Chicago Bulls Beat Cleveland Cavaliers, Clinch Top Seed in Eastern Conference

In a game that seemed boring even to the players playing, the Chicago Bulls managed to stay awake long enough to beat the Cavaliers, 93-82, and clinch the Eastern Conference first seed. 

It was a game that seemed like the Bulls were almost using it as a scrimmage game to be perfectly honest. Derrick Rose only scored 11 points on 10 shots, adding eight assists, but it didn't seem that he was trying to engage in the offense that much. In fact, it seemed like the strategy was to engage everyone but Rose in the offense. 

The biggest part of that "everyone else" was Carlos Boozer, who scored 24 points on 12-of-18 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. Luol Deng chipped in 10 points to go with nine boards and six assists.

Joakim Noah had 11 points with eight boards and two assists. More importantly, he seemed to be working together with Boozer better than they have been in the past.

Ronnie Brewer had 12 points along with three assists, three steals and four boards. Kyle Korver also had 10 points, including hitting 2-of-4 from behind the arc.

All in all, it seemed like the Bulls were using this game as an opportunity to practice new plays and try and work out some schemes in case they have problems getting Rose going in the playoffs. It wasn't like Cleveland was shutting him down, it was more that he was refraining from taking over. 

There was a lot of good ball movement between the rest of the team and some sloppy ball movement too, but all in all, the team did what it needed to do in preparation for the playoffs. The Bulls did what they needed to do to win but limited the minutes their starters played and worked on some schemes they might use in the playoffs. 

It was a little strange at times. The Bulls would pull ahead by 15, then start "practicing," and if the Cavaliers started to pull back in it, Chicago would just run its normal offense for a couple of minutes and pull back out to 15. 

I think the Orlando game probably will be taken a little more seriously, but without Howard, they shouldn't struggle very much. I just doubt they want to give Orlando any confidence going into the postseason. 

With one more win, Chicago will become only the second team in NBA history to start 9-8 and finish with 60 wins. If the Bulls win out, they will tie the team record set in the 1995-96 season for most wins in the second half of the season. That would also tie them for the third-best second half of the season all time.