With Game 6 on the line, it's time for tough questions
Vinny Del Negro decided to cancel practice Wednesday, so the Bulls were out of sight while preparing for tonight's do-or-die Game 6 against the Boston Celtics at the United Center.
The Bulls weren't available to provide any answers, but relevant questions about this series can still be asked.
Q: Is this the most exciting playoff series in NBA history?
A: Probably not, but it is the first time in league history one series has had three overtime games. Going back 10 years, there hasn't been another series with four games decided by 3 points or less. A couple had four games decided by 4 points or less.
The contenders for most competitive series since 1998-99 are San Antonio-Dallas in 2006, which had three games settled by 2 points or less, plus two more that went to overtime. Or Miami-New York in the 2000 second round, a seven-game series with three contests decided by 2 points or fewer and no margin of victory more than 8 points.
Q: Should Rajon Rondo's late-game smack to Brad Miller's mouth been ruled flagrant?
A: It should have been a flagrant foul, but it really doesn't matter now. Rondo didn't do anything by accident. He saw that he couldn't get to the ball and instead hit Miller in the face as hard as he could to prevent the basket. Miller should have shot the 2 free throws, with the Bulls keeping possession with two seconds left.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers created the catchphrase for this series - "playoff foul" - which is defined as any violent act committed by the Celtics that would have been a flagrant foul during the regular season. There have been at least four in this series.
Q: Do the Bulls need to start dishing out some hard fouls?
A: Yes and no. It's easy to say someone should club the first Celtic who heads to the rim in the face, since that's been established as a "playoff foul" and not flagrant. But every officiating crew is different and tonight's referees might decide enough is enough and throw someone out.
Keep in mind, the Bulls have 42 blocked shots in the series. Boston has 34 blocks and that includes the 7 given to Kendrick Perkins by the Celtics stat crew on Tuesday. I keep my own play-by-play to make sure I'm paying attention and I had Perkins for 2 blocks.
The point is, the Bulls have been effective at challenging Boston's shots near the basket, which decreases the need for a layup-preventing hard foul.
Q: Don't the Celtics have reason to complain about the 6 fouls called on Ray Allen?
A: Sure, a couple of those were bad calls. But don't forget, the acting goes both ways. In the first half, Allen flailed his arms so violently trying to draw a foul on Ben Gordon, he struck Glen Davis in the face.
Not sure what Allen was trying to do on that sixth foul, when he got hit by a Miller screen and went into convulsions. He's smarter than that.
Q: What could the Bulls have done differently against Paul Pierce late in the game?
A: For the most part, John Salmons has done a decent job defending Pierce during this series. He blocked Pierce's 3-point attempt to seal the Game 4 win. But Pierce adjusted faded back when he hit 3 straight jumpers over Salmons in overtime.
During the first two baskets, Boston had Stephon Marbury and Tony Allen on the floor, giving the Bulls two prime candidates to leave open while they double-teamed Pierce. With 3.4 seconds left, the last one was tougher because Rivers put in 3-point specialist Eddie House and Davis.
In hindsight, the best bet would have been to send one of the big guys at Pierce and have the other one play a one-man zone under the basket, because the shot clock was getting close to zero.
Q: What happened to Derrick Rose since his brilliant Game 1 performance?
A: Well, he is a rookie, but it's no coincidence that Rose's two best games in this series led to Bulls' wins. Rose has been charged with 20 turnovers in the last three games. Not all were his fault (just catch the ball, Joakim), but Rose is still adjusting to defensive tricks and playoff intensity.
Rose tried to get to the basket in Game 5 and met with plenty of contact, but was given no free throw attempts. Rose deserves another playoff series against Rondo two years from now.
Q: Is the three-guard lineup a good idea?
A: That's a tough one to judge. On the one hand, Tyrus Thomas - who didn't play much down the stretch in Game 5 - is the team's best shot-blocker and has hit some clutch baskets (see Game 1). On the other hand, Rivers was so worried about the Bulls' small lineup, he had Marbury on the floor instead of Davis to start the overtime, which the Bulls will take every time.
Q: Can the Bulls win tonight and send the series back to Boston for Game 7?
A: If they can't channel their Game 5 anger into a strong performance, they might need to clean house this summer.
Q: Should Kevin Garnett leave his jaw where it belongs and shut up?
A: Today's players experience plenty of trash-talk growing up, so the Bulls don't seem too concerned about Garnett's yapping from the bench.
Garnett and the Celtics launched a war on sportsmanship last season and the Cavaliers have gleefully joined the cause. It's a shame that talented players like Garnett and LeBron James don't seem to consider the example they're setting for kids with their behavior.
Bulls vs. Boston Celtics at the United Center, 6 p.m.
TV: Comcast SportsNet, TNT
Radio: WMVP 1000-AM
Update: The Celtics can advance to the conference semifinals with a win tonight. A week ago at the United Center, Boston produced the only lopsided victory of this series, 107-86 in Game 3. Bulls center Joakim Noah ranks third in playoff rebounds at 12.4 per game, trailing only Dwight Howard and Carlos Boozer. Boston guard Rajon Rondo is 4 for 7 from 3-point range in the series, after recording just 15 3-point baskets during the regular season.
Next: Saturday, Game 7 at TD Banknorth Garden, if necessary, TBA
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