Bulls gain more than just a victory

Great game. Wild finish. Fun night.

But it was just one game, and the Bulls' 93-89 victory over Miami on Thursday night at the UC will have little impact on the playoffs that begin almost two months from now.

Of greater importance was the activity of a team like Boston on trade deadline day, and the inactivity of the Bulls, who refused to part with their future or depth up front as they sought help at shooting guard.

“You have to balance long term with short term, and we felt like the price was too rich to get something done now,” said Bulls GM Gar Forman. “We didn't want to hit a single or a double. We want to hit a home run. And we think we're as well positioned in the East as any team in the next year or two to hit a home run.”

In the meantime, you wonder if Boston whiffed.

In the most shocking deal in the Eastern Conference on Thursday, the Celtics gave up center Kendrick Perkins, an absolute beast on the back line and a huge cog in their interior defense, and backup point guard Nate Robinson, who did a nice job when Rajon Rondo was injured and provided a spark off the bench.

In return from Oklahoma City they got a sixth man in forward Jeff Green and center Nenad Krstic.

Boston's betting that Miami will be its main competition in the East, and the Celtics chose perimeter depth and the flexibility to go smaller when necessary, which would also be the case against San Antonio if they reach the Finals.

But that's assuming they can get by the Bulls or the Magic, and the happiest man in America had to be Orlando center Dwight Howard, who now presents a huge problem for Boston.

There also were lots of smiles in the Chicago and Miami locker rooms once the players got over the shock.

“I'm just as surprised as everyone else,” Miami's LeBron James said Thursday night. “I'm sure they have their reasons.”

Boston is built to win today and that window is closing, but the Celtics gave up size, toughness and defense, and in the process might have opened the door for the Bulls.

“Pretty surprised? Yeah,” said Bulls center Joakim Noah, who had it handed to him by Perkins in a playoff series against Boston two years ago. “I don't know. They're still the defending champs in the conference. They still have the best record in the East.”

The Bulls aren't done trying to add scoring help, as buyouts will land some players on the market who might draw interest in Chicago.

But Miami's the team that looked like it needed help Thursday night, running the Bulls off the floor in the first half, and then blowing a 10-point lead in the second half when the home team pulled 29 boards to Miami's 17.

The Big Three was only the Big Two and the Bad One. Chris Bosh went a gut-wrenching 1-for-18, while James put up 29 points to go with 10 rebounds and 5 assists, and Dwyane Wade scored a game-high 34.

And though Luol Deng hit the big shot at the end to win it, it was the Bulls' bench that had a tremendous fourth quarter and in the end outscored Miami's reserves 22-2.

“I keep saying we like our team the way it is,” said Derrick Rose, who led the Bulls with 26. “We use everyone and we need everyone on this team.”

The Bulls' defense kicked in during the second half when the Bulls held Miami to 32 percent shooting, though some of that was Bosh missing open look after open look, and at least a couple of layups.

“Last night our defense wasn't what it was supposed to be,” said Carlos Boozer. “Tonight it was impressive.”

Most impressive, perhaps, was the creativity of Bulls fans sitting near the Heat bench, using combinations of expletives tossed in the direction of James not heard since the days of Bill Laimbeer.

It didn't seem to bother James or the Heat, which nonetheless fell to 1-7 against the best teams in the NBA.

Seems that when the Big Three subtracts the Bad One, it just doesn't add up to victory.

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