2011 NBA Playoffs: What the Chicago Bulls Can Learn from the Chicago Blackhawks

Both the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks have a chance to close out their respective series tonight. The Bulls can look at their United Center roommate tonight for some inspiration. 

The Blackhawks were a No. 8 seed, down three games to none against the top overall seed Vancouver Canucks. After winning game four at home, the Blackhawks went to Vancouver and were the aggressor in beating the Canucks 5-0 in Game 5. Then they came home and won Game 6, 4-3 in overtime. 

The crucial game in this series wasn't Game 4 or Game 6, it was Game 5. Going into Vancouver and stealing that game gave Chicago every chance to gain all the momentum with a home win. Tonight, even though Vancouver is at home, all the pressure is on them. They could have avoided all this mess with a clean win at home in Game 5. 

Which brings us to the Chicago Bulls. It's better for the Bulls to avoid all this mess by stepping on the court tonight and taking control of the game from the beginning. 

The Pacers have set the pace of the game (no pun intended—at least not initially) every game so far this series. They've forced the Bulls to play the their game, rather than the Bulls' game. They've taken the Bulls out of their offense, and frankly the Bulls have cooperated. 

The Bulls are not passing the ball and there's too much watching Derrick Rose. A lot of that blame actually does not belong on Rose. It seems like every time Rose passes the ball to someone they either pass it straight back to him, or try and force it to Carlos Boozer in the paint. 

It's by passing the ball they've been able to create shots and passing all season long. Over the course of the season, the Bulls averaged 22.3 assists per game. So far, this postseason they're at 18.0. The thing that is killing them is a lack of ball movement. 

Bulls not named Derrick Rose won't take shots when they get the ball, they just try and send it back to Rose. Luol Deng is taking two less attempts per game, Carlos Boozer, 2.3 and Keith Bogans, one less attempt. The only starter other than Rose who is taking more shots than usual is Joakim Noah, and that's because so many of those are put backs. 

Derrick Rose is taking a beating for his low field goal percentage, but it's everyone else's reluctance to take a shot or move the ball that is largely to blame. Rose keeps getting the ball late in the shot clock and has to force up bad shots because the alternative is to have a clock violation. 

I'm not saying the Bulls need to do something different; they need to the dance with the girl that brung 'em. They need to establish their game from the outset, put the Pacers down early and avoid having to go to Indiana with the increasing weight of being the first team to ever blow a 3-0 lead festering in their heads. 

Learn from your roomies Chicago Bulls. Shut the series down tonight by playing your game so you don't have to worry about a Game 7.