Noah honored by award, credits all who helped

Joakim Noah was announced as winner of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, which is presented to the NBA player, coach or trainer who shows outstanding service in the community.

Through his Noah's Arc Foundation, the Bulls center has tried to confront gun violence in Chicago. The foundation began the "Rock Your Drop" initiative, which is designed to support those who have lost loved ones to the violence.

Noah's group also helped produce an anti-violence video titled "You're Not Alone," which included Bulls teammates Derrick Rose and Taj Gibson talking about losing close friends to gun violence.

"I'm not proud of myself; I'm proud of everybody who has helped bring positives to Chicago to help the kids," Noah said after Thursday's shootaround. "Our group has put in a lot of work to help.

"There's still a long way to so. It's only the beginning. This award is great because it brings awareness to what we're doing."

Noah is the first Bulls player to win the citizenship award, which debuted in 1975. Plenty of current and former Bulls have earned the honor. Among the winners since 2011 were Pau Gasol, Luol Deng and Metta World Peace, who was known as Ron Artest when drafted by the Bulls in 1999.

Frustration sets in:

This was the second game in a row where the Bulls lost a personal battle with frustration.

Nikola Mirotic stuck out his arm and caught Cavs guard Iman Shumpert in the neck with 5:19 left in the second quarter. After watching the replay, the referees ruled it a flagrant foul.

At the time, the Bulls trailed 41-40. Shumpert split the free throws, then scored on a driving lay-in and the foul seemed to light a fire under not only Shumpert but all the Cavaliers.

On the next trip, Shumpert, an Oak Park native, hit a 3-pointer over Mirotic and let him know about it. Eventually, Cleveland finished the first half on a 20-4 run, which included 4 baskets from 3-point range, plus a 3-shot foul against J.R. Smith.

In Game 5, the Bulls fell behind by 17 points in the fourth quarter when Taj Gibson was ejected and given a flagrant foul after getting his leg tangled up with Cavs guard Matthew Dellavedova.

On both occasions, you could see the Bulls' frustration building.

Gibson argued about two non-calls before his ejection. On Thursday, the Bulls were upset about a loose-ball foul on Jimmy Butler, then a non-call as Butler collided with Shumpert on a drive to the basket. All that happened on the two trips immediately preceding Mirotic's flagrant.

Cavs recall Jordan:

LeBron James talked about being inspired by the memory of Michael Jordan when he plays at the United Center.

"Definitely, during the national anthem, things of that nature, I get caught looking up there, looking at the championship banners and looking at his jersey retired," James told reporters at the morning shootaround. "It's impossible for me not to. He's a guy I always admired and looked up to growing up."

In contrast, Cavs guard Kyrie Irving, born in 1992, admitted he doesn't remember watching Jordan play for the Bulls but said he still appreciates the legacy.

"I grew up in a different generation, with Kobe (Bryant) and 'Bron and all these other guys … Tracy McGrady, A.I. (Allen Iverson)," Irving said. "I didn't really get to see MJ. So I think my generation, when we have this debate (about) who's best … you guys saw MJ live.

"If you guys were kids or my age, it's a different feel. But history was created here, which I'm truly appreciative to be part of a league that had guys like that come before me."

Bull horns:

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals will be Wednesday, the NBA announced Thursday. The West finals could begin as soon as Sunday if neither second-round series goes to a Game 7. … After starting the playoffs 1-for-14 at the foul line, Joakim Noah hit his next 6 free throws, including 2 in the first quarter Thursday. … In Game 5, Cleveland's LeBron James led the Cavs in points, rebounds and assists. That's the 33rd time in his postseason career he has led his team in all three categories. Next on the list, according to Elias Sports Bureau: Larry Bird, who led his team in three categories in the playoffs 13 times.