NBA Playoffs 2011: Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers Game 5 Live Blog

Hey there Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers fans! Hope you all are ready for Game 5 of this exciting first-round matchup. If the first four games are any indication, this contest won't be decided until the teams play all 48 minutes.

Here are a few storylines leading up to this game:

–Derrick Rose's ankle is still sore, but he's almost surely playing. Despite his aversion to needles, he said he might take a painkiller to prepare his ankle for game time. He also acknowledged the importance of winning this game to get some rest for himself and other banged-up players.

–Frank Vogel said he thinks that if the Pacers take Game 5, they can take the entire series. That's not entirely implausible, since Game 6 would be in Indianapolis and anything can happen in Game 7. The Pacers have a "Why Not Us?" mentality about themselves, which is why these games have been so competitive despite the difference in regular season wins.

–Who will step up for Chicago if Rose is less than 100 percent? Carlos Boozer has taken a lot of criticism (including from yours truly) for being soft and not playing quality defense. Tyler Hansbrough has visibly frustrated Boozer throughout this series and he's seemed to settle for jump shots. Luol Deng could be in for a big game or Kyle Korver, if he plays more minutes.

–Will the flow of the game be any different than the first four? Namely, will it be the Pacers starting off stron, and then the Bulls storming back in the last few minutes? 

It should be a fun one. Keep it here for updates and insights!