Must Be The Shoes: Bulls Bounce Celtics in Double OT

Sure, the heroics of Derrick Rose (23 points 11 rebounds 9 assists) and Ben Gordon (22 points, including game-tying 3-pointer in OT) helped springboard the Chicago Bulls' 121-118 double overtime victory against the Boston Celtics ... but like Spike once said: it must be the shoes.

And while everyone talks about the shorthanded Celtics, it was the very shorthanded Bulls (playing only seven players) that picked up the win to tie the series at 2-2.

The winnable seven-game-series moves back to Boston. If Vinny Del Negro can figure out how to stop Jesus Shuttlesworth in a clutch situation and Tyrus Thomas understands the term "game management" the series would be very winnable.

Bulls 121 Celtics 118 2OT [ESPN]

Watch My Feet: Bulls Back In Black

Photo Credit: Kicks On Fire

For a team without a traditional low-post presence and without a traditional head coach (you know, like one that has experience), it only made sense that one of the Chicago Bulls' mottos coming into this season must have been "Tradition Be Damned."

A long time ago, at a bar stool far, far away, this basketball fan was shocked, awed and appalled to see the new-look Bulls with a new look on their feet. That's right, black shoes.

No matter how cool they were, the Bulls were forbidden to wear black shoes during the regular season back in the day, when men were men and Rodman dressed as a woman (once). It was a privilege to wear the black sneakers, so they only did it in the playoffs. And sometimes, tradition is cool. Like the Yankees not shaving. Or the Raiders drafting poorly. So to see the black shoes in a meaningless regular season hurt my eyes.

Then to see them sport white shoes at home in the playoffs and then proceed to get smashed by the shorthanded Celtics ... to be honest ... it was fitting. I called them out, and apparently, so did others.

And at noon, the Bulls will be back in black.

The Bulls already had trampled on the tradition a bit by wearing black shoes for most road games during this regular season and white shoes at home. For continuity's sake, that's why they went with white shoes in Game 3. But longtime equipment manager John Ligmanowski confirmed the Bulls would be breaking out the black shoes for Sunday's Game 4 matinee.

Five other things the Bulls should consider bringing back for Game 4 against Boston:

1. Defense
2. Rebounding
3. Ben Gordon's jump shot
4. Phil Jackson (to coach)
5. Ray Clay (for pre-game introductions)
   

Black is back for Chicago Bulls [Chicago Tribune]

Inside The Valley: Is Osiris trying to be like Mike?

Illinois State guard Osiris Eldridge is (apparently) emulating Michael Jordan

I'm an 80s baby, but a 90s kid. So when I saw Illinois State junior guard Osiris Eldridge take the court with a pair of retro Air Jordans on, I kind of smiled to myself.

And shared with the lovely Megan Kramper, of course. But she'll get a separate blog shout out another day. More on overpriced basketball shoes!

See, as a kid, there were a few things I saved money to buy. Those things were media guides and Air Jordans. Come to think of it, I guess it makes sense why I am where I am, today.

My first big purchase: a pair of white-on-white Air Jordans with the white patent leather and Carolina blue trim.

Other big purchases included scorecards, pencils and media guides.

I'm a nerd. Deal with it.

If I were Osiris, I would bring out the black and red version of those shoes he had on tonight. They go well with the red jerseys. At least that's what I remember from the Bulls' hey-day.