April 28, 2012: The Chicago Bulls finish as the #1 seed in the East for the second year in a row. After getting knocked out by Miami the previous year in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Bulls are looking for a rematch. They’re on another collision course. The first round matchup is against the 76ers. Game 1 is going according to plan, as the Bulls are pulling away, then it happens…
Three years later, the Bulls opened their 2015 playoff season at home against the Milwaukee Bucks. This time, the Bulls are the 3 seed. They still appear on a collision course with an LBJ team. First thing is first though… get through the first round. It was the first playoff game for Derrick Rose since that fateful afternoon in 2012; he and the Bulls looked ready to roll.
They didn’t play perfect. They had too many turnovers. Gasol didn’t have that great of a game. Mirotic was kind of quiet off the bench. They got the win, and more importantly, the Bulls entered this postseason 100% healthy (Hinrich missed game 1) for the first time in 3 seasons. As Bulls fans, this is all we could have asked for. As Bulls fans, this is what we’ve been waiting for. We’ve been waiting for that second chance. We’ve been waiting to get another shot to reach the Finals. It’s been three years coming…
Rose is finally healthy, and that’s one of the keys. In fact, I didn’t even recognize him out there. Who was this guy taking the ball to the rim with reckless abandon? Who was this guy initiating contact on both the offensive and defensive end? Who was this guy diving to the floor for a loose ball? Who was this guy waving to the crowd… pumping the UC crowd up, as he walked to the bench in the 1st quarter? You think we’ve waited a long time for this day. I think I know someone else who has waited just as long… who it’s been harder on than us… who looks raring to go. For a minute… for one game… I saw the Derrick Rose of old, and boy did that feel good. Rose poured in 23 points in this one. Yeah, he still shot 1 or 2 treys too many, and didn’t make every right decision, but man… he looked as good as he’s looked in a long time.
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Since that day 3 years ago, the Bulls have gotten better. They have another All Star guard… a player who has come into his own this year. A guy who bet on himself, and will watch the Bulls (hopefully) pay him for it. Jimmy Buckets lead all scorers with 25 points. That’s 48 for the starting backcourt if anybody’s counting. I remember someone who said they’d take this backcourt against any in the NBA… They showed up in a big way in Game 1 against the Bucks.
How about the rest of the team? I mentioned Gasol, who was huge for us, and will be huge for us… just not so much in this one. I mentioned Mirotic… rookie of the year candidate who will be asked to play some big minutes and make some big shots… just not so much in this one. Noah filled up the stat sheet, with a low point total. Dunleavy did OK. Brooks poured in 13 off the bench. Taj got 11 boards, and is someone else who sure looked ready for the playoffs to begin. Snell hit a couple shots. Yeah, it’s only game 1, and yeah, it’s only Milwaukee, but I liked what I saw.
The Bulls were supposed to win this one. Anyone with a half a brain picked the Bulls to win this series; I think that’s a safe bet. What lurks next? LBJ and company, this time in Cleveland, unless of course the Celtics pull off a miracle… not likely, unless you ask my buddy who’s a Celtics fan. Talk about three years coming… been waiting for this rematch for a long time. Yeah, it’s not the Miami Heat, but it’s still Lebron… and yeah, we’ve still never beaten him in a playoff series. I’m thinking we’re going to get another chance. First thing first though… 3 more wins against the Bucks. Go Bulls!
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