Lincicome: Words to live by as Bulls 'take it to the next level'

The assumption that the Milwaukee basketball team puts its pants on the same way the Bulls do is made without any actual eyewitness evidence, never mind that a team's dressing protocol, which leg, or both, goes where and when has nothing to do with it.

Let us suppose, for the sake of this column, that the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo lies on his back and has the Bucks' trainer slide his pants up his legs, then turns over so that the final fitting over his rump completes the ensemble, never actually having touched his pants himself.

Ah, then poor Patrick Williams, convinced that "He puts his pants on the same way I do," might have to find a different motivation to defend the most dominant force in the NBA, not to mention a whole new way for Williams to suit up.

On the other hand, one team's cliché is the same team's motivation.

This is where the Bulls are in their playoff adventure, up against a better team, the defending NBA champions, needing to "dig deep," to "give 110 percent," to take their game "to another level," and "throw out the record books," needing every sports platitude for inspiration.

By relying otherwise on sheer talent, strategy or determination, the Bulls are likely to end up where they are supposed to, out of the playoffs.

"Nobody thinks we can do it." "Let's shock the world." "We're in it to win it."

I am not certain any of the Bulls said any of those things out loud, but certainly they must be thinking them. And I am happy to encourage the thoughts.

DeMar DeRozan, the series-trailing Bulls' most crucial ingredient in whatever happens from here on, did string together a veritable library of cliches, part self-motivation, part habit in times like these. Let's count, shall we?

"It doesn't matter what you did in the regular season," said DeRozan. That's one.

"It's a new start." That's two.

"This is a new opportunity to compete, and we've got to take advantage of it." That's three.

But let's not put the entire burden on the Bulls' star. DeRozan has enough to do. Let's assemble a collection that he, or any Bull or any coach, can use as needed.

"The future is not carved in stone." That's a good place to start. "Tomorrow isn't promised." Not sure how that applies but any chance to quote Walter Payton, I'll take.

"It's anybody's ballgame." That's always a good one. "We have to leave it all out on the floor." Another goody. "There's no tomorrow." Well, actually there are a few more tomorrows but urgency should not be dismissed.

"Every journey begins with a single step." More likely with a crossover dribble but the point is not to "count chickens before they are hatched," or more to the point, "don't count a three if your toe is on the line."

Coach Billy Donovan gets points for freshness when he reminds the Bulls that playing hard in the playoffs is "the price of admission," a variation of having "fire in the belly," a companion to "ice water in the veins," recalling the old Robert Frost poem about how the world might end.

And speaking of endings the Bulls know, as did Yogi, that "it ain't over 'til it's over," and, of course, we must not forget former Bulls coach, Dick Motta, who may or may not have reminded us that "it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings."

And speaking of old Bulls coaches, the leftover wisdom of Phil Jackson might be helpful. "Surrender the me for we." If any Bull does that, it is Alex Caruso. "Experience each moment with a clear mind and an open heart." Easier to do if Michael Jordan is in his prime.

And, my favorite of all Jacksonisms: "If you meet the Buddha in the lane, feed him the ball."

"Always remember that the road to success is seldom paved." That one is mine, or at least I'm taking credit for it.

Here's what we know. The Bulls "must stay within themselves" while at the same time "letting it all out," always aware that "it's anybody's ballgame."

Glad to be of help.