Does Game Seven At 7:00 p.m. (CT) Mean Seven Overtimes are forthcoming?

Will fight night take its stuff to Boston? via Awful Announcing

What does Rajon Rondo have to do to get suspended for a game?

Long story short, Rondo has turned his fued with the Bulls into a WWE grudgematch. A rake of the eyes to Brad Miller in Game 5 was one thing, but tossing Kirk Hinrich onto a scorers table and perfectly executing a flying elbow drop from the rafters is something else.

So, what will we see tonight? Hogan's leg drop? Some Sweet Chin Music? How about the People's Elbow? Personally, I can't wait until Rondo takes a steel chair and blindsides an official.

On to the game...

While some experts say there is no pressure for the Bulls to perform as they come into the series' final game, I respectfully disagree. The Bulls will head into hostile territory in a winner-take-all Game 7 ... that's pressure in its own right. But having already won once in the new Garden, and having only lost the other two road games by a combined total of five points, it wouldn't surprise me if the Bulls put it all together.

On the other hand, I would not be surprised if the Celtics came out firing on all cylinders and beat the Bulls by double digits. And if that happens, The Greatest Playoff Series Ever will quickly turn into just another playoff series in which a Chicago team fell flat on its face.

So what the Bulls need to do? Ben Gordon needs to score at least 20. Derrick Rose needs to stay out of foul trouble. Kirk Hinrich needs to continue to hit shots and play defense. And Tyrus Thomas needs to not take 20-foot contested jump shots. If all that happens, the Bulls still might lose ... but they'll have a much better chance at winning.

In either case, I'm ready to witness Game Seven: The two most exciting words in sports.

Noah Bull: Joakim Dunks on Paul Pierce

For two years, Joakim Noah has been the premier whipping boy for Chicago Bulls fans. He was Tyson Chandler before meeting Chris Paul; he had all the energy, athleticism and ability in the world, but without a low-post move to be seen.

Yet, the first six games of this series has proven why Noah was a projected top pick after his sophomore year and a top-10 pick after coming out his junior year. He's catching ally-oop passes and throwing 'em down. He's grabbing every loose ball and rebound like a man possessed. And last night's steal and dunk over Paul Pierce was absolutely the sickest dunk I've seen all year.

The only thing that would have made it better if he would have given Kevin Garnett (in all his fine linens) the Planters treatment.

Noah's maturation might give Bulls fans hope that they will only need one low-post scorer who can play a complimentary role to what Noah does on the grind.

But it's easy to say that after a Game 6 win.

Let's talk after Game 7 Saturday in Boston.

Un-Bull-ievable: Shades Of Memphis

Tonight, basketball fans learned a very valuable lesson: It is a lot easier to hit free throws when you don't have to deal with it after getting slapped in the face.

But seriously, Derrick Rose needs to learn how to make clutch free throws.

And I'm still waiting for Rajon Rondo's desperation heave of a three to go in.

Instead, Game 7 in Boston.

Even more to come tomorrow.

As for now? Celebratory drinks all around!

Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated

The Proof Is In The Pump Fake

The difference between Gordon and Jordan: Jordan makes the shot.

Fifth overtime game this series ... pretty sweet. Vinny Del Negro coaching it ... not so much.

More to come...

Bulls Won't Go Down To Boston's Bullies Too Easily

AP Photo: Chicago Sun-Times

Kevin Garnett can snarl, growl and bark all he wants. He still isn't playing in this series, and every time I see a camera cut to Garnett channeling his inner primal beast, my hope is that his knee buckles and someone takes him to a locker room far, far away.

Is that wrong to feel that way? Probably. But aren't you sick of so much attention to a player who is dressed in clothes I couldn't afford if someone quadrupled my pay.

In the end, the Celtics escaped with a 106-104 overtime victory in a game they had no business winning. Sure, Brad Miller (an 82 percent free-throw shooter) missed a pair late while Rajon Rondo got away with a blatant flagrant foul ... but it should have never came down to that.

The Bulls blew an 11-point fourth quarter lead in a game in which Ben Gordon played 50 minutes that normally he wouldn't have played, scoring 26 points on 6-of-21 shooting from the field and 11-for-12 from the charity stripe.

In the end, the Bulls' biggest shortcoming wasn't their lack of a big man. As usual, it was the lack of a strong coach, who failed to realize that Paul Pierce was slashing away as he scored 15 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning shot over John Salmons.

Now, all the Bulls can do is re-group for Game 6 in Chicago.

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]

Bulldozed

The Chicago Bulls public relations staff got what it wanted on Thursday night. I'm seeing red.

The real Bulls (or the Bulls I've come to know and dislike on a nightly basis) showed up on Thursday. Ben Gordon's woeful offensive performance fueled the flames of those who can't wait to push out the team's leading scorer. Derrick Rose showed he was still a rookie and Vinny Del Negro proved why he was a rookie head coach.

And yet, the Boston Celtics only lead the best-of-seven series 2 games to 1.

Celtics 107 Bulls 86

Rose-Beasley Debate Silenced By Debut

The Chicago Bulls lucked into the No. 1 overall pick and one of the greatest debates in Chicago sports history.

The great debate pitted Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley against each other. Both players brought something special to the table, but the Bulls could only choose one.

And no matter what Beasley does in his playoff debut later today, there will be a segment of fans that believe the Bulls made the right choice with Rose.

I am a part of that group.

Rose has transcended the look of this team. And while Rose joined an already overcrowded backcourt, he proved to be the best of the group of guards that entered the season in Bulls uniforms. With the way he has taken over the point guard position, Rose has basically used his pimp hand to put everyone in their respective roles.

Kirk Hinrich was once pegged to be the next Steve Nash before an injury-riddled 2007-08 season sent him to an afterthought. However, Hinrich found his nitch as a back-up combo guard with ball-handling skills and the ability to make open jump shots.

Ben Gordon solidified his role as a mini Vinny "The Microwave" Johnson. BG7 lit up defenses as he benefitted from having a point guard that can set him up off the bounce or off a screen.

Did you see what Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas were able to do when Rose was feeding them they alley while they threw down the oops? Noah and Thomas should be playing high-pace, high-energy basketball. And that's the kind of match-up problem some teams, no matter how talented, have trouble defending.

So thank Vinny Del Negro for bringing the Phoenix Suns-lite offense into Chicago. (Thought I'd never say that). And thank the Bulls for selecting Rose over Beasley.

Anything Is Possible, But Not Everything Is Probable: Your Bulls-Celtics Preview

Break out the black shoes and the nostalgia of six championships in the 1990s, the Chicago Bulls are back in the NBA Playoffs.

Chicago enters the playoffs led by star point guard Derrick Rose, a revamped nucleus and the hope it might be able to steal a series instead of just a game from the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.

The Beantown Ballers enter the series without the league's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and even though they were 16-7 without Kevin Garnett, there is no doubt his interior defense and his ability to finish around the basket will be missed.

And make no mistake about it: the reason we are talking about the Chicago Bulls being in the playoffs is because of John Paxson's midseason movement via the trade channels. The Bulls were meddling in that area where they were not terrible, but not also not good. Chicago seemed destined to be that team that barely makes the playoffs only to get crushed by 20 points per game in a four game sweep, or barely miss the playoffs while landing poor draft position.

But by adding John Salmons and Brad Miller while subtracting Thabo Sefalosha and Larry Hughes had turned the Bulls into the team fans had expected to see from day one. Arguably, the biggest thing to happen with the Bulls has been the "injury" to Luol Deng.

However, let's make this one thing clear: There are no short cuts to the NBA Finals. There are no short cuts to a championship. All we (as Bulls fans) remember of the Jordan Era were the championships, but it was easy to forget the path to those titles.

Now, the Bulls have to overcome Jesus Shuttlesworth, The Truth and the aura of the New Garden, not to mention the defending champs.

If Chicago can steal a game at the Garden, they might have a shot to sneak out a series win only to get pummelled by Orlando in the second round. If not, I think the Bulls can be competitive ... but that can only take you so far.

Prediction: Celtics in six.

Kanye West: NBA Playoffs Are Amazing

Chicago rapper Kanye West penned an amazing (no pun intended) track for his No. 1 selling album 808s and Heartbreaks ... and now it will be featured in the 2009 NBA Playoffs.

If you want the entire track, well, I'll be nice. Here's one of my favorite tracks from the album that helped me get through an awfully cold winter.

LeBum James?

When LeBron James scored 25 consecutive points during the 4th quarter and overtime against the Detroit Pistons in game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals, I told everyone, this was the greatest performance ever in the NBA playoffs.

Yes, better than Jordan's 63 in the Garden way back when. And more impressive than Magic Johnson playing center replacing Kareem Abdul Jabbar in game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals (and oh yeah he was a rookie and won MVP.)

Many Jordan and Magic fans didn't agree with my opinion on James' performance on that mystical night at the Palace of Auburn Hills. They all agreed with one thing though, that James would be one of the greatest players to ever play on the hardwood.

Now let's take a left off memory lane and make a right back to reality road. After two games against the Boston 3 Party or the PGA Tour (Pierce, Garnett and Allen) or whatever you want to call them, James is 8 for 42 in the series.

And no, the Cavs did not add Jerome James to the playoff roster and forced him to shoot jumpers at gun point, where Talking about LeBron James, the same player who scored 25 consecutive points in Detroit against a Pistons team that was known for their defense.

OK so I know what your going to say, the Celtics had the best defense in the NBA this year. That is true, but did any defense of any kind stop Jordan from making opponents look foolish guarding him? Did double teams stop Larry Bird's lights out shooting in the post season? The answer to both of these questions is: No! Every great player plays to the occasion, and King James looked more like the Queen with his performances in games 1 and 2 against the Celtics.

If you haven't looked at either of these games or looked at a box score (or living under a rock) you would probably awake from hibernation saying: well, the Cavs and LeBron can't stop Garnett, Pierce and Allen, there is just no way! Well your sadly mistaken because the PGA Tour in this series has been rained out.

Garnett scored 28 points while Pierce and Allen where no where to be found as they combined to score 4 points (well Pierce scored the total 4 points, I wanted to include Allen just for the effort.)

The Celtics miraculously win 76-72. In Game 2, the sun started to peak out of the gray clouds and The Big 3 started to come alive again with Pierce scoring 19, Allen putting in 16 and Garnett contributing 13 points and grabbing 12 boards in a 89-73 win, but the Celtics still didn't look like the team that won 66 games this year. Bron Bron and the Cavs had a chance to take advantage of the Celtics and have the series at least tied 1-1 heading back to Cleveland, but they let that opportunity slip away.

Now I guess you're going to say this: LeBron dont have good players around him. I hate to break this to you but that is weak! Michael Jordan had Dave Corzine and Sam Vincent to share the ball with in his early career but he was still able to dominate with what he had. And yes, the rest of the Cavs players did not shoot well neither, but still if you are one of the best you have to play the role!

Everyone is not perfect, in fact we have had moments at our jobs where we didn't work to our potential, if it's being a construction worker or flipping burgers. Let's just say that your a construction worker coming into work and you have a bad day. You don't get what you want built on schedule, not at the time that you usually get your assignment finished (keep in mind I don't know anything about construction work, this is an example, so bare with me) there is still the next day and you will get it done.

But the construction worker don't just finish the job and leave a few nails missing from the house and let the whole thing crumble to the ground, he has the foundation still standing. LeBron has to be like that construction worker. Yes you had a bad game (or two) but don't let the house fall to the ground missing a few nails.

The greats in the game adjust to whatever situation it is. If your jump shot is not falling take it to the cup. If you cant go to the hole, than create your own shot or dish it off to someone else. LeBron has emerged as one of the best in the NBA, but what makes you great is performing and winning in the playoffs. Without any research I could assure you that Jordan or Bird did not have 2 back to back stinkers in the playoffs like this.

One thing to keep an eye on is this, what LeBron are we going to see? The one that dominated the Pistons in game 5 in Detroit last year and off to being on of the greatest to ever play this game. Or a one hit wonder, that only tasted the finals once and never gets back to the large stage again.

Stay tuned and continue to watch this series, even though the first two games were eye sores.

- Da Carter