Boston Beatdown
By Josh Hill
CHICAGO — The Bulls were embarrassed the previous two games and they extended that feeling to the Boston Celtics on Saturday by laying the beatdown on the Celtics 90-79. It was a beautiful return to form for Chicago and it came against one of the Eastern Conference’s tougher teams, and a team they may see come postseason time.
It was the Derrick Rose show at the United Center as Rose continued to audition himself as a worthy member of the All-Star team. D-Rose put up 36 points and 5 rebounds in one of his best games of the season and of his short career. Rose was also making his name known for consideration in another category; fans began loudly chanting “MVP! MVP!” as the Bulls lead hit double digits. Rose even set a career high in free throws with 19, making 15 of them. “It’s hard,” said Rose. “My whole life I’ve never been the guy who has had to get contact. I usually dis somebody on some crazy shot but now I’m learning.”
It was the boost the Bulls needed to overcome the Celtics and snap Boston’s winning streak at four games. Carlos Boozer lent a helping hand with 22 points of his own as well as 10 rebounds; Boozer’s 13th double-double. This would make it appear as though any problems between the Bulls and Boozer are in the past.
Isn’t it amazing what winning can do?
The Bulls finally looked like — well— the Bulls again. And it was against the Celtics was that much more of a boost to do it against an Eastern Conference titian. The Bulls dropping the Celtics like they did proves the Bulls are who we thought they were, a really good basketball team. The starters played out of their minds and even the bench came alive after an abysmal performance against the Sixers. Ronnie Brewer scored 10 off the bench with 6 rebounds to add to that. “We knew we just needed to play well in front of the fans.” said Brewer, “There was a lot of intensity, it was a playoff atmosphere so a lot of guys stepped up for us and we came away with the win.”
What the Bulls did against the Celtics is something that really excites fans. Chicago just needs to keep it up and not slip up again like they just did. The Sixers game showed that Rose and Boozer can have on games where the Bulls don’t win; the Celtics game showed that when that happens, that makes ROse and Boozer very angry.
And you won’t like them when they’re angry. Especially when you are on the other side of them.
Next up Chicago has a a short every other day schedule with the Pistons on Monday and Bobcats on Wednesday. The Bulls close out the week with the Pacers on Friday before the big showdown with the Heat at the United Center. I don’t want to call the games in between now and the Heat game practices given what happened with the Nets and 76ers, but they kind of are. The next real game for the Bulls is with Miami and that will truely show how potent the Bulls are. The trick is, even if the Bulls can beat Celtics and Heat, if you lose to the teams in between there you won’t get a shot to contend against them for a title.
Ahhh, you gotta love the NBA.