Over the weekend the plucky, Derrick Rose-less Chicago Bulls were able to defeat the Brooklyn Nets in game 7, advancing to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals and a the honor of most likely getting brushed aside by the powerful Miami Heat.
During the regular season, the Nets in their first year in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, went 49-33, up from 22-44 during the last years strike shortened season and locked in the 4th seed for the playoffs. The Bulls (again without former league MVP Derrick Rose, look for more on him later) fought and clawed their way to a 45-37 record and the 5th seed. The Nets were lead by a pair of max-contract stars in Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Without Rose the Bulls were led by Luol Deng (2013 salary $13.3 million) and Carlos Boozer ($15 million for 2013). The Nets have a team salary of $87.6 million and the Bulls have a team salary of $74.8 million. for the 2012-13 season. Both teams are over the salary cap and are paying luxury taxes.
The thing that I noticed the most watching this series (as a new Chicago resident I feel I must at least know what's going on sportswise) is that the Nets had the Bulls outgunned from the get go. After a decisive win in game 1, the Bulls won the next 3 including a thrilling 142-134 triple over time victory in game 4. After Williams had lit up the Bulls for 22 points and 7 assists, Kirk Hinrich (who's four years younger than Williams, makes 4 times less and is not as talented as Williams) locked Williams down defensively and held him to 8 points on 1-9 shooting and 10 assists. The Bulls let up 106 points in game 1 and really put the defensive clamps on the Nets in game 2 which led to a 90-82 win. It was more of the same for Williams in game 3, he was 5-14 from the field, finished with 18 points and 4 assists. Hinrich once again befuddled him defensively as the Bulls won 79-76.
In game 1 Joe Johnson was 7-13 from the field, 2-5 from 3 and finished with 16 points (a solid performance but nothing spectacular). When the Bulls amped up the D in games 2 & 3, Johnson shot terribly (game 2: 6-18 from the field and 3-7 from 3, game 3: 6-14 from the field and 1-4 from 3). To be fair Johnson was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis before the series but much to his credit he gave it a go and played with pain. The only issue I have with it was that the Bulls were depleted after game 4. Deng was out (Deng was so sick he had to have a spinal tap and practically had to be restrained from trying to make the team charter back to Brooklyn), Hinrich was out, Noah played the entire series on one leg essentially and Nate Robinson had the flu and was seen throwing up. Robinson & Noah still managed to elevate their games whereas Johnson did not (during the regular season Johnson shot 42.3% from th4 field, 37.5% from 3 to the tune of 16.3 ppg, his lowest output since the 2002-3 season, his first as a starter. In the playoffs he shot 41.7% from the field 25.6% from 3 and averaged 14.9 pppg. His stats got worse!). His injury does greatly affect his play but other guys were able to overcome their injuries.
In the epic game 4 triple overtime thriller, Williams scored 32 points (11-25 fg/5-11 3pt-fg) with 10 assists. Hinrich had 18 points (a much more efficient 7-12 from the field) and 14 assists. Williams was still outplayed by Hinrich and Joe Johnson finished with 22 points (9-20 fg) but seldom went to the line as he settled for jump shots all game. Nate Robinson had a huge game with 34 points (14-23 from the field). In game 5 with no Hinrich in his jock, Williams was able to get 23 points and 10 assists (Robinson couldn't guard Williams). Johnson in 39 minutes had 11 points in the 110-91 Nets win. In a closely contested game 6, the Nets prevailed 95-92 despite a underwhelming game from Johnson (17 points on 7-13 field goals, 1-3 3-pointers) and 17 points and 11 assists from Williams.
Which brings us to game 7. The Nets at home in front of a capacity crowd, the Bulls barely able to field a team and the momentum of having won the last 2 games of the series (in the NBA teams seldom come back from 3-1 down but if it was going to happen, this was the time). The Bulls built a 17 point halftime lead and managed to hold off the Nets to win the series. The Bulls got huge games from Marco Belinelli (24 points) and Joakim Noah (24 points 14 rebounds). Johnson was all but useless with 6 points (2-14 field goals) but Williams arguably had his best game since game 1 with 24 points and 7 assists but it wasn't enough.
Watching the game it seemed that the Nets just didn't want it as much as the Bulls. The commentators said that more than once during the series. Granted, the Nets pushed the series to a seventh game did it really need to go that far? They didn't lay down and die after a dramatic game 4 (the Nets came back from a big deficit only to lose the lead and then overtime) so they deserve credit for that...I guess. Their play at times was uninspired. It was as if they were saying, "even if we win, we get Miami in the next round so who cares?" Their uninspired play begins with their high priced "superstars." Williams kind of wilted away when Hinrich put the clamps on him and even after Hinrich went out, Williams never really took over like great players do. Johnson was hurt but still logged a lot of minutes. The thing is Noah had Plantar Fasciitis as well but that didn't stop him.The Bulls played with more heart. The team lost Rose in the playoffs over a year ago and they've yet to lay down and die.
The Nets look like a team satisfied with mediocrity. Williams and Johnson didn't show me much. Williams poor attitude forced legendary Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan to call it quits 54 games into the 2010-11 season because he no longer wanted to deal with Williams, though Sloan never won a title (lost to Jordan's Bulls twice) he did coach 2 hall of famers in Karl Malone and John Stockton so he must've been doing something right (Williams was traded not soon after, so the Jazz just wanted to get rid of him). The Nets fired Avery Johnson 28 games into this season and as of Monday 6 May, PJ Carlesimo was relieved of his interim coaching duties. That's 4 coaches in the last 3 seasons if you're counting.
It looks like the Nets are slowly becoming another Knicks. As in a team that's got talent but not really not that good, led by an overpriced "super star" and capable of lackluster play except without the ridiculousness of an owner like James Dolan (stay tuned for my opinions on Melo, I feel he's got it coming).
During the regular season, the Nets in their first year in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, went 49-33, up from 22-44 during the last years strike shortened season and locked in the 4th seed for the playoffs. The Bulls (again without former league MVP Derrick Rose, look for more on him later) fought and clawed their way to a 45-37 record and the 5th seed. The Nets were lead by a pair of max-contract stars in Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Without Rose the Bulls were led by Luol Deng (2013 salary $13.3 million) and Carlos Boozer ($15 million for 2013). The Nets have a team salary of $87.6 million and the Bulls have a team salary of $74.8 million. for the 2012-13 season. Both teams are over the salary cap and are paying luxury taxes.
The thing that I noticed the most watching this series (as a new Chicago resident I feel I must at least know what's going on sportswise) is that the Nets had the Bulls outgunned from the get go. After a decisive win in game 1, the Bulls won the next 3 including a thrilling 142-134 triple over time victory in game 4. After Williams had lit up the Bulls for 22 points and 7 assists, Kirk Hinrich (who's four years younger than Williams, makes 4 times less and is not as talented as Williams) locked Williams down defensively and held him to 8 points on 1-9 shooting and 10 assists. The Bulls let up 106 points in game 1 and really put the defensive clamps on the Nets in game 2 which led to a 90-82 win. It was more of the same for Williams in game 3, he was 5-14 from the field, finished with 18 points and 4 assists. Hinrich once again befuddled him defensively as the Bulls won 79-76.
In game 1 Joe Johnson was 7-13 from the field, 2-5 from 3 and finished with 16 points (a solid performance but nothing spectacular). When the Bulls amped up the D in games 2 & 3, Johnson shot terribly (game 2: 6-18 from the field and 3-7 from 3, game 3: 6-14 from the field and 1-4 from 3). To be fair Johnson was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis before the series but much to his credit he gave it a go and played with pain. The only issue I have with it was that the Bulls were depleted after game 4. Deng was out (Deng was so sick he had to have a spinal tap and practically had to be restrained from trying to make the team charter back to Brooklyn), Hinrich was out, Noah played the entire series on one leg essentially and Nate Robinson had the flu and was seen throwing up. Robinson & Noah still managed to elevate their games whereas Johnson did not (during the regular season Johnson shot 42.3% from th4 field, 37.5% from 3 to the tune of 16.3 ppg, his lowest output since the 2002-3 season, his first as a starter. In the playoffs he shot 41.7% from the field 25.6% from 3 and averaged 14.9 pppg. His stats got worse!). His injury does greatly affect his play but other guys were able to overcome their injuries.
In the epic game 4 triple overtime thriller, Williams scored 32 points (11-25 fg/5-11 3pt-fg) with 10 assists. Hinrich had 18 points (a much more efficient 7-12 from the field) and 14 assists. Williams was still outplayed by Hinrich and Joe Johnson finished with 22 points (9-20 fg) but seldom went to the line as he settled for jump shots all game. Nate Robinson had a huge game with 34 points (14-23 from the field). In game 5 with no Hinrich in his jock, Williams was able to get 23 points and 10 assists (Robinson couldn't guard Williams). Johnson in 39 minutes had 11 points in the 110-91 Nets win. In a closely contested game 6, the Nets prevailed 95-92 despite a underwhelming game from Johnson (17 points on 7-13 field goals, 1-3 3-pointers) and 17 points and 11 assists from Williams.
Which brings us to game 7. The Nets at home in front of a capacity crowd, the Bulls barely able to field a team and the momentum of having won the last 2 games of the series (in the NBA teams seldom come back from 3-1 down but if it was going to happen, this was the time). The Bulls built a 17 point halftime lead and managed to hold off the Nets to win the series. The Bulls got huge games from Marco Belinelli (24 points) and Joakim Noah (24 points 14 rebounds). Johnson was all but useless with 6 points (2-14 field goals) but Williams arguably had his best game since game 1 with 24 points and 7 assists but it wasn't enough.
Watching the game it seemed that the Nets just didn't want it as much as the Bulls. The commentators said that more than once during the series. Granted, the Nets pushed the series to a seventh game did it really need to go that far? They didn't lay down and die after a dramatic game 4 (the Nets came back from a big deficit only to lose the lead and then overtime) so they deserve credit for that...I guess. Their play at times was uninspired. It was as if they were saying, "even if we win, we get Miami in the next round so who cares?" Their uninspired play begins with their high priced "superstars." Williams kind of wilted away when Hinrich put the clamps on him and even after Hinrich went out, Williams never really took over like great players do. Johnson was hurt but still logged a lot of minutes. The thing is Noah had Plantar Fasciitis as well but that didn't stop him.The Bulls played with more heart. The team lost Rose in the playoffs over a year ago and they've yet to lay down and die.
The Nets look like a team satisfied with mediocrity. Williams and Johnson didn't show me much. Williams poor attitude forced legendary Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan to call it quits 54 games into the 2010-11 season because he no longer wanted to deal with Williams, though Sloan never won a title (lost to Jordan's Bulls twice) he did coach 2 hall of famers in Karl Malone and John Stockton so he must've been doing something right (Williams was traded not soon after, so the Jazz just wanted to get rid of him). The Nets fired Avery Johnson 28 games into this season and as of Monday 6 May, PJ Carlesimo was relieved of his interim coaching duties. That's 4 coaches in the last 3 seasons if you're counting.
It looks like the Nets are slowly becoming another Knicks. As in a team that's got talent but not really not that good, led by an overpriced "super star" and capable of lackluster play except without the ridiculousness of an owner like James Dolan (stay tuned for my opinions on Melo, I feel he's got it coming).
No comments:
Post a Comment