Excited, yes, but Bulls keep goals in focus
BOSTON - Momentous as it was, the Bulls' victory over the defending champion Boston Celtics in Game 1 was only one game.
The second leg of the best-of-seven series is Monday night, and the Bulls obviously have to guard against getting too comfortable with a 1-0 series lead.
There still is a long way to go, which is exactly what center Joakim Noah told everyone who rang his cell phone Saturday night as the Bulls' upset win became the sports nation's dominant news.
"I've probably gotten that many phone calls after I got drafted and when I went to the Final Four and that's really it," Noah said. "I was like, 'Wow, this is crazy, but we really didn't do anything.'
"We won one game in a seven-game series and people are acting like it's the biggest deal in the world.
"It feels good and I feel like we set the tone, but we didn't accomplish anything yet. What we want to do is win this series, and we know they're not going to go down without a fight."
Following Game 1, Boston talked about its lack of energy and intensity, especially at the start of the game. Whether the Celtics can crank it up like they did in last year's playoffs without injured all-star Kevin Garnett remains to be seen.
But Boston has been one of the league's best defensive teams for the past two years, so their first order of business will be to control Bulls guard Derrick Rose, who exploded for 36 points and 11 assists.
He also shot 12 free throws, the first time all season he has reached double figures in free-throw attempts.
It will be interesting to see how Rose can respond in Game 2 knowing the Celtics will do everything in their power to try to stop him.
Not that they weren't trying to do that in Game 1, but Rose figures to be even more of a focus.
"It's just going to be fun out there," Rose said. "I know there's going to be a little more attention on me, but that's what you want as a player."
Following a film session and brief workout Sunday in downtown Boston, Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro refused the notion that there will be extra attention and therefore extra pressure on Rose for Game 2.
"They were gunning to stop him yesterday," Del Negro said. "We're gunning to stop Paul Pierce and he still makes plays. It all sounds great, but you have to make plays.
"With Derrick's athletic ability and what he can do in the open court, if we guard defensively and keep their field-goal percentage down, we get in the open court.
"I like our offense then with Derrick making plays and BG (Ben Gordon) and John Salmons and our bigs running."
True, as long as the Bulls can keep running, they'll have an edge in this series. Boston's lineup includes two older veterans in Ray Allen, 33, and Paul Pierce, 31, plus burly big men Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis.
Considering that athletic point guard Rajon Rondo is not even as fast as Rose, the Bulls seem to have a speed advantage at all five spots.
"It's going to be way harder," Rose said. "Fouls and everything are going to be harder. They're going to know every play, crank up their defense because they're real good.
"I'm going out there still thinking that we didn't achieve nothing because we've still got more games to play."
<p class="factboxheadblack">Tonight's tipoff</p> <p class="News">Bulls vs. Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden, 6 p.m.</p> <p class="News"><b>TV:</b> Comcast SportsNet, TNT</p> <p class="News"><b>Radio:</b> WMVP 1000-AM</p> <p class="News"><b>Update: </b>Following the Bulls' 105-103 overtime win in Game 1, the Celtics talked about not having a sense of urgency at the start of the contest and vowed not to let it happen again. Both Paul Pierce and Ray Allen started slowly in that game. Pierce eventually scored 23 points, while Allen hit just 1 of 12 shots and finished with 4 points. Last year, while winning the NBA title, Boston was 10-1 at home in the playoffs.</p> <p class="News"><b>Next:</b> Thursday, Game 3 at the United Center, 7 p.m.</p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=287656">Imrem: So much for Bulls' Paxson to think about<span class="date">[4/20/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=287660">McGraw: Rose's calm doesn't diminish following huge playoff debut <span class="date">[4/20/09]</span></a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=287677">Talking NBA playoffs with Ben Gordon<span class="date">[4/20/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>