Pippen Ain't Easy
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Bulls-Cavs Game 3: Three Ways to Steal Back Momentum

By Michael Whitlow

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The Chicago Bulls did their job in Games 1 and 2 in Cleveland; get at least on the road. But now, the scene shifts to Chicago, where the Bulls have to hold serve on their home floor. Here’s three ways the Bulls can take a 2-1 series lead on Friday night.

Game 1 showed that the Chicago Bulls can beat a LeBron James-led team in the postseason for the first time ever.

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Game 2 showed that LeBron James is still the “king” (pun intended) of the Eastern Conference until someone knocks him off his throne.

It’s no secret that LeBron has had a stranglehold over the Bulls in the last five seasons during the NBA Playoffs.

Since LeBron’s last year with the Cavs in 2010, the Bulls have lost to James’ teams on three seperate occasions.

But, it’s also no secret that this is the most talented Bulls team a LeBron team has faced in the postseason.

Game 3 on Friday night can already be considered the “turning point” in the series. If the Bulls win, they will have been a LeBron-led team twice for the first time ever in a seven-game series.

However, if Cleveland steals back the home-court advantage on Friday, the pressure’s squarely on the Bulls to not fall into a 3-1 hole going back to Cleveland.

The Bulls have to find a way to pick up another big win in this series, and if three things happen, they’ll be leading this series at night’s end.

The Rose/Butler duo have to play big

In today’s age of basketball, your backcourt is everything.

The Golden State Warriors went 67-15 this season because their point guard was the MVP of the league and their two-guard is one of the best shooters in the entire NBA.

For the Bulls to steal back momentum and grab a 2-1 series, their dynamic duo of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler have to make plays offensively.

In Game 1, Rose and Butler combined for 45 of the Bulls’ 99 points. During the Bulls’ Game 2 loss, the duo combined for just 32 points on 11-of-34 shooting.

It’s a tall task for Butler to be productive on both ends of the floor while having to guard LeBron all night long, but if he wants to make that “max-player money”, these are the opportunities where he has to play like a star.

Tom Thibodeau, you have depth. USE IT!

The Bulls are arguably the deepest team left in the Eastern Conference.

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Sadly, you wouldn’t know that, thanks to Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau‘s stubbornness to keep his role players on the bench.

When he was given the chance back in March against an elite point guard, E’Twaun Moore took Russell Westbrook to the limit on both ends of the floor, and hit a game-winner in Westbrook’s grill.

Nikola Mirotic finished second behind electric Minnesota swingman Andrew Wiggins in the NBA Rookie of the Year voting.

Mirotic — outside of Mike Dunleavy — is without question, the best floor-spacer the Bulls possess this season.

For the Bulls to fight fire with fire offensively, Thibodeau has to trust his role players in Game 3 (and beyond for that matter).

When you see Tristan Thompson, box him out, would ya?

The Bulls simply got outplayed and outworked in Game 2 on Wednesday night, but a huge difference between the first two games of the series was Tristan Thompson being inserted into the starting lineup.

Thompson made all the hustle plays and pulled down 12 rebounds on Wednesday, including six on the offensive boards.

If the Bulls can match Thompson’s ferocity on the window, they can take a 2-1 series lead on Friday night.

Each team has won the rebounding battle in a game so far in this series, which has contributed to each team winning a game in the series.

Next: Can the Bulls rebound from Game 2 loss?

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