played like complete shit, but Derrick proved, once again, he is the MVP, and currently, the best player on the planet.
39 points, 6 boards, 6 dimes, 3 blocks, and a steal? Pure fire. He reminds me of MJ. I briefly thought the Bulls would lose, but then looked at D.Rose (I swear he looked back) and he said "nah all I wanna do is wiiiin." Watch for those 3's to start falling...
And he was correct. That's about all the positive color I can give to the Bulls. Well, Luol showed up in the 4th quarter.
The Bad:
Where do we start with this? How about Kyle Korver? Great shooter, but perhaps the most un-clutch player in the league. I'm still stunned he even took the wide open three Derrick gave him. I counted 3 passes he made to defer the pressure to others. Not exactly a vote of confidence...
The defense sucked. Terribly. The Bulls strengths tend to be switching and closing out better than anyone this side of Pat Ambrose. I didn't see the energy I expect in the playoffs. I saw lazy, half assed, kind of run at the shooter, but not really defense.
Joakim also didn't provide the stable middle presence I like to see. He didn't roam, nor did he play Roy Hibbert all that tough.
The Ugly:
This goes out to Carlos Boozer. WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING?
The laziest, most pathetic display of defense I've ever seen. He took some awful shots and looked half-disabled on the offensive end. He looked like he might enjoy Tyler Hansborough dropping 40 points on him. The energy and lack of enthusiasm Boozer played with does not belong in the playoffs, but it certainly does NOT belong on this Bulls team. It's an insult to everything D. Rose and the bench mob stand for.
With that in mind, Thibs why didn't you play Asik?
Asik would have manned up and got in Hansborough's face, played some awesome, intense off-ball defense, annnnd he would have been the funniest looking white player on the court, exceeding the humorous looks of Mike Dunleavy Jr and the hilariously bald Tyler Hansborough.
Overall Grade: D+
Only because they won. Rose gives them the plus. I'll give them the first game jitters slack, but the Pacers outplayed, out-hustled, and destroyed the Bulls. I have the worst taste in my mouth just thinking about it...
