April 28, 2015: Counting Chickens

The poll on ESPN Chicago yesterday was if you thought the Bulls were going to close out the Bucks last night.  98% of us said yes.  98% of us were wrong.

It was supposed to be perfect.  Some free last minute tickets came available (thanks RG) and the family made the trip to the UC.  Heck, towards the end of the 3rd quarter, my son and I during one of our many laps around the 300 level, were approached by a gentleman about some seats in the 100 level; we took them, and ended up watching the 4th quarter from 14 rows off the court.  The stage was set for the win in the 4th quarter.  It didn’t happen.

Yeah, I’m guilty of it; I was counting my chickens before they hatched in this series, thinking the Bucks were simply a warm up for the Bulls on their way to the NBA Finals.  I did it last year with the Hawks and Kings and look what happened?  Now, we have ourselves a series.  How did this happen?

Well, last night, the Bucks took it to the Bulls.  They were the aggressors.  They were the team that wanted it more.  It was as if the Bulls thought they were just going to lay over and die.  To the Bucks credit, and I haven’t been dishing much of that out, they don’t quit.  They played hard.  They’ve been doing it all series, and some of it the dirty variety, seemingly the only way they could try to beat the Bulls, but last night, they took the fight to the Bulls, and really punched us in the mouth.

If we needed a wake up call, and Game 4 was not enough, we got one now.  They beat us at our own game.  The Bulls played good defense holding the Bucks to 42% shooting; the Bucks played better as we shot only 34%.  They had more rebounds, steals, and blocks then us; they out hustled us, in OUR house.  We have a wounded LBJ Cavs team waiting in the 2nd round, and we’re getting outplayed by the Bucks?!?!
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Looking a little closer at the numbers tells us why the Bulls lost.  Our star studded back court was 10 for 41 from the field.  Our other shooters, Dunleavy, Snell, Mirotic, Brooks, and Hinrich were a combined 3 for 17.  Last game we had a ton of turnovers, but still had a chance to win.  This game we shot like crap, but still had a chance to win.  That should make us feel a little better, but having the chance to win, and actually going out there and winning are two different things.

The Bulls weren’t playing with their trademark heart last night, and the fans noticed.  There were moments in the game, both early and late, where it was quiet; we were just waiting for a chance to explode… we were just waiting for that comeback to happen.  Why did the Bulls play so bad the last 2 games… at the worst possible time?  I don’t understand it.  I don’t understand why Gasol hasn’t been dominating this series, like he did vs the Bucks in the regular season.  He had a good game last night, but most of the games he’s been complaining to the officials and sitting outside taking jumpers; I’d think he’d be able to own Zaza down low.  I don’t understand how we think we can get by Cleveland playing like this… let alone get to the NBA Finals; I have another theory.

Yeah, leave it to me to bring Papa Vegas into the argument.  Looking at the foul calls, the Bucks had 5 more than the Bulls, which was shocking.  It seemed all night that the Bulls were getting NO calls; it seemed like down the stretch, the game wasn’t being called the same on both sides.  I guess I’m just looking for an excuse… but maybe, especially now that Love is out for the Cavs, Vegas and the NBA need to throw bettors off the Bulls scent.  They need to sway people to still bet the Cavs next round, and question the Bulls.  There I go again… counting chickens; but if there was a plan, it worked, because even I’m questioning the Bulls right now.

Do I think the Bucks will come back from 3-0 to actually win this series?  I don’t think I’ll go that far, but they have confidence now… it seemed like their entire team didn’t hesitate to take the ball to the rim against us all night long; we should be doing the same.  The young Bucks have confidence now, and are heading back home, where I’m thinking they’ll be a little less Bulls fans this time around; if I was a Bucks fan (I think I just threw up in my mouth), I wouldn’t sell my tickets; I’d be there… hoping to see a piece of history.  I don’t want to see history; not here, not now.  I want to see the heavy favorites play like the heavy favorites and put this upstart team to rest.  I want to see the Bulls Cavs series we’ve all been waiting for.  I want to see the Bulls play like they’re on their way to the NBA Finals.  I don’t always get what I want…