| 13 April 2010
Bulls face the Celtics tonight. I feel like I dislike a lot of teams. But I truly hate the Celtics. It honestly just seems like they're in our way every single year in one form or another. Last year it was the playoffs, this year it's getting into the playoffs. But for some reason, I've always hated them. I don't even remember what it is that they did, but they definitely did something.
Now, we have plenty of reasons to hate them. Such as Rajon Rondo's feminine facial features, Kevin Garnett's protruding jaw, Ray Allen's ridiculously ugly snarl that's ever-present on his face, Ray Allen's annoying gum chewing, Paul Pierce faking injuries once or twice a game, Kendrick Perkins complaining after every single foul call that he's ever been called for, and on and on and on. I could honestly go on for a couple of hours.
I hope the Bulls are making a list like this and that UC locker room whiteboard. I hope they're looking at that list and I hope that list is making them angry and annoyed. I hope that they take that anger and take it out on the Celtics tonight. They have to. Tonight truly is a must-win. If the Bulls lose, they no longer have control of their own destiny. They would need a Raptors loss to the Knicks on top of a win of their own against Charlotte on the last day of the season. Not likely. So basically, tonight, the season hangs in the balance.
We know enough about the Celtics, so I'm not gonna sit here and dissect this Celtics team. Here's what we really know. If both these teams are healthy, and there's a playoff atmosphere, you're going to have a very competitive matchup. In the playoffs last year, the Celtics didn't have Garnett. The Bulls didn't have Luol Deng. Deng is just as valuable to the Bulls as Garnett is to the Celtics, if not more, simply because the Celtics have more offensive weapons and big bodies. Tonight, both individuals will be playing. The Celtics are playing for playoff positioning, while the Bulls are fighting for their playoff lives. The Celtics currently sit 1.5 behind Atlanta for the 3-seed. They almost certainly would rather play the Bogut-less Milwaukee Bucks, who will likely remain in the 6-seed, rather than the Wade-led Miami Heat. The Bucks are the far easier matchup, simply because they have no real superstar and almost no real playoff experience. So the Celtics have something to play for, even though it's pretty unlikely they catch the Hawks at this point. Doesn't mean they won't try.
But it also doesn't mean that Kevin Garnett and co. will necessarily be playing 40-plus minutes tonight. This Celtics team is a year older, and a year slower. They're all bruised up and nursing injuries here and there. With the Bulls coming out and inevitably playing physical and determined basketball at home, it could be a grueling and tolling night on the likes of KG, Pierce, and Ray Allen. I can see Doc limiting their minutes in the second half. Then again, if the Celtics win tonight, the Hawks play the Cavs tomorrow night where LeBron and Shaq are both expected to play. That could very likely be a loss for Atlanta tomorrow night. If the Celtics win tonight, and then beat the Bogut-less Bucks tomorrow night (which they will be determined to do as a means to intimidate a potential first-round opponent), then the Celtics will earn the 3-seed. This is the case simply because the Celtics are a division champion, which means they hold the tie-breaker between the Celtics and Hawks even though the Hawks swept the season series. Unreal, I know. So the Celtics really are playing for a lot. Which means I don't expect a lot of limited minutes if the game is close.
But the Bulls can't be thinking about that. They're not. I guarantee it. They don't care who comes out to play tonight. They're determined. They're confident. The focus in both Joakim's and Derrick's eyes in the game against the Raptors was unprecedented. And you know the Bulls are going to come out tonight and play with a similar focus. The key is for them not to play tight and get nervous. Just be smart, play with intensity for 48 minutes, don't turn the ball over, get good shots, don't play Jannero Pargo too much or at all if possible, and be physical. I think they will do all those things with an electric home crowd behind them. All us fans can do now is hope and pray. Make us proud tonight, Bullies. GO BULLS.
