Chicago Bulls End Season on High Note, Gear Towards Playoffs
While other teams around the league are resting their players in preparation for the NBA's second season, The Chicago Bulls want no part of it.
Even with the best record in the Eastern Conference locked up, the Bulls were chasing home-court throughout the postseason.
Whatever happens with the San Antonio Spurs, happens.
The Bulls did their job. They won 97-92 against a New Jersey team that gave them all they could handle, and are now looking to carry that momentum into the playoffs.
On a night in which coach Tom Thibodeau could have rested his starters Rose, Deng, Boozer and Noah, who's dealing with an injury, Thibs elected not to.
He feared the team would develop a bad habit and lose focus on what they've worked to establish all season long: consistency.
However, the Bulls' "bench mob" came up big, outscoring the Nets bench 50-26. Kyle Korver led the way with 19 points, and Joakim Noah had a 10 point-10 rebound double double. Derrick Rose finished with just 15 points.
Now, with the regular season wrapped up and the Bulls finishing with a phenomenal 62-20 record, all focus lies on the next game.
That's the approach the Bulls take. They're not already writing off the eighth-seeded Indiana Pacers and focusing on whether they'll face Boston or Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals.
No, the Bulls are not that kind of team.
In fact, on an interview today on ESPN 1000, GM Gar Forman was asked which team the Bulls fear the most heading into the postseason. His response? "Indiana."
The Bulls only focus on what lies in the immediate future. And that's what will benefit them in the playoffs. They'll take every chance to read and dissect their opponents down to the last play. Which is why the Bulls are the heavy favorites to go deep in the playoffs.
So hype up the Bulls all you want, it won't effect or jinx them. They'll simply go out there and do what they do best: play basketball.
Appreciate the simplicity of this team, folks.
It'll be an entertaining postseason.
