I have a warm place in my heart for 90s NBA gear and cards. Its just my childhood really. Its really to bad that almost all my Bulls things are packed away. I have some great vintage stuff from the 90s. I hope to post some of that stuff as I come across it. Once I finally buy a house next year I will for sure have a lot of it out and to share by then. Not everything I have is Bulls(but 90% of it is). Like this Suns shooting shirt. I almost sold it on Ebay but opted to keep it.

I hope to share more of my old NBA and Bulls crap as I come across it. I can never get enough of living in the past. Oh yeah the Bulls drafted the other Teague brother today. So there is that.

Wilkins the "Jordan Stopper"

Long time no see. The new child I had last year has kept me from watching every second of every Bulls game. It also makes blogging hard since he demands all my attention. Anyway I was lucky enough to find a dude who has almost every Bulls game ever on DVD. I bought the 1992 Bulls-Knicks series and found this Gem in game 3.

I had to let this one cool for a few weeks. If I would have posted after the game I may have torn this team to shreds and I don't wanna do that(I will a weee bit). What I saw in Game 5 was one of the biggest melt downs in NBA history. Easily the biggest in Bulls history. It was pretty embarrassing. The Bulls had to do everything wrong from the 3:00 min mark(that includes a four point play) to lose the game. The Heat had to do everything right for them to pull it off. Those two things happened and left the city stunned.

Thibs makes errors


I love how Thomas and the bench played to a point but once it became clear after the last time out that Derrick Rose was going 1 on 5 and needed more help that was the time to put back in Booze and Noah. Maybe they tip in a miss or give the Bulls an extra shot clock. Anything. To play it out with the group on the floor was a huge mistake.

Not having anymore time out is another huge mistake. He goes through them fast since he is a control freak but you gotta be mindful of them and keep a few for the situation that the Bulls put them selfs in. He didn't and it resulted in a car wreak of a final play where Korver was being chased by three Heat players.

I really wonder going forward if his style of coaching will last.Will he wear his guys out before the playoffs? I for one think they looked tired the whole playoff season. Will they just get sick of him and we will have Scott Skiles all over again? I wanna say that he is different and demands a different respect but I think he will need to tweak some of his habits in order to survive over a long haul.

Derrick Rose
He was brutal again and for the whole game. It hard to not blame him in the end when he was a main reason the Bulls lost. He was just dribbling around hoping and praying.. Going 1 on 5. I think more of that had to do with with the group on the floor. But he had to make plays and just didn't. After such a great regular season Derrick took his lumps in the playoffs.

He will come back better. This loss will sit forever with him. Even if he goes on to win a ring this lose will linger forever. It was that bad. He may need therapy.

He just made one bone head play after another. Letting Wade get to the hoop, giving up a four point play. Silly turnovers have costed him and the team all playoffs and this night was no different. Still doesn't have the best court vision in the world and doubt that changes much. His shot will get better and him handling the "moment" will get better.

The missing of clutch FTs is a bit concerning. Now people are linking him with missed ones in the final four and in spot light of the ECF. Lets just hope its a hick up and not something that sticks with him.

In the end he just looked tired. He was tired all playoffs. He hit a wall. He didn't have much lift at all. Most of his shots were short. His play in the lane stunk(a true sign of tired legs) and he lost his edge. With going balls out all year and team USA this shouldn't really be surprising. I expect him to bounce back since thats whats in his nature. He just left a sour taste in everyone mouth and it won't leave until the next season starts(when ever that is).

Noah and Boozer
Noah still to me just doesn't look right. I gotta think his thumb is still an issue. He uses his left hand all the time now and refuses to shoot his jump shot. Something is wrong. Wouldn't be surprised if we heard something more about this in the coming weeks. He looked like a shell of himself during most the playoffs. I think being injured had a lot to do with it.

Boozer is well... Boozer. He was over paid and didn't show up when needed. He was terrible around the hoop. He missed or got blocked on countless layups. He is just so under sized and has a weak mental state on the floor that it shines through when he looks scared to even shoot or when he is busy picking up flagrant fouls. There are already rumblings that the Bulls will try and move him(good luck). I still think we could use him but maybe in a back up role. I think its time Gibson starts and we go that route.

The Playoff Run
It was a brutal run and I am not sure this team could have beat Boston. They were just really bad for 75% of the playoffs. The Bulls were very lucky to gave the easiest road to the ECF because running into Boston may have resulted in a 2nd round exit.

For whatever reason the Bulls just lacked a lot energy and killer instinct all playoffs. Looking almost a sleep vs the Pacers and Hawks. Not sure if the whole team hit the wall or some how lost its edge along the way.

The Off Season
I expect the Bulls to search for a trade for Boozer and may not find much. I did heard the Magic were asking about him. Also heard rumblings of the Warriors nosing around about a Deng for Ellis trade but that puts the Bulls in the same position as they are in with the SG. Now we have no SF. Plus Deng is a glue guy and no way Thibs and the Bulls wanna deal with Ellis and his issues.

People are hoping the Magic will get dumb all of a sudden and trade Howard. Really don't hold your breath. The dude has made it clear he will give the Magic a chance. I haven't even heard the Bulls rumored. More the Lakers and Nets. If the Magic would deal Howard to Chicago, the Bulls should pretty much do anything possible to make that happen but I give it about a 10% chance of that happening. Basically I will eat my hat if it does.

Rose will take a huge break I am guessing and then get back to work. He will work on getting better. He got a terrible taste in his mouth.

The Bulls should really try and bring Thomas back and maybe even look to move Korver in a package for SG if the chance shows its self. He was pretty bad since the Pacers series.

I will still be posting Bulls content all off season. More of it maybe remembering the good old days but with a lock out looming it could be a long long off season. Lets hope they figure it out but the sides seem light years a part... ugh.

Well since my internet at work decided to go out at the worst possible that kept me from doing my game 2,3 and 4 review which may have been a good thing since I would have said things I didn't mean.

Now that we are back up to speed and the Bulls season is on the brink of ending tonight. I just wanna see them compete and not roll over like a dog like so many teams do. I am not sure that they do. They look tired and frustrated. I am tired and frustrated so I have to think they are. I will say they have brought effort to the last 3 games and good energy but effort can only go so far when you can't throw it into the ocean. I am a bit surprised this issue never came up sooner in the season where the Bulls would brick them selfs out of games but they really didn't. So the fact that they have been this bad must be some of the Heats defense and us just be terrible at scoring.

Derrick Rose
A lot as been made of his poor play. You have group "A" of fans that will never say anything bad about Rose no matter how bad he plays just due to the fact that he brings so much to the team and the city and then there is is group "B" that says he still gotta be hold responsible for how he plays and shouldn't be given a free pass. I fall into a bit of both but right now its more group B for me.

As great as Rose has been during the season he hasn't been as good in playoffs and I will say it. He has been down right terrible since game 2. The heat have done a good job keeping the ball out of his hands and he(and Thibs) haven't done a good job figuring out how to counter that. Scoring something like 6pts in the last three 4th quarters doesn't cut it in the ECF and wouldn't for any teams best player. He talks about being more aggresive but I don't think that means you should just jack more shots. I feel like thats what he did in game 4. Just thought I will shoot more, well going all A.I. won't win us games and him missing huge FTs and taking fade away jumpers to end games won't either.

The air ball fade away vs Lebron had me turn red because in that situation which I will admit that he hasn't been in often is this. You either A.Drive and miss. B.Drive and get blocked or C.Drive and get fouled or D.Drive and score. If A or B happens then at least you tried to and had a chance to get C or D to happen(team just made a better play). Taking a fade away jumper vs the best player on the planet gives him and the Heat a huge % of surviving that moment.

Rose is still young and will learn in those moments but the turnovers,shooting % and overall play(how do you let Mike Miller dribble past you to the rim for a layup?) has just be pretty awful. I still love you Derrick but this poor ECF should fuel you for the summer to come.

Around the Hoop
The whole team has been terrible around the hoop. Noah's hands have turned to stone, Boozer missing anything and everything. Asik getting blocked and Rose flat out missing lay ups. Not sure what has happened to this team around the hoop as they seem to find ways to screw it up. Put that with bad outside shooting and it spells doom.

Bench Play
Its been pretty crap at best the last few games. Kyle Korver has gone beyond cold which makes him useless. I really see no point in playing him. I say just play Brewer more. Watson has been alright. Gibson hasn't be able to shake his game 1 performance. Asik is done for the season.... ugh.

Boozer
Has been pretty solid and maybe more solid then Rose but is still a giant dog on defense. Giving up a four point play and letting Bosh spin off him for dunks and lay in. Boozer should be still a decent player for us next year but going into 2013 he will have fans wanting him out of Chicago and will be hard to move.

The Big 3
They have played out standing and even when they don't you always have the other to pick up the slack. Bosh has really shot out of his mind and Lebron has been on point. Deng has done the best he could and still play decent on the offensive end. Wade has been hit or miss but done enough to make an impact. I felt like this was the year that the Bulls had to get them since they will only get better as time goes on.

Do we have a chance?
Ahh a very small one. Win tonight and then put in a miracle in Miami. Like I said in my preview, Bulls win this in 7 if they did win it and the Heat win it in 6. I expect the Heat to sorta come out laid back and will be primed to beat. As long as the Bulls still have some fight in them then they should win tonight in Chicago. If that holds true then Miami will bring the hammer in game 6 and it will take a amazing game by the Bulls to push it to 7 where its anyones game.

The Bulls have some issues to figure out. Lets hope they just shoot well tonight and make this a fight and not a  joke.

After watching the game over its pretty clear that Thibs and the Bulls are going with a "OMG THERE IS LEBRON OR WADE! GET EM!"(forget Bosh, let him score) strategy and it worked to a tee. The Bulls are allowed to do this for a few reasons.

1.Most the Bulls bigs can switch on picks. This a giant advantage in basketball when your bigs can switch picks with out a whole lot of worry.
2.The Bulls play help defense on a string. Meaning that the Bulls roatate and move with out much communication. They are one with in each other.
3.Active. Having hands up on shots, hands on the ball, ball pressure. All this adds up over the course of a game. We saw this in Game 1 as the game went on it wore on the Miami Heat.

Pictures

Here Wade comes off a curl and Bulls show Anthony no respect leaving him for the dump off. Deng is still glued to Lebron and Bosh and left for his jumper. Wade is met by 3 Bulls. He opts for the drop off to Anthony where Noah makes a quick rotation for a block that goes out of bounds. This is just one example of how the Bulls have many Luxuries because of Noah's skill set.

Here you can see Noah step back into the lane and help Deng deny the Ball to Lebron. I saw this many times when the Heat tried find him on the post. The Ball was swung to Bosh.... VICTORY! The little things like that add up and is a big factor into winning basketball games. Limiting touches of the best player on the court.

Wade is covered by Boozer,Bogans and Noah is thinking about coming. Rose has to stay with Anthony and let Bibby go. The Bulls are willing to let the Heat's other players win the game which is a great way to play since they are pretty much terrible. Wade passes it to Bibby who does score but the Bulls will live with it and force Wade not to find any rhythm.

WOW... Lebron took one dribble to the lane and the Bulls go "GET EM!!". Four Bulls to Lebron and Rose lets Chalmers wonder around the 3pt line with out much worry. Lebron tries to drop it off to Bosh but the ball is tipped out of bounds. Thibs is selling out on Lebron and the % works in the Bulls favor.

Here are one of the many defensive 3 sec calls that Boozer has received this post season. They make Bulls fans wanna put their head in a microwave. Once again you can see all the over help the Bulls are giving Lebron. Boozer is thinking the right idea but before Lebron even got below the FT line Boozer was in the paint giving help to Bosh who has now moved. This defensive 3 sec call was a bit fast but the right call.

Here you can See Asik leave Jamaal with out giving much of a care(can't blame him..dude can barley walk). The Bulls over load again on Lebron. CJ loses defensive awareness and lets Jamaal slip under the Hoop. Lebron is a great passer and finds Jamaal under the hoop where he struggles to dunk it as he misses his first attempt but does find the score on the second try. If I had to guess the Jamaal Magloire experiment is over.

At the end of the first Wade tries to go one on five and fails. Brewer was very active(like we talked about at the top) and got his hand on the ball many times. Noah has to worry about no one as he comes up to help. Deng is ready to come to as Wade tries to get a grip on the Ball. The Ball slips out of bounds and it goes back to the Heat. Plays like these frustrate Wade all game.

On the next play the Bulls have the clock on their side as they trap Wade in the corner and leave Miller. This just smart basketball as Wade has to adjust to just get the shot off. The Shot is wide right and the end of the first. I think Wade is beyond frustrated at this point as the Bulls are doubling and tripling his every move.

You can see here where Lebron finds the ball in the post and is met by three Bulls. Noah is gonna let Anthony wonder away every time. Taj's man Bosh(not pictured) doesn't help Lebron much as he stands and watches out of range for shot at the top of the three point line. Lebron has to throw it out to Bibby which is a win every time for the Bulls. Where Rose covers Bibby.

Once again Asik gives little care about Jamaal has he helps Brewer box in Wade. Taj is fronting Bosh so Wade has no choice other then to swing the ball to James Jones. Like I have said before its the small little things like this that no one notices that win basketball games. Limiting touches and players shots.

On this play Lebron comes up and Noah just waits for Lebron leaving Bosh alone(again). Once Lebron drives he sticks his big mitts on the ball knocking it away. Noah dives and saves the Ball and the Bulls are off and running. Noah shows again what makes him so special on the defensive end. Lebron makes the mistake of forcing the issue. He forgets that Noah isn't Jermaine O'Neal and he gotta respect his help.

So whats it all mean?
This just a few plays from the first half. The pictures shows what 48 mins of this can do to your offense. How it might throw a wrench in your plans. While it did help that the Bulls offense was also hitting. But this kind of defense should be the standard all series. The thing that the Bulls have be aware of is the Big three's adjustments. They are smart players and seeing this stuff all the time will cause them to figure parts of it out over a 7 game series but the Bulls are so good at it that I think this could be a major reason the Bulls can win this series.

Now this isn't defensive but all..... TAJ GIBSON OWNING YOUR SOUL!
Taj getting ready to get out his pogo stick.

Magloire give Taj a little boost!

OHHHHHHHH! Watson with the best seat in the house.

THAT JUST HAPPENED DE...YANE.... WADE.


OH MY GOD THE TAJZILLA IS LOOSE ON MIAMI! 

There was the Bulls team I have been waiting for all Playoffs. Just the energy is what I am talking about. They brought it the whole game and I will say I am one to be hard on the UC crowd and they brought their "A" game. The night had a very 90s feel to the night where the Bulls were just flying around playing good sound basketball.