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Dan Peters
Sports Editor
Oak Park
Journal
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© Suburban Journals of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
Bulls Hold
Off LeBron & Cavaliers 108-106...1st Playoff Victory
Mark
Rotor
April 22nd, 2010
Bulls Bend, But Don't Break-
Down (0-2) in the first-round of the NBA playoffs to LeBron James and
the
Cavaliers, the Bulls returned home desperately needing their best
performance
in Game #3 to avoid the possibility of being sweep 0-4. Most experts
predicted
a quick 0-4 exit by Chicago. However, the Bulls defied the experts by
out
lasting the team with the best record in the NBA (61-21) in the final
minutes of
the game. They survived a heart-stopping 19-points comeback effort by
the Cavs,
to capture their first victory of the series winning by a slim
two-point
margin 108-106.
The lights-out shooting of Derrick Rose and Kirk Hinrich carried
Chicago,
accounting for over half (58-points) of their total scoring output.
Rose led the Bulls
with 31-Points, 12 of 26, 7-assist and no turnovers. “Derrick played
big for us,”
Joakim Noah said. “I’m glad he’s on our team. Those floaters were huge
for us.
They (Cavaliers) needed to get the ball out of his hands."
No Turnovers!
One of the keys to victory for Chicago was their ability to limit the
Cavaliers'
fast break opportunities. Chicago only gave-up eight turnovers while
winning the
battle on the defensive boards (35-17). "No turnovers," said Rose. "We
were
trying to cut down on our turnovers because when you commit turnovers
against them they get a lot of open shots on the break" The plan
paid-off
as they limited LeBron and company to only five fast-breaks totaling
15-points.
The "X-Factor" - Hinrich Steps It Up
"Hinrich was the "X-factor" in the game," said Cavs' guard Mo Williams.
He
raised his game scoring 27-points, 9-of-12, and was 4-for-4 from
3-point range.
He also had, 5-rebounds and 5–assists. In the two previous games, he
scored a
disappointing total of 13-points. “Kirk was outstanding shooting the
ball,
he really gave us a big lift”, said Del Negro. “We needed him to play
well and
he had a monster game for us”.
Kirk
Hinrich "The X-Factor" Explodes For 27-Points & Four 3's
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
File Photo by Mark Rotor
1st Half, Smooth Sailing For Chicago-
By the end of the 1st quarter Chicago grabbed an 11-point lead
highlighted by
a jump shot by Rose to beat the 24-second clock. Rose followed with a
3-pointer
late in the quarter to spur on a 9-4 run in the last two minutes to
take a 21-32
advantage at the end of the quarter.
Rose led Chicago's scoring finishing the half with 15-points on 8
attempts, two
3-pointers and two free-throws. He attacked early, assaulting Mo
Williams with
his lethal arsenal: driving for layups, releasing flip-shots and firing
18-25
foot jumpers. “Derrick had a good overall game,” Coach Del Negro said.
"I
liked his aggressiveness."
LeBron shot an uncharacteristic 6 of 16 (38%) in the first half and
tallied a mere
mortal 15-points. Shaquielle O’Neal and Antawn Jamison combined for
12-points
and a disappointing 5 of 15. Point guard Mo Williams contributed
8-points.
Kirk Hinrich scored twelve of his 27-points in the half and 7-points in
the 2nd
quarter. Bench scoring by Brad Miller (8-points) elevated Chicago to a
16-point lead midway in the quarter.
With 2.9 second remaining in the quarter, Rose attempted a desperate
full-court
drive, only to miss a difficult reverse layup at the buzzer to end the
half with
an 11-points advantage (56-45). "The first half went pretty smooth for
us," Del
Negro said.
LeBron
James "Flying High" Drops 39-Points On The Bulls
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
Cleveland's Rally From 21-Point Down-
At 7:37 in the 3rd quarter, Chicago jumped out to a 21-points lead
(68-47) on
Taj Gibson's 16-foot jumper. LeBron erupted for 11-points, 2 of 4 from
the field,
and two three-pointers ending the quarter at 79-68. Taj Gibson and
Hinrich led
Chicago with 6-points each. Chicago shot 50% from the field while
Cleveland only
managed 33% however, the Cavs matched Chicago's 23-point 3rd quarter
output to stay in the game.
Noah VS. Cleveland Controversy-
Chicago went on a 6-point run with 2:35 in the 3rd quarter as a ruckus
United
Center crowd continued to chant “Cleveland Sucks!” in a vocal response
to a derisive
chant heard at Cleveland’s Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavaliers' fans
chanted “Noah Sucks”
at their previous home playoff games, precipitated by press conference
comments
by Joakim Noah who stated, “Cleveland Sucks” in response to a question
ask to him
about what he planed to do in his spare time in the city of Cleveland.
The 19-Point Comeback-
With the Cavs down by 21-point, it was only a mater of time before
LeBron
ignited a Cavalier comeback. Cleveland began their 24-15 scoring run at
the
end of the 3rd quarter. LeBron cut the lead to 9-points (84-75) at 8:56
in the
4th with a full-court monster jam as he was fouled by Noah. Delonte
West
followed suite with a 26-foot 3-pointer to cut the margin to 6-points.
At 4:17 Jamison scored a layup on a pass from LeBron to bring the Cavs
within two points 94-92. “I give my guys credit, they fought back from
a
large deficit,” said Cleveland’s Coach Mike Brown. “We gave ourselves a
chance to win down the stretch.”
Derrick Rose VS. LeBron James-
With less than two minutes remaining, LeBron James decided to defend
Derrick
Rose as he dribbled the ball over the half-court. "It surprised me a
little,
but I felt good for the best player in the NBA to be "sticking" me,"
Rose said.
Post-Game,
Derrick Rose Salutes The "Die Hard" Bulls Fans
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
Bulls Hang-In To Win - Making Free-Throws Count
“We need to do a better job getting stops and shooting free-throws at
the end of
games”, said Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich after a game #3. Truer words have
never
been spoken as Chicago watched their sizable lead of 21-points dwindle
to just
two points with four minutes remaining.
It came down to free throws for the Bulls with Mo Williams hitting a
three
cutting an 8-point lead to 5-points with 30.7 second. The Cavs
fouled Chicago on each of their final possessions placing them on the
line:
Hinrich (2 of 4), Rose (1 of 2) and Miller (2 of 2). Chicago retuned
the
favor immediately fouling Varejao a poor free-thrwo shooter with 8.9
seconds
leading by 3-points. He obliged, hitting only 1 of 2 giving Chicago the
possession
(105-103). “I wanted to foul, I didn’t want to give LeBron a chance to
have
the basketball,” said De Negro. “He one of those guys who has the
ability with
his strength and size to jump over you and knock down threes.”
Williams hit a 2nd 3-pointer with 3.8 seconds (107-106) but Miller hit
his two
free throws and Deng was 1 of 2 from the line leaving just enough time
for a
final shot by Cleveland with 1.8 seconds. After a Cleveland time-out,
the Cavs in bounded
from the back court and Anthony Parker flung a desperation half-court
shot
bouncing off the backboard to end the game 108-106 Chicago.
“They won this game, Derrick Rose really played good for them,” said
Coach Mike Brown.
“Kirk also shot the ball well and they got good play from all of their
players.
They hit jump shots that they didn’t hit before tonight. We got a
terrific
performance from LeBron. He carried us on his shoulders and we almost
got the win”
"Right now, were not playing good with whoever we put out there on the
floor.
We haven't played good defense in the last 2 games. But whether we go
big or
small we feel we can match anybody."
LeBron
Discuses Guarding Derrick Rose In 4th Quarter
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
Chicago's 1st Playoff Victory Of Series-
Lebron scored 39-points, 14 for 26, 4 for 8 three-pointers,
10-rebounds,
8-assist and two steals. He posted his 1st double-double of the series.
“Were going to have to be much more physical on defense if we want to
win,”
said James.
With the victory, the Bulls are now guaranteed a game #5 in Cleveland
as the
series continues in Chicago for game #4 on Sunday. “It was definitely a
huge win
for us,” Noah said. “It’s a game where we went through a lot of
adversity.
They came back at the end and we held them off. We feel we can play
with them.
It’s good to be in a situation where we handled our business like
tonight.”
Confidence!..Confidence!..Confidence!
Joakim Noah was one of the un-sung heroes of game #3. Noah compiled
another
double-double with 10-points, 15-rebounds while providing leadership
and
passion throughout. "At the end of the day, you just have to go out and
play basketball," Noah said. "We're a close team and under stand each
other.
It’s great for our confidence to beat a team like this, its huge lift
for us
and we feel that we can compete with them."
Joakim
Noah Takes Anderson Varejao To The Rack
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
Rose Gives "Props" To The Fans - Chicago "See Red"
In the post-game press conference Rose acknowledged the importance of
the
Bulls home court. “I knew coming in that the atmosphere was going to be
crazy,”
said Derrick Rose. “Those die hard Bulls fans, I love them to death.”
The United Center crowd was on their feet early as a virtual “Sixth”
man with
the majority of fans dressed in red participating with the team’s “See
Red”
campaign encouraging fans to dress in the color red to show their
playoff support.
“I needed my teammates, the coaches and our fans who I think are the
best in
the NBA.”
Next Bulls Game:
Bulls VS. Cavaliers Game#4
Sunday April 24th at 2:30PM CT Game Time
Radio - ESPN AM 1000
TV - ABC
© Suburban Journals of Chicago
Photo by Mark Rotor
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