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Bulls faring better than West’s best

Anyone banging their head against the wall about the Bulls’ inability to blow out the Indiana Pacers could look south for inspiration.

The Memphis Grizzlies put a beating on the top seed in the Western Conference, San Antonio, on Monday to take a 3-1 series lead. No matter what’s happened against the Pacers, the Bulls could definitely be in a worse spot than up 3-1 heading into Tuesday’s action.

“Yeah, a whole lot worse,” guard Keith Bogans before Tuesday’s game. “All I can say is, ‘Stuff happens.’ We’re just worried about us. We’ve got to strap these shoes up and take care of business and try not to let them get any hope after tonight.”

The Spurs aren’t the only reeling favorite. The two-time defending champion L.A. Lakers, No. 2 seed in the West, are tied 2-2 with New Orleans, with Game 5 played late Tuesday night.

Even Jannero Pargo, a former Hornets guard, was surprised that New Orleans has played the Lakers even with leading scorer David West out with an injury.

“Me personally, I thought they would win one game,” Pargo said of his old team. “I think teams that get to the playoffs, that’s a new season. It doesn’t matter what their record was in the regular season. Everybody’s geared up for the playoffs.”

Bulls fans will remember the 2006 first round, when the No. 7 Bulls were tied 2-2 with No. 2 Miami after four games. They even forced a tie score at the end of three quarters in Game 5, but the Heat survived and went on to win the NBA title.