2011 NBA Playoffs: The Changes the Bulls Need To Make To Reach the Finals

If the Chicago Bulls' series against the 8-seed Indiana Pacers didn't throw up red flags in the eyes of Bulls fans, then they might need to get their eyes checked.

Chicago struggled mightily against a team who finished the regular season seven games under .500. They are also favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.

Before that can happen, changes need to be made in a hurry.

Possibly the most glaring weakness for the Bulls in the series against Indiana was the consistent lack of a true scorer behind Derrick Rose. Many fans may make the claim that Luol Deng fits that role, but any person who has followed Chicago during the regular season knows that he does not show up in that capacity at every game.

That same sentiment is felt about Carlos Boozer, and was evident during game five on Tuesday night.

In 16 minutes of action, he had two points and five rebounds. Chicago needs him to be a consistent threat to score if they have any hope of advancing further in the playoffs.

Aside from individual struggles, the most abstract problem in the first playoff series was the lack of genuine team chemistry. That can be attributed to head coach Tom Thibodeau's refusal to make changes on the offensive end of the floor.

Thibodeau's plan never strayed from "get Rose the ball and let him play one-on-five". That kind of mentality simply will not work against the likes of the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat.

Thibodeau and the rest of the staff can not keep relying this heavily on Rose, regardless of how great of a player he is. Deng and Boozer need to step up and return to their scoring ways of old for this team to reach the promised land.

Despite the poor play on offense, the Bulls' defense has remained solid. Chicago did an excellent job of limiting Indiana to one shot per possession and crashing the boards.

Continue to do that, and good things will happen.

Those two positive aspects were the result of an increase in hustle and intensity. If the Bulls can play with that same attitude throughout the playoffs, then a trip to the NBA Finals might just be in store.