Chicago Bulls: Game 3 Disaster

I excitedly entered the United Center early, wholeheartedly receiving my “See Red” Bulls playoff rally towel. Hungry to witness competition and ferocity like the two basketball beauties in Boston offered, I cruised straight through my gate without even contemplating a trip to the concession stands. The arena started to pack as we neared tip-off, and the stands were covered in red. There was an aura of Johnny Red Kerr and Norm Van Lier in the stadium, and even a bit of Michael and Scottie.

With the highlights reeling on the jumbotron and Boston reserves on the court already shooting around, the rest of the Boston team slid through, receiving an array of boos. Shortly thereafter, the Bulls rolled onto the court, guided by Benny the Bull, and the crowd went wild. Ben Gordon, as usual, made it out a few minutes after the other Bulls, earning another uproarious applause from the fans. The clock winded down to tip-off and I felt the excitement in the air. Butterflies, goosebumps, jitters – the feeling of my nerves as I awaited a spectacular performance.

And why not? After all, David Stern announced right then the Rookie of the Year and our franchise player, Derrick Rose. The point guard was awarded the trophy and acknowledged the support and admiration from thousands of fans.

At this point, I looked at the clock to tip-off again and it read 00:00. The Bulls had headed back into their locker room for a last huddle. Then, something extremely strange happened. The national anthem began in a few minutes, and I didn’t even realize the Bulls were missing. I saw the starting line-ups, saw Kevin Garnett in his Armani, saw the Bulls stampede on the monitor, saw the fireworks dazzle within the stadium, and heard the Bulls introductions. And I adamantly claim that I saw the Bulls starting line-ups as well. I really did!

But when the game started, I couldn’t see the Bulls anywhere! All I saw was a bunch of scrubs dressed in Bulls uniforms playing a mixture of Dodgeball, Hot Potato and Freeze Tag.

We read about the hype in the papers. We saw it on the television sets. This could have gone down as the best Round 1 playoff series in the history of the NBA. And the entire time between Game 2 and Game 3, all I can look forward to was being at the United Center to feel the hype in person, and appreciate my rising Bulls. But I don’t even think they came out of the locker room on Thursday.

The Bulls were ghosts who endorsed a daunting silence from 20,000+ fans in Game 3. The only claps and cheers came from two Celtics fans behind me, drenched in green pride. I didn’t move from my seat all game as I continually waited for the Bulls to arrive. I saw bikers and Regurgi-cams, Stampede Drummers and cheerleaders, Luv-A-Bulls and Matadors, Tic-Tac-Toe and Dunkin’ Donuts computerized races. The time flew by, and still no Bulls! It was already the 4th quarter and the parachute shirt giveaways were dropping from the ceiling and Bulls staff members were shooting shirts at great trajectories throughout the stadium.

I looked at the score and couldn’t believe my eyes. The Bulls had packed it in without even stepping on the court. It was like a Game 3 forfeit. The final buzzer sounded and Rajon Rondo was carried into his locker room as a fan snatched Bill Walker’s headband. I even saw that, but I didn’t see my Bulls. I would argue it was the worst performance by the Bulls ever, but how can they perform if they don’t even take the court?

Perhaps the high point for me on Thursday night was the chance to get a free Bulls shirt. After 3 missed opportunities where shirts were within my reach, I didn’t lose hope. The final parachute that fell from the rafters was headed towards the section next to me. And with more than half the fans auditioning for “The Departed”, I had a clear 50-foot path to the vicinity of that parachute landing site. So I sprinted, and skipped over a box of nachos as the shirt fell right in the hands of 5 different fans, who in their competitiveness, saw the shirt drop to the floor now only 15 feet in front of me. At that point, I dove, with my Bulls jacket cushioning me for the fall, and snatched the shirt with pride, earning many congratulations as I headed back to my seat.
All I know is that if I missed 3 opportunities and still didn’t lose hope, then the Bulls have only missed 2 opportunities so far, and have much to play for still. Game 4 will be different, I assure you, because the Bulls will take the court indeed.

Michael Jordan to the Hall of Fame

I remember 7 for 28, Jordan's first game back from his first retirement, after an 0 for 6 start. From that point on, I practically memorized every statistic he had for every game, and was so upset when he averaged just under 30 ppg and under .500 fgp. He'd be 4 for 14 in a game, and I'd say to myself, just 6 more makes in a row MJ, and you'll be at 50%.

During the first three championships, I was very young and although I saw most of the games, I wasn't a hardcore fan then. But when His Airness came back, I was the biggest fan who had never been to a Bulls game and didn't have cable television. Seriously! I was elated when MJ in his 4th game back hit the buzzer beater over Atlanta with 5 seconds left, on WGN. But the next game was on cable tv, and me, a 5th grader at the time, didn't think of a solution other than to listen on the radio. In fact, for the next 2 1/2 seasons I heard the voice of Neil Funk and Harvey Catchings until my dad finally got cable. I'd even be up at midnight, when west coast games started at 9:30pm...listening to my radio!

And who can forget Ray Clay's voice? "From North Carolina, at guard, 6-6, Michael...Jordan!!!!" I knew how Ray Clay would deliver the starting line-up introductions for every home game and would try to emulate him. I was so crazed about Jordan and the Bulls that all my writing work from 5th to 8th grade reflected the Bulls, Grant Park, and please, just one more season...

Fortunately, now I am a regular at Bulls games and have technology on my side when I am dying to see a replay or Jordan highlights. I am so happy that the one person who made me love basketball has received this great honor. I would love to see something more, a logo, a trophy, or something named after him. But until then, I can always admire his statue in front of the United Center.

Still a "Space Jam" Fan...

NBA MVP 2009: Nail in the Coffin

We’ve heard everyone analyze practically everything related to Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and Lebron James. We’ve analyzed the statistical comparisons to Michael Jordan. We’ve seen how these players are all basketball gods who bring excitement to the game. And almost all of us agree that these three guys are the best players in the game right now, and that Lebron James deserves to win the NBA MVP this year because of his stats, his team’s record, his defensive improvement, and his ability to close out games.

So I just want to put the icing on the cake to prevent further discussion, regardless of what happens in the last three weeks of the regular season.

Analysis #1: Kobe Bryant

Quote: “These young guys are playing checkers. I’m out there playing chess.”

If this is true, then I’d like to nominate Andre Iguodola as the best checkers players in the NBA. Iguodola is a very good player, but I have yet to see his game climb to a second dimension. He and Andre Miller are leading Philly to the playoffs without Elton Brand, which is impressive, but they stand no chance against anyone they face in the playoffs.

Kobe Bryant, on the other hand, has a very multi-dimensional approach to the game, as if he really is playing Chess. From off-season conditioning to on-the-court leadership to locker room interviews to an undeniable hunger to win, he has pawns capturing knights, bishops annihilating kings, and he has the entire western conference under checkmate.

Analysis #2: Dwyane Wade

Quote: “Fall seven times, stand up eight.”

If this is true, then I think the game that suits Dwyane Wade the best is the board game called Risk. Now, Dwyane Wade is strikingly heroic, with prolific offense, armed and dangerous defense, and quickness that can only be defined by a Flash. But is this deceiving? After a year of sub-par, injury-prone performance, a devastatingly good Olympic summer followed by a commendable effort in carrying a young team to the playoffs, can we expect the same next year? How RISKY is his approach to the game if he goes kamikaze at the basket every time? Yes, his offensive percentage is off the charts, especially in the paint, but if he falls an eighth time, how long will that sideline him for?

I can only come to this conclusion. If Dwyane Wade were playing Chess against Kobe, then the game would result in a stalemate, and I expect their MVP votes to be pretty darn close as well. But since Dwade’s teammates are playing Checkers and Kobe’s are playing Chess without pawns, Kobe’s team would obviously win a series against Wade’s.

Analysis #3: Lebron James

Quote: “There is a lot of pressure put on me, but I don't put a lot of pressure on myself. I feel if I play my game, it will take care of itself.”

The most impressive element of Lebron James’s game is exactly that: he doesn’t put pressure on himself. Lebron distinguishes himself from Kobe and Dwyane by playing a more complex game called Stratego. In Stratego, just as in Chess and Risk, one must use strategy to win. However, one must also dodge bombs to avoid added pressure.

Kobe’s Bombs:

1) Personal: Colorado

2) Basketball Knacks: His feud with Shaq, his disappearing act in Game 7 against the Phoenix Suns in the 2006 playoffs, his trade demands prior to the 07-08 season

3) No Shaq, No Championship

Dwyane’s Bombs:

1) Personal: An ugly divorce from his wife

2) Basketball Knacks: Career-limiting play, accused of intentionally shutting it down last season so his team gets a high draft pick

3) No Shaq, No Championship

Now, maybe Kobe and Dwyane won’t see these as pressure-adding obstacles that affect their performance. After all, they are strong-willed individuals with a winning mentality who are hard to influence when it comes to basketball. But I’m sure that sometimes, these pressures are building up in the back of their minds, like the way Tracy McGrady knows he is infamous for losing every playoff series he’s been in. If the Rockets win a series this year, Tracy McGrady will inevitably feel a knife cutting through his wounds.

But back to the lecture at hand, Lebron James hasn’t really been involved in any situations either on or off the court that have really added pressure on him. The main pressure may be Free Agency in 2010, but he has dealt with that so professionally that even if the economy were booming instead of busting, I highly doubt Lebron’s play or attitude this year would be affected. Granted, he is younger than both Kobe and Dywane, and there’s always time to falter, but he hasn’t yet. And unlike those two, he hasn’t even won a championship yet, which I think keeps him more focused.

Of the three games I’ve discussed, Chess, Risk and Stratego, it metaphorically takes the most skill to play Stratego on the basketball court. On any given night, any one of these three guys can be the best in the world, but over the course of the season, it has definitely been Lebron, the 2008-2009 NBA MVP.

Food for thought: Who is the hungriest of the three for a championship? Easy. While Dwade is playing X-Box with Sir Charles and Superman, and Lebron is dancing to Kidd ‘N Play, Kobe is looking you right in the eyes, dead serious about winning it all this year. And rightfully so, Kobe and his Lakers will take home the trophy. Period.