With only a few minutes remaining, they have just over 60 points. With their own scoring troubles, the Bulls certainly didn’t need to give the Heat any help.

But early in the 4th quarter, Marquis Teague scored on his own basket. He was trying to break up a pass, and the ball deflected all the way into his own hoop.

(Thanks to @shighkinNBA for the video)

After the game, Mohammed took to Twitter to apologize for his actions.

Sorry for my overreaction & being ejected. I blacked out & just reacted after I was pushed down. I’m happy it only resulted w/ a push

— Nazr Mohammed (@NazrMohammed) May 11, 2013

For the kids who were watching… That not the way to react on the basketball court.

— Nazr Mohammed (@NazrMohammed) May 11, 2013

Hopefully if I’m in the same situation again I will control my emotions but u never know what ur instincts will do. #SeeRed

— Nazr Mohammed (@NazrMohammed) May 11, 2013

 

It was a bizarre foul from Mohammed that started the whole altercation in the first place. It wasn’t the first ejection we’ve seen in this series, and there’s a decent chance it won’t be the last.

Game 4 will be Monday at 7PM Est. as the Heat look to take a 3-1 series lead.

Now, he can add LeBron James to the list. Nate looked a lot like LeBron as he chased him down to block him from behind on the fastbreak.

Early in the 2nd quarter, with the Bulls holding a 31-28 lead, Nazr Mohammed for some reason decided to foul LeBron James as he crossed half-court. James took offense to the rough foul and tossed Mohammed to the ground.

Referee Joey Crawford immediately assessed LeBron a technical foul. As that was happening, Mohammed, frustrated by being tossed aside by LeBron, got up and shoved LeBron to the ground.

Mohammed was ejected for the shove, leaving the Bulls even more shorthanded than they already are.

Yes, Nate Robinson. It was another impressive performance this postseason from undersized guard. He finished with 27 points (8-16 FG) and 9 assists, including the last 7 points of the game as the Bulls knocked off the Heat 93-86.

Here, Robinson drives to the rim for the basket that sealed the victory. (Thanks to @HPBasketball for the video)

(Thanks to @cjzero for the video)

Jack Maloney (@jmaloney9) – Stephen Curry’s behind the back pass, followed by his three-pointer.

There were a number of plays from Curry that I could have picked, but my favorite play from his phenomenal first round performance was this behind the back pass that ended up leading to him burying a three in the corner. It showcased his playmaking ability and his shooting.

(1:55 mark of the video)

Vijay Shravah and Quentin Haynes (@Haynesenburg) – Nate Robinson’s runner off the glass.

Vijay – In a 3-OT thriller, Nate Robinson dazzled the crowd with his flurry of acrobatic shots on his way to 29 4th quarter and overtime points to lead the Bulls to a comeback win.  Namely this crazy floater from near three-point distance

Quentin – Nate Robinson’s one-handed runner to take the lead in OT against Brooklyn. It was so random. Think about everything that happened. Nate Robinson isolation. Nate Robinson going left to right and using all of his 5-9 frame to swoop over 6-3 Deron Williams with a one-handed shot. Watching the basket bank in. It was incredible.

Jack Maloney (@jmaloney9) – Chicago Bulls

Already without Derrick Rose, and with Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng all battling injuries, it looked like there would be too much for the Bulls to overcome in their first round series against the Nets. Then, the Nets laid a smack down on them in Game 1, and it seemed the series might be over rather quickly. But behind Noah’s leadership and the help of Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli, the Bulls battled their way to a Game 7 victory in Brooklyn to advance to the second round. They really impressed me with their effort and toughness, especially Joakim Noah.

May 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Nuggets 92-88. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Vijay Shravah – Golden State Warriors

Gotta go with the Warriors.  They were basically pronounced dead upon hearing of David Lee’s torn hip flexor in Game 1.  Much to everyone’s surprise, they proved that they are the better team under Stephen Curry’s shooting brilliance.  He also reminded us how despicable it was for him not to be selected an All-Star this year.  Now, thanks to the spotlight of the NBA Playoffs, he’s finally getting his much overdue recognition.  Coach Mark Jackson said it best:  ”Everyone’s rushing to the hospital, but the baby’s been born for a while already.”

Quentin Haynes (@Haynesenburg) – Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry

Golden State looked to be done after the loss of David Lee in game one, but consider this: Without Andre Miller’s explosion in game one, the Warriors would’ve swept Denver. Insane to me. I felt like I didn’t have a grip on this series going in, but it’s crazy to think how Golden State looks to be the better team. I’m curious to see what Denver does in the offseason if they lose this series. As for Curry, I’m an avid fan of ranking players in the league, and Curry was one of those people who always gave me fits. After this series? I have no qualms with Curry in anyone’s top 25. He’s just a fantastic offensive player.

Apr 25, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls small forward Luol Deng (9) drives during the first quarter of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Luol Deng hasn’t played since Game 5 of the Bulls first round series against the Nets. Despite his absence, the Bulls were able to squeak out a Game 7 victory to move on to the second round.

Unfortunately for the Bulls, they will still be without Deng for the start of their second round series against the Heat. According to Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago, Deng is officially out for Game 1 tonight against the Heat.

Thibs says Deng is officially out. Hinrich is doing a little better and will be a game time decision tonight.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) May 6, 2013

The more disconcerting news is that doctors still don’t know what exactly is wrong with the Bulls’ All-Star forward.

Thibs says he spoke to Deng this morning. He is out of the hospital. They still aren’t sure exactly what is wrong.

— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) May 6, 2013

The Bulls’ chances of winning this series were slim-to-none with a healthy team, but without Deng, there’s no way Chicago can take down the dominant Heat.

This wasn’t so much a fight, just Robinson pushing Watson and then stumbling into the scorer’s table. In calling double technicals, (which are terrible and should be gotten rid of) the refs punished Watson for getting pushed, which makes zero sense.

Anyways, not much to see here.

(Thanks to @SBNationNBA for the .gif)

Brooklyn Nets Breakdown

Biggest Strength:  Star Power

Of course, I’m referring to 2013 All-Star Center Brook Lopez and usually-a-perennial-All-Star Deron Williams.  After a difficult first half of the season, D-Will has returned to becoming one of the league’s elite point guards that we have grown accustomed to seeing. Meanwhile, Lopez has propelled himself into one of the league’s best big men, doing his best to back up Shaq’s labeling of him as the league’s best center.  Joakim Noah is very well equipped defensively to contain Lopez, but the Bulls should not have an answer for D-Will at his best.  Kirk Hinrich is a decent defender at the point, but the Bulls will be at D-Will’s mercy whenever Hinrich’s backup, 5’7” Nate Robinson, is defending him.  I suspect that the Bulls will put either Luol Deng or at times, Jimmy Butler, in the game to try to contain Williams.  Nevertheless, I see a huge series coming from D-Will – especially in a year he has been downgraded from elite stardom status in the eyes of many.

Biggest Weakness:  Outside Shooting

Despite having one of the best scoring backcourts in the NBA in Williams and Joe Johnson, the Nets’ offensive attack is relatively limited by their lack of perimeter shooters.  C.J. Watson and Marshon Brooks can occasionally get hot, but the rest of the team is full of mediocre shooters.  As a result, it is difficult for the team to spread the floor and give Lopez enough room to operate in the paint.  In order to compensate, Williams and Johnson will have to heat up from the outside for the Nets to steal four games from a tough defensive squad like Chicago.

X-Factor: Reggie Evans

Evans is going to be a huge key for Brooklyn.  Can he sustain the rebounding magic he has done all year?  If so, he can give the Nets as much of a boost as he provided the Clippers in last year’s playoffs vs. Memphis’s big team.   With the likes of Noah and Carlos Boozer patrolling the paint, they will need Evans to be heavily active on the glass.  Evans, along with Humphries, has helped the Nets become one of the league’s best rebounding teams – ranking 2^nd in the league in Rebound Rate.

Chicago Bulls Breakdown

Biggest Strength: Low Post Defense

Chicago is one of the toughest teams to score on in the paint – not just because of pure defensive skill, but toughness as well.  At all times on the floor, you will see some combination of Noah, Boozer, and Taj Gibson.  Boozer is not a great one-on-one defender, but Noah is one of the best off-the-ball defenders that has been great at weak side help all season long.  Also, Luol Deng and Jimmy Butler will do their best to contain perimeter penetration, and make the lives of the frontcourt defenders easier.  If D-Will is going to make several trips to the hoop, he is going to take a serious beating along with them.  Just ask LeBron.

Biggest Weakness: Scoring

We all know that the Bulls are a great defensive team under Tom Thibodeau’s legendary defensive schemes.  But do they have enough home run hitters?  With Rip Hamilton being gimpy all season long, Luol Deng is going to have to carry a huge offensive load for this team.  They will also have to rely on Nate Robinson giving them a spark off the bench, something he is well capable of doing on any given night.  But over the course of a seven game series, it’s going to be tough for the Bulls to score consistently.

X-Factor:  Derrick Rose

Easily, D-Rose’s presence on the court – even if only a few minutes – could propel the Bulls past the first round.  The elephant in the room all season long has been when he would be ready to play.  I think he will only feel the need to return if his team needs a lift, a scenario that I think is extremely likely.  Keeping him out of the regular season is one thing, but I think he won’t be able to help himself if he thinks his team needs him in the playoffs.

Prediction:  Bulls in 7

Last year vs. the 76ers, Rose was in the Bulls lineup and, prior to his disastrous ACL injury, not one soul thought they would get upset by Philadelphia.  This year, they are prepared to move forward without him, and Tom Thibodeau has strategized accordingly.  However, I do predict that Rose will return for the Bulls’ first home game to give his team, and the city of Chicago, an inspirational lift.  He most likely won’t produce All-Star caliber numbers that we’ve seen in the past, but his presence alone can will his team to a first round victory.

This will be a very evenly matched series.  Both teams are capable of scoring in transition and in the half court – most conspicuously in the latter (both teams rank in the bottom 5 in Pace Factor).  The Nets’ first playoff season as a Brooklyn franchise should be entertaining, but Chicago will be a tough out for them – especially if Rose comes back.

Feb 28, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose (1) warms up before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

At this point of the season, you have to wonder whether or not Chicago Bulls centerpiece, Derrick Rose, will even return to action this year. Right now, the Bulls find themselves in the 5th spot in the East, sporting a record of 35-28. If they’re not careful though, they could potentially see the Boston Celtics pass them and if the Milwaukee Bucks went on a decent sized run, they might be able to jump over the Bulls as well. The Celtics are only a half game behind them and the Bucks are trailing Chicago by three games. Most likely, the men in green will be able to sprint past the Bulls. As for the Bucks, I can’t really say for sure because it would take a good sized streak and a good number of losses for the Bucks and Bulls respectively. It doesn’t appear as though the Bulls are about to lay down and die, but the Bucks have been sporadic all season long so they may have another winning streak in them.

I had been reading a lot about how great Rose has looked in 5-on-5 drills in practice. In addition, I had been hearing about him dunking with no problem. This was a few weeks ago and when I originally became aware of these stories I thought that he would be back relatively soon. Well, I guess I was wrong to believe such a thing because Rose has still yet to suit up for the Bulls in 2012-13.

As recently as today, ESPN reported that doctors had cleared Rose to play in games. Despite the news, it was also reported that the point guard would not play until he could confidently dunk off his left foot. The problem with that news is that it’s hard to speculate when Rose will return to Chicago’s lineup. Only Rose knows where he’s at with his development. In turn, that leaves us as members of the media or fans of the sport in a helpless situation. All we can do is sit around, keep our eyes and ears open, and wait for the announcement that Rose is making his return.

In all honesty, I’m getting a little bit frustrated with Derrick Rose and I’m sure I’m not the only one. He’s been playing great in practice and he’s dunking again. Not to mention that even before today, doctors had told Rose he could play without any consequences. Physically, Rose is there but it’s the mental aspect that is lagging behind. I understand that’s to be expected because there’s always the thought in the back of your mind that it could happen again. Besides, Rose isn’t know to be the most mentally tough player in the league. If you recall in recent years, Rose almost had a breakdown because he admitted that he wasn’t sure if he could handle the pressure of being a top tier talent on basketball’s biggest stage. I’m not sure if he’s dealing with any private issues but one thing is certain, Derrick Rose is mentally fragile.

Apr 28, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls injured point guard Derrick Rose (1) is helped off the court by medical staff during the fourth quarter in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at the United Center. The Bulls won 103-91. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Last year, Rose missed a significant amount of time and only appeared in 39 games. The Bulls were still able to play their way to the top seed in the East Conference going into the post season. In 2012-13 Chicago is already 61 games deep and currently sits in 6th in Eastern Conference. While they have been playing good basketball this season, it doesn’t matter whether they get the first or eighth seed in the East because they aren’t going to win a title without Derrick Rose. If he does in fact return this season, he’ll only be able to play in less than 20 regular season games and then the first round of the post season will be here before he knows it. That’s a big “if” though seeing as Rose has stated that he wouldn’t mind missing this whole season. That’s bad news for the fans in Chicago because that means this is just another year of the Bulls being an above average team but not good enough to win a championship.

Like I said before, only Derrick Rose knows where he’s at on his road to recovery. Anything we hear is just “he said, she said,” until we see him in a Bulls uniform. It will definitely be disappointing if Rose decides to call it a year and he makes us wait to see him play until the 2013-14 season. Plus, Adidas might be knocking on his front door asking for the money they gave him for “The Return” commercial.

Follow @TimMaclean_StS

Feb 22, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Chicago Bulls power forward Taj Gibson (22) fights rebounds against Charlotte Bobcats small forward Jeff Adrien (4) during the second half at Time Warner Arena. Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports

After getting blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night, things didn’t get any better for the Chicago Bulls on Monday as they learned that Taj Gibson will be out for up to two weeks.

Gibson hurt his knee during the game, and later went to get an MRI. A report from the Chicago Tribune’s K.C. Johnson has this to say about the injury,

“At least Gibson’s MRI didn’t reveal a torn ACL, although it did confirm a sprained MCL that could sideline the defensive-minded forward up to two weeks.”

The 6’ 9” Gibson has averaged about 8 points and 5.5 rebounds while playing about 22 minutes a night backing up Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.

Losing Gibson will be tough for the already short-handed Bulls to deal with. His injuy means that Nazr Mohammed will now be the first big man off the bench.

Gibson is a great defender off the bench, as evidenced by his 1.5 blocks per game and 99.6 defensive rating (17^th in the league). He is able to keep up the level of defense played by Joakim Noah led starting unit.

The Bulls have a tough stretch coming up, including two big games against Eastern Conference foes Indiana and Brooklyn this weekend. And without Gibson, it will be even tougher for this weary Bulls team.

Mar 12, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; The Chicago Bulls celebrate the 20th anniversary of their first NBA Championship during halftime against the Utah Jazz at the United Center. (L-R) Scott Williams , Tex Winter , Dennis Hopson , John Paxson , Horace Grant , Craig Hodges , Stacey King , Michael Jordan , Will Purdue , Scottie Pippen and Cliff Levingston. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

I think we’re past the point where I need to explain how big of a basketball fan I am. That should be a given by now if you’ve read some of my stuff from the past. But I do want to explain how far it actually goes. From ages 3 until 8 my loving parents allowed me to keep a Little Tikes basketball hoop set up in the living room of our apartment. When we moved to a bigger house when I was 8, they let me devote a whole room to that same hoop. I am, and always have been consumed by basketball. My dad had me shooting baskets and catching stuffed basketballs before I could even walk. On a home video of my 3^rd birthday party, my parents pull me aside and make me tell them the starting lineups of a few teams in the NBA. Even though I clearly watched a ton of hoops before I started pre-school, the game furthest back that I can actually recall sitting down and watching as it happened occurred when I was six years old. It was Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals. Coincidentally, this was the last game Michael Jordan ever played in a Chicago Bulls uniform. It’s only appropriate that a basketball fan like me would remember basketball’s greatest legend play in his final meaningful game. And since today is MJ’s 50^th birthday, I thought to myself, “Hey, why don’t I go retro and put together a running diary of this landmark game in NBA history?” So that is exactly what I did. Buckle yourself in, we’re going on a wild ride back to 1998!

Pre-Game
The pre-game introductions starts with Bob Costas describing Game 5 as if it were a dramatic play. I love and miss the NBA on NBC with a passion, but one thing I will give ABC credit for is nailing their pre-game NBA Finals intro. Costas takes the drama theme even further as they show a number of players arriving at the Delta Center for the game, by calling them the cast of characters. Yes, Dennis Rodman is certainly a “character.” We enter the arena and Bob Costas spouts off a bunch of scenarios surrounding this series. He tells us that no team has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit to win an NBA Finals, but six teams have done that in earlier rounds, including 3 teams who went on to win an NBA Championship. He concludes by telling us that if Utah wins this game, then they would have the edge in the series since very few teams have ever won a Game 7 on the road. Essentially, what Bob Costas is telling us is that he has no effing idea what is going to happen.

Costas (well-respected as a sportscaster, but absolutely horrendous as a play-by-play guy for the NBA) is joined by Doug Collins (overqualified for the job) and Isiah Thomas, (even more terrible than Costas) who makes his splash in the pre-game show when he butchers Jordan’s, Pippen’s and Kukoc’s stats from Game 5. Here is what Isiah tells us, word for word:

“Now it took Kukoc 11 field goes… Kukoc made 11 field goals on 42… ugh… on 13 shots… Pippen and Jordan took 42 field goals to combine for 11 field goal attempts. I think for the big three, they gonna have to play well tonight, and all of them gonna have to big effort here Bob.”

Yes, I’m aware that is a grammatical disaster. I’m just quoting the man.

1^st Quarter
Ahmad Rashad and Jim Gray give us the pre-game injury report and we find out that Scottie Pippen is suffering from a back injury and received all different sorts of treatment before the game. Ron Harper has the flu, Howard Eisley has Vertigo, and now I’m Googling the symptoms to Vertigo.

One more thing to keep in mind, in 1998 my Dad and I were huge Bulls fans and oddly enough, my Mom was a semi-insane Jazz fan. My Dad and I watched the game in our living room, and my Mom watched about 15 feet away in our dining room. Tense times in the Giuliano household.

11:40- Pippen scores the first basket of the game on a dunk and aggravates his already injured back. This sets the scene for Michael Jordan having to shoot 35 times.

11:00- Bob Costas tells us that Luc Longley “has contributed little offensively, and been abused defensively by Malone.” Ladies and gentlemen, Luc Longley!

10:45- After Jim Gray tells us pre-game that Karl Malone was going to attack the basket early and often, Malone’s first shot is a fadeaway. Apparently he didn’t get the updated scouting report. I bet Jim Gray didn’t expect to be interviewing LeBron James twelve years later when he decided to take his talents to South Beach. This is probably because LeBron James was 13 years old at the time of this game.

8:49- Costas says he doesn’t want to compare Pippen’s back injury to Jordan’s flu game, but he does anyways. Pippen goes on to do everything he possibly can to make him look like a fool for making the comparison.

7:50- Jordan hits a turnaround jumper over John Stockton for his first score of the game. Bulls are up 10-8. After seeing how Stockton acknowledged that nobody would be able to distinguish him as a member of the Dream Team on NBA TV’s The Dream Team special, I can’t help but think he would also be able to acknowledge that guarding Jordan in the post might be a little bit of a tall order for him.

7:00- Scottie Pippen connects on a jump hook and falls hard to the court afterwards. He can barely run back down the court. His gait is very similar to Mike Miller’s.

My DVD fast forwards to about 3 minutes left in 1^st quarter and Chicago up 18-14. Jordan is in the game with Dennis Rodman, Steve Kerr, Bill Wennington and someone named Scott Burrell. I don’t know this for sure, but I have to imagine that as long as Jordan is on the court with this group, he is going to be shooting the ball approximately 97% of the time.

2:20- Jeff Hornacek hits a transition 3 and the roof comes off at Delta Center. It still holds true to a degree, but Utah used to have an absolutely insane home crowd. The OKC/Utah comparisons definitely are warranted. And by the way, when is the next time an NBA player is going to have the nickname “Horny”?

0:15- A great sequence to bring the 1^st quarter to an end: A Karl Malone runner followed by a Jordan jumper over Bryon Russell (foreshadowing!!!), topped off by another Malone runner plus the foul to put Utah up 25-22 at the end of the quarter. This great play by the incredibly muscular Malone leads to Doug Collins saying “See Bob, that’s what I’m talking about being aggressive… Isiah. Taking the ball to the basket.” Not only does Doug Collins have to do his best to pull Isiah out of his comatose state, but he also has to deal with Bob Costas calling the game like he’s a radio announcer. Collins is doing his best 2007 LeBron James impression in this three-man announce booth.

2^nd Quarter
The 2^nd quarter starts with much less than a bang. On the court to kick things off are Steve Kerr, Toni Kukoc, Jud Buechler, Bill Wennington, Ron Harper, Scott Burrell, Shandon Anderson, Howard Eisley, Antoine Carr, Greg Foster and Chris Morris. Let me quickly recap the happenings of that horrible 3 minute stretch of basketball… Two horrible Greg Foster turnovers, a few Kukoc heavy possessions for Chicago, and a 30 footer from Howard Eisley that was waved off because of a shot clock violation, even though it clearly wasn’t.

DVD fast forwards to 5:52 left in 2^nd quarter and Utah leads 34-33. Ahmad Rashad tells us it’s uncertain if Pippen will return. So much for Flu Game part II.

5:40- With Jordan at the free throw line, Bob Costas, oozing with informational nuggets, tells us that Jordan hasn’t missed a game since returning from baseball. In the Bulls six title seasons Jordan missed a total of 6 games. Taking it a step further, aside from the ’85-’86 season where Jordan broke his ankle, and the ’94-’95 season where he played in the final 17 games of the season after returning from retirement, Jordan missed only 7 games in his entire career. That’s absolutely crazy. The man was a workhorse.

3:50- Malone scores in the paint with Rodman guarding him, and good lord is Karl Malone jacked. I get the body comparisons to LeBron to a degree, but nobody in the NBA right now has bigger arms that Karl Malone did. He’s got 18 for the game. At the other end, Jordan answers with a 3 bringing his point total to 19. Game’s tied, 39-39.

3:15- Not to be outdone by MJ, Karl Malone hits a fadeaway jumper over Rodman to bring his total up to 20 for the game. Bob Costas is talking like he has a fuzzy feeling in his stomach.

For some odd reason, my DVD decides to fast forward through the remaining 2 minutes of the 1^st half. Going into the 3^rd quarter Utah leads 49-45.

3^rd Quarter
11:40- Karl Malone blows by Luc Longley for an easy lay in. Longley’s feet move slower than the water level rises in the Great Salt Lake. Not to be outdone, Adam Keefe gets burned by Toni Kukoc on the other end. RIP to the era where guys like Luc Longley and Adam Keefe are starters in an NBA Finals game.

The DVD fast forwards a bit to half way through the 3^rd quarter. Utah is leading 54-51.We see a clip of Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman getting tangled up 3 times, and both falling over 3 straight times. Later in the summer of 1998, Dennis Rodman would team with Hollywood Hulk Hogan to face Karl Malone and Diamond Dallas Page at WCW’s Bash at the Beach pay-per-view.

4:10- Jerry Sloan calls on Antoine Carr to enter the game. Carr sprints over to the scorer’s tables, rips off his warm up jacket and throws it as hard as he could to the ground. He looks like an overexcited mid-card wrestler who is about to enter the Royal Rumble.

1:30- Isiah Thomas tells us that Luc Longley needs to get involved in the Chicago offense. Apparently the Knicks didn’t get ahold of the commentary from this game before they hired Isiah as President of Basketball Operations AND Head Coach.

3^rd quarter ends with a badly missed Luc Longley jumper, then an Adam Keefe layup over Longley with one tenth of a second left. Longley doesn’t play at all in the 4^th quarter. Utah leads 66-61.

4^th Quarter
11:10- Jordan hits a jumper over Shandon Anderson which leads Bob Costas to exclaim, “He’s still Michael Jordan.” I think Costas was the only one who was confused about this concept.

10:30- Dennis Rodman hits a 20 foot jumper and gives an exaggerated shrug afterwards. Shades of MJ in 1992. Bulls trail 68-67.

9:40- Chris Morris scores on a nice baseline reverse lay-up. Chicago calls timeout and the Delta Center blasts “Are you ready for this?” I miss the days where arena’s played music like this instead of LMFAO and Pitbull.

9:16- We see a close-up of Jud Buechler during a timeout after Isiah calls him the X-Factor for the Bulls right now. The amount of shoulder and chest hair Buechler has makes it easy for me to identify with him. I’m looking for a Jud Buechler jersey on eBay right now.

7:27- Jordan is attacking the basket relentlessly. On top of the 35 shots he took in this game, Jordan would also take 15 free throws. 45 points on 35 shots isn’t terribly efficient, but look at the offensive weapons Jordan had alongside him this game. A hobbled Pippen and Toni Kukoc were his next best options. And keep in mind; this was the 103^rd game of the season for the Bulls, and the 304^th game that a 35 year old Jordan had played since November 1995. He was running on empty.

5:45- NBC shows the stat line for Dennis Rodman on the night: 6 points, 7 rebounds, 4 fouls, 1 exaggerated Jordanesque shrug, 12 piercings, 3 different colors in his hair, roughly 30 tattoos, and 1 future appearance on Celebrity Mole (which he would win). In retrospect, it’s really surprising that Dennis Rodman isn’t the NBA player that changed his name to Metta World Peace. Buechler update: There are no jersey’s on eBay (I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised), but there are a decent amount of autographed basketball cards listed for cheap prices. I’m tempted.

3:00- After a missed three, Jordan intercepts a long outlet pass from Hornacek to Russell. One thing that gets lost in the shuffle when talking about MJ is not only what a great defender he was, but also his sense of the moment. We know about the game winning shots, but MJ had a knack for making more plays late in games other than just scoring. More on this in a second.

2:30- After a Karl Malone wing jumper, the Jazz lead 83-79. Jordan has 37, Malone has 31.

1:10- Stockton misses a three pointer late in the shot clock, and Jordan collects his first and only rebound of the game. Jordan also had just one assist. Not exactly filling the stat sheet, but he did what he had to do for Chicago to get the win. Oops, spoiler alert.

0:42- Hard to believe it, but this is the first real mention of John Stockton so far, perhaps the greatest pure point guard of all-time. After two MJ free throws, Stockton buries a three from the right wing and the Delta Center erupts. Also, as this was happening at the time, my mom just went nuts from the dining room and I likely started crying. I can’t say this for sure, but she probably laughed at me if I did cry. She was obsessed with the Utah Jazz. She had no idea her heart was about to be ripped out by one Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

0:37- After a timeout, Chicago scores quickly after MJ blows by Bryon Russell and finishes the lay up over Antoine Carr. At the time, every Utah Jazz fan within the Delta Center was fearfully chanting “Let’s Go Jazz!” Now, if there are any reading this, they are probably cringing knowing what is about to happen next.

0:30- You might as well just watch how it unfolds.

On one hand, it is fitting for the consensus “Greatest player of all-time” to end his final game with 45 points and a game winning dagger on the road. On the other hand, and forgive me for bringing this up, this 45 point performance isn’t nearly as impressive as LeBron James’s overall brilliance in the NBA Finals last year, or the stretch he’s in the midst of right now. But that’s another discussion for another time.

Happy Birthday, MJ.

Dec 29, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) dunks the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at the United Center. Chicago defeats Washington 87-77. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls are charging through the NBA. And yet, they’re still hovering in the middle of the Eastern Conference, and can be unconvincing against weaker clubs. For example, they gifted the Charlotte Bobcats a win on new year’s eve, only narrowly beat the Orlando Magic a couple of days later, and then struggled with the feeble Cleveland Cavaliers. The other problem is that their leader and best player, Derick Rose, is still rehabbing his injured knee. Kirk Heinrich may wear stylish goggles, but he’s not quite the head turner Rose is.

So as you might expect, without Rose in the line-up, Chicago doesn’t seem to scare teams the way they should, especially those plucky enough to stare them down. After all, their makeshift backcourt is full of journeyed veterans, while big men Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are often seen to undermine the group as much as impact it—one being too soft, the other sometimes going in too hard.

But that’s all just perception, not reality. When both Noah and Boozer play with determination, like in their recent showing against the reigning champs, the Miami Heat, the results can be devastating. In particular, Chicago’s front court, including Luol Deng and Taj Gibson, can rebound with ferocity. When facing a poor rebounding team like Miami, that’s a tasty recipe on par with the city’s deep dish pizza. In their recent meeting, the Bulls out-swept the Heat on the glass 48-28 (with a whopping 19-4 on the offensive end). And you guessed it, Noah and Boozer led  with 12 boards apiece.

What I really like about their combined effort against the Heat, is the sharing of responsibility. They split their rebounding tally evenly on the offensive and defensive ends, and also shot the ball with efficiency (Boozer was 12 of 17 for 27 points, Noah 5 of 11 for 13 points). The Bulls can compete with anyone in the East when their bigs see red like this—even without their spectacular playmaker, Rose. Boozer and Noah realize this, which is why seeing them stand-up to LeBron James and Co. is exciting.

Noah was said to be fighting through a flu before the game, and yet he was relentless in attack. You have to hand it to the Bulls’ center, who may irritate opponents with his self-proclaimed energy—pogoing, reaching and clawing at the play whenever he can. He may not be as reflective or eloquent as his father, tennis great Yannick Noah, but he’s equally instinctive, and willing to scrap for mere inches.

While the Heat like to skip behind the defense and toss up lobs, or isolate James, or Dwayne Wade—constantly seeking highlight-reel dunks—the Bulls tend to tough it out in the paint. They set picks, find spaces, and make clever bounce passes to players moving to the hoop. They chase up missed shots, and challenge the interior. In this recent defeat of their relatively new rival, the Bulls outscored Miami inside 46-34. Some of these differentials may seem trivial in January. But when you consider they’re doing all this without their catalyst, Rose, a player who makes his living at the rim, then the sky might just be the limit for these Bulls.

No they can’t fly—not without Rose. But they’ll hang around, and in a long NBA season, that can be equally valuable for a championship run.

Dec 22, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard Nate Robinson (2) in action against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Robinson may be playing for his job every single game until January 10th for the Chicago Bulls, but it’s nothing new for the scrappy 28 year old point guard. Until the 10th of January, the Bulls can waive Robinson at no cost to them, a stipulation that was a part of the $1.1 million non-guaranteed contract he signed during the offseason. If Robinson were to leave the Bulls and be picked up elsewhere, it would make it his sixth career team and fifth in four seasons. Once the whipping boy for the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, Robinson seems to have finally matured and deserves to retain his place on the Bulls’ roster to finally find some solidarity in his career.

In 28 games for the Chicago Bulls, Robinson has thus far matched his form last season with the Golden State Warriors, where he played 51 games. Robinson is contributing 11.2 points, 3.5 assists and 2 rebounds per contest on 43% shooting from the field. His figures are more than enough to warrant a contract, but that isn’t the issue at hand. His on-court performance wasn’t the issue either when he was without a free agent offer in 2009, despite a career best year that saw Robinson put up 17.2 points, 4.1 assist and 3.9 rebounds per contest. The issue has always, and will always be, the maturity of the native of Seattle.

Robinson has been a magnet of controversy and criticism from the start of his career, intensified by the bright lights of his first home at the New York Knicks. Acquiring from the Suns on a draft day trade, Robinson came to the Knicks in 2006 following a disappointing 33-49 season beforehand. As a first round pick, expectations were high for the former Husky who managed to perform well in 72 games during his rookie year. But trouble off the court had already begun to find him, with Robinson reportedly clashing with teammate Malik Rose and Denver’s J.R. Smith on separate occasions; the latter earning him a 10 game suspension. Later in December 2009, Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni clashed with Nate Robinson over his decision not to play Robinson.  The saga wore on through December, culminating when Robinson’s agent Aaron Goodwin publicly requested his client be moved. In February, Robinson was dealt to the contending Boston Celtics.

The move away from the Knicks saw the beginning of the new Nate Robinson. His statistics went down across with board along with his minutes, but his reputation began the slow but sure process of repairing itself after five tough years with the Knicks. His mettle was tested however, as he was benched in April 2010, merely four months after his last DNP-CD. The Celtics faithful held their  collective breath in fear their new acquisition would lash out as he did in New York and disrupt the team’s preparation for the playoffs. However, Robinson surprised the basketball world with his surprisingly humble stance on the matter.

“Whenever my number is called, I’ll be ready to play. I know he has his guys that have been here for a while. I just have to wait, and whenever my number is called, however many minutes I play, just be ready to produce and help this team get over that extra hump.” Robinson told CSN New England at the time.

The work on repairing his character has translated to new contract offers and a chance to play premium minutes again. Starting with the Warriors and then with the Bulls, Robinson has gone from a man who cost himself dollars and minutes with his me-first attitude to an asset who’s now known as a scoring combo guard with hustle that will keep him in the league long after his 43 inch vertical leap has diminished.

Don’t take the new found selflessness to mean Nate Robinson isn’t still about having fun though. He ran into strife in October for throwing an off-the-backboard alley oop pass to Jimmy Lucas for a breakaway dunk in the second quarter of the Bulls’ 100-94 victory over the Bucks. Coach Tom Thibodeau wasn’t thrilled, but managed to find a positive within it.

via Chicago Sun-Times

“Yeah, we talked about it,’’ Thibodeau said. “Obviously I didn’t like the play. I like the unselfishness, though, and I told him that. I liked the fact that he saw Jimmy coming down, and he wanted to drop it off to him and let him score. Other than that play, I thought he did a lot of good things for us. I just want him to channel that the right way. I want him to make winning basketball plays, and I want that to be first and foremost, and I think it’s important to respect the game.”

The Chicago Bulls are carrying a guard heavy rotation at the moment with Kirk Hinrich, Marquis Teague, Marco Belinelli and Richard Hamilton all joining Robinson in the backcourt rotation. With it seeming more and more likely that we’ll see Derrick Rose back on the hardwood this season, it seems like someone has to leave the Windy City to free up some minutes in the rotation. Cutting anyone from that talented backcourt will be tough, but the Bulls will be making a big mistake if the man that goes is the rejuvenated Nate Robinson.

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Celtics (10-9) 94 @ 76ers (11-8) 95 – OT

• Leading scorers: BOS – Paul Pierce 27, PHI – Evan Turner 26.
• Leading rebounds: BOS – Rajon Rondo 13, PHI – Thaddeus Young 12.
• Leading assists: BOS – Rajon Rondo 14, PHI – Evan Turner 5.

Nuggets (10-10) 92 @ Pacers (10-10) 89

• Leading scorers: DEN – Corey Brewer, JaVale McGee 20, IND – Paul George 22.
• Leading rebounds: DEN – JaVale McGee 8, IND – David West 11.
• Leading assists: DEN – Danilo Gallinari, Andre Miller 8, IND - George Hill 10.

Warriors (12-7) 109 @ Nets (11-7) 102

• Leading scorers: GSW – David Lee 30, BKN – Joe Johnson 32.
• Leading rebounds: GSW – David Lee 15, BKN – Andray Blatche 15.
• Leading assists: GSW – Jarrett Jack 8, BKN – Deron Williams 8.

Wizards (2-14) 95 @ Hawks (11-5) 104

• Leading scorers: WAS – Kevin Seraphin 19, ATL – Josh Smith 23.
• Leading rebounds: WAS – Kevin Seraphin 7, ATL – Josh Smith 15.
• Leading assists: WAS – A.J. Price 6, ATL – Devin Harris, Jeff Teague 6.

Bulls (10-8) 108 @ Pistons (6-15) 104

• Leading scorers: CHI – Joakim Noah 30, DET – Rodney Stuckey 24.
• Leading rebounds: CHI – Joakim Noah 23, DET – Jason Maxiell 9.
• Leading assists: CHI – Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich 6, DET – Rodney Stuckey 7.

Grizzlies (14-3) 96 @ Hornets (5-13) 89

• Leading scorers: MEM – Rudy Gay 28, NOH – Ryan Anderson, Brian Roberts, Austin Rivers 15.
• Leading rebounds: MEM – Marc Gasol 9, NOH – Jason Smith 5.
• Leading assists: MEM – Mike Conley 9, NOH – Greivis Vasquez 8.

Cavaliers (4-16) 73 @ Timberwolves (9-9) 91

• Leading scorers: CLE – Alonzo Gee 16, MIN – Kevin Love 36.
• Leading rebounds: CLE – Anderson Varejao 14, Kevin Love 13.
• Leading assists: CLE – Daniel Gibson 4, MIN - Luke Ridnour 7.

Bobcats (7-11) 93 @ Bucks (9-9) 108

• Leading scorers: CHA - Gerald Henderson 19, MIL – Ersan Ilyasova 21.
• Leading rebounds: CHA – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 11, MIL – Ersan Ilyasova 12.
• Leading assists: CHA – Kemba Walker 6, MIL – Brandon Jennings 8.

Rockets (9-9) 92 @ Spurs (16-4) 114

• Leading scorers: HOU – James Harden 29, SAN – Tony Parker 17.
• Leading rebounds: HOU – Jeremy Lin 6, SAN – Tim Duncan 12.
• Leading assists: HOU – Patrick Patterson, James Harden 5, SAN – Tony Parker 7.

Raptors (4-16) 99 @ Jazz (11-10) 131

• Leading scorers: TOR – Andrea Bargnani 20, UTA – Paul Millsap 20.
• Leading rebounds: TOR – Andrea Bargnani 8, UTA – Paul Millsap 10.
• Leading assists: TOR – Kyle Lowry 4, UTA – Mo Williams 10.

Lakers (9-11) 108 @ Thunder (16-4) 114

• Leading scorers: LAL – Kobe Bryant 35, OKC – Kevin Durant 36.
• Leading rebounds: LAL – Dwight Howard 18, OKC – Kevin Durant 9.
• Leading assists: LAL – Kobe Bryant 7, OKC – Russell Westbrook 8.

Magic (7-12) 82 @ Kings (6-12) 91

• Leading scorers: ORL – Glen Davis 20, SAC – DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas 17.
• Leading rebounds: ORL – Glen Davis 11, SAC – DeMarcus Cousins 14.
• Leading assists: ORL – Jameer Nelson 6, SAC – DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas 4.

Nov 26, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Milwaukee Bucks point guard Beno Udrih (19) is defended by Chicago Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer (5) during the second half at the United Center. The Bucks beat the Bulls 93-92. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Spurs (12-3) 118 @ Wizards (0-12) 92

• Leading scorers: SAN – Boris Diaw 16, WAS - Jordan Crawford 19.
• Talk about an unbalance of power here as the Spurs drop the Wizards to 0-12.
• The Spurs had 7 players in double figures, shot 56.3% from the field and 56.5% from behind the arc.
• Tiago Splitter shined for the Spurs with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists in only 23 minutes.
• The Wiz were led by Jordan Crawford’s 19 points on 9-16 shooting.

Knicks (9-4) 89 @ Nets (9-4) 96 – OT

• Leading scorers: NYK – Carmelo Anthony 35, BKN – Brook Lopez 22.
• Brook Lopez continued his solid season with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks.
• Jerry Stackhouse turned back the clock to score 14 points off the bench and went 4-5 from three.
• Assists: Deron Williams 14, New York Knicks 14. Pretty pathetic for an overtime game.
• Tyson Chandler had a terrific game offensively with 28 points (on an insane 12-13 shooting) and 10 rebounds.
• Carmelo poured in 35 points but shot only 11 for 25. He also had 13 rebounds.

Trail Blazers (6-8) 101 @ Pistons (4-12) 108

• Leading scorers: POR – LaMarcus Aldridge 32, DET – Brandon Knight 26.
• All of the Pistons starters scored in double figures, led by Knight with 26 points (9-17 FG).
• Kyle Singler has been excellent since earning a starting spot. In this one he posted 16 points (6-7 FG, 3-3 3PT), 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Despite having the flu, Aldridge put up 32 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.
• Two of the Blazers key guys, Nic Batum and Damian Lillard combined to shoot 6 for 27 (22%).

Bucks (7-5) 93 @ Bulls (6-7) 92

• Leading scorers: MIL – Ersan Ilyasova 18, CHI – Richard Hamilton 30.
• The Bucks came back from a 27-point deficit in this game to win by a point. The 30-12 4th quarter might have had something to do with it.
• Was this the first Ersan Ilyasova sighting? After struggling all season, he put up 18 points and 6 rebounds in his first game off the bench.
• Richard Hamilton was the man for the Bulls with 30 points on 12 for 24 shooting.
• Carlos Boozer dropped in a double double of 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Cavaliers (3-11) 78 @ Grizzlies (10-2) 84

• Leading scorers: CLE – Dion Waiters, Anderson Varejao 15, MEM – Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph 19.
• Zach Randolph’s double double streak is broken! 19 points but only 8 boards for Z-Bo in this one. At 10-2, I’m sure the Grizzlies are panicking.
• This game had a total of 28 assists between both teams.
• Anderson Varejao continues his push toward the All-Star game with 15 more points and 22 more rebounds (now at 14.1 pts and 14.7 rebs for the season).

Bobcats (7-6) 69 @ Thunder (11-4) 114

• Leading scorers: CHA – Jeff Taylor 10, OKC – Kevin Durant 18.
• Yes, that score is correct.
• The Bobcats of old? The Thunder only led by 40 at halftime and held the Bobcats to 24 points. That’s all.
• Hasheem Thabeet’s best game as a pro? 13 points (5-6 FG) and 10 rebounds.
• Jeff Taylor led the Bobcats with 10 points (the only player in double figures for them). What? Were you expecting Kemba to have 32 when the team scores only 69?
• The ‘Cats shot a miserable 29.1% (23-79) from the field.

Nuggets (8-7) 103 @ Jazz (8-7) 105

• Leading scorers: DEN – Kenneth Faried 21, UTA – Al Jefferson 28.
• While Paul Millsap struggled, Big Al (28 pts, 10-15 FG) and Derrick Favors (19 pts, 7 rebs) picked up the slack for the Jazz.
• Jamaal Tinsley: 35 minutes, 15 points (3-6 3PT), 6 assists.
• The Nuggets shot 54.8% from the floor and still lost the game.
• Ty Lawson dropped in 16 points and dished 9 assists.

Hornets (4-9) 105 @ Clippers (8-6) 98

• Leading scorers: NOH – Greivis Vasquez 25, LAC – Caron Butler 33.
• Without Anthony Davis, the Hornets shock the Clippers in LA. The making of 15 of 25 threes certainly helped.
• Greivis Vasquez put up a solid 25 points (8-13 FG, 5-8 3PT), 10 assists and 6 rebounds.
• Caron Butler was unconscious, especially from behind the arc where he went 9-15 and 12-24 overall in scoring 33 points.
• Blake Griffin struggled with only 4 points on 1-9 shooting.
• The Clippers made 18 out of 37 threes overall.

Oct 23, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer (5) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) attempt to get a rebound during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Thunder (3-2) 97 @ Bulls (3-2) 91

• Leading scorers: OKC – Kevin Durant 24, CHI – Luol Deng 27.
• Serge Ibaka emerged with some offense for the Thunder. In 37 minutes, he posted 21 points (8-15 FG), 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.
• Kevin Durant got his points, 24 on 11-19 shooting, but only managed to grab 4 rebounds.
• Russell Westbrook finished with 16 points and 12 assists, but shot only 7-22 from the field (1-7 3PT).
• Luol Deng had his season high in scoring with 27, on 11-21 shooting.
• Joakim Noah had a solid all around game with 9 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists.

Clippers (4-2) 103 @ Trail Blazers (2-3) 90

•  Leading scorers: LAC – Jamal Crawford 25, POR – Nicolas Batum 23.
• It might be a reach, but could it be possible that Jamal Crawford leads this team in scoring? Another 25 points off the bench tonight, giving him a 21.8 average on the season. It will be unlikely once Billups/Hill return, but impressive nonetheless.
• DeAndre Jordan with another solid game: 21 points (8-10 FG) and 8 rebounds. Also, Shaq called him “the best center in the West.”
• There has been talk about “has Blake’s offensive game regressed” lately. He grabbed 10 boards in the game, but managed only 7 points.
• The Clippers won another battle on the glass, outrebounding the Blazers 44-31.
• Nic Batum got off to a slow start, but finished with 23 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.

BONUS: Toronto Recreational Sports League Box Score

RocNation (7-1) 41 @ Cannibals (3-5) 31 

• The Cannibals were shorthanded in this game, having only 4 starters (having to play the full 50 mintues), while RocNation had 2 bench players available.
• The Cannibals struggled on the offensive end, shooting only 31 for 74 (42%) from the field.
• Trewartha-Ledingham led the Cannibals with 5 blocked shots (almost a career high).
• Jardine had a team high 10 assists for the Cannibals.
• Watson led the Cannibals with 16 rebounds, 8 of them on the offensive glass.
• RocNation was led by their tallest player, who shot 85% from the field (shattering his career high) and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds.
• RocNation’s artist formerly known as “Ponytail” led all scorers with 7 buckets in the paint. He was also incredible on the defensive end with his “natural” defensive abilities.
• Alley Oops: RocNation 2, Cannibals 1.
• Epic Hygiene Fails: RocNation 1, Cannibals 0.