Indiana Pacers 78, Miami Heat 75: Series tied 1-1

May 15, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Indiana Pacers shooting guard Dahntay Jones (1) defends Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) during the second half in game two of the Eastern Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

The Heat have now played one game without Chris Bosh, and the reviews are pretty negative. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade did their thing, but, uh, pretty much nobody else on the Heat did. LeBron had 28 points, Wade had 24 and the rest of the team combined for just 23. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Heat lost, even if they were at home. That being said, they still almost won. Wade missed a fairly open layup that would have tied it at 77 with about 15 seconds left, and then Mario Chalmers missed a pretty good look at a game-tying three with two seconds left to seal their fate. LeBron also missed a pair of free throws immediately after Paul George did the same thing for Indiana. The narrative will focus on LBJ’s missed free throws and the fact that Wade and Chalmers were the ones shooting in the closing seconds, but I wish it wouldn’t. Wade had a matchup advantage and got a layup out of it (and missed it, but the point stands) and Chalmers is a substantially better shooter than either LeBron or Wade (especially Wade, who was borderline awful from three this year) and also got a good look. So please, let’s not spend the next two days obsessing over LeBron’s supposed failings in the clutch. Instead, focus on Indiana’s depth advantage and the Heat’s complete lack of anything approaching a competent big man outside of LeBron. I know you won’t, but you should.

San Antonio Spurs 108, Los Angeles Clippers 92: Spurs lead 1-0

May 15, 2012; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan (21) gets fouled while shooting against Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Bledsoe (12) during the second half in game one of the Western Conference semifinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs at the AT

Well, the first half was fun. The Spurs led by eight at the half, but it still felt like the Clippers were in it. Then the Spurs came out and started bombing threes and it was pretty much over. LA did make a decent run towards the beginning of the fourth quarter to cut it to single digits, but San Antonio quickly responded and that was that. Tim Duncan turned back the clock and slapped up 26 and 10 plus two blocks and two steals, while Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Boris Diaw stepped up to support him. Manu Ginobili did his thing off the bench with 22 points and three assists.

On the other side, Eric Bledsoe, Nick Young and Caron Butler did what they could to keep the Clips in it, but to no avail. Bledsoe threw up a 23-5-4 with three steals and was easily the best player on the team. Chris Paul struggled to find his shot, going 3/6 in the first quarter and then 0/7 in the next three quarters. Blake Griffin had a couple of nice highlights but didn’t totally look like himself. If he’s healthy and Chris Paul finally finds his shot, though, there’s no reason the Clippers can’t make this a series.

May 16th, 2012:

Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ers Game 3, 6 PM CDT, TNT

Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder Game 2, 8:30 CDT, TNT

NBA Roundhouse: May 15th, 2012 - Pippen Ain't Easy - Pippen Ain't Easy - A Chicago Bulls Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More

Carlos Boozer is like the rocket we all built in High School science class: he's got potential but we're waiting for him to fly. (Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE)

But that could all change come the start of next season. After two disappointing (and that’s vastly understating it) seasons in Chicago, it is pretty clear that 2013 is a make or break for Carlos Boozer — career wise.

Here’s the thing you need to know right away: the Bulls are not going to amnesty Boozer. He has $47 million left on his deal and the Bulls will not pay that much for a product they won’t be getting a return on. He will be back in 2013 but whether or not he comes back in 2014 all depends on if Boozer can rebuild his image in what is a perfect storm for either flying success or career crippling failure.

Boozer hasn’t fully become the player he could be, he’s essentially Randy Moss in the post. There is no other player in the NBA that can naturally create plays for themselves down low, but due to either a lack of effort or whatever, Boozer has been fizzling in Chicago. The Bulls did not give Boozer $75 million for their health — they clearly could have used a shooting guard.

There is something under that shiny and often wrinkly head and there is spirit behind that perfect etched beard.

The thing is Boozer needs to find it and find it fast. He’s clocked, there is no more slack and although he didn’t Tonya Harding the ACL of Chicago’s chosen one, he didn’t do his part in moving on from that.

That’s where Boozer gets a mulligan of sorts. The Bulls will be starting the season the way it ended — broken without Derrick Rose. But where Boozer failed to fully live up to the potential in the playoffs, he will be the center of attention come the opening tip.

Luol Deng still needs surgery to repair ligaments in his wrist and both he and the hobbled Joaki

Boozer hasn't been as awful in Chicago as people are making it out to be. But with a $75 million price tag the stakes go up and Boozer hasn't done enough yet. (Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE)

m Noah have committed to their home countries for the Olympics. There is a very high probability that Deng for sure, and likely Noah as well, won’t be ready come November 2012.

Here is a chance for Boozer to carry the team. This is a situation that as forced and unwilling as it is, provides Boozer with an opportunity to finally earn a large amount of his massive contract.

But with Boozer this is clearly a double edged sword. As much as this is an opportunity for the NBA to Fear the Beard, it can completely blow up in everyone’s face. Fans have rode Boozer hard even though for the most part he put together a respectable postseason.

It’s the $75 million and the stage that sinks any progress Boozer made. He’s entering his third year, the time to grow was over the last two seasons and the last half decade of his career.

If Boozer doesn’t perform absolutely perfect, every single minute detail and pitfall the Bulls have will fall squarely and most likely solely on his shoulders. There is an immense amount of pressure on Boozer to finally perform the way he was advertised instead of these tease performances that are sprinkled in-between atrocious outings.

It’s do or die time for the BoozeCruze in Chicago. Fans have shown a willingness to get behind Boozer, but it’s like falling in love with your best friend. Boozer will be amazing one night — or in a rare instance a string of games– and he’ll fill you with hope that this will actually work out. But that will be followed up by a confusing and bone crushingly nasty performance that makes you scream and boils your blood.

Then the calls to break up (or amnesty) begin. But then Boozer takes control and makes you hang onto the shred of hope you still have. He weaves a quilt of aspiration and then burns it until there is a string left for you to hold and rebuild with.

Thus is the vicious cycle with Carlos Boozer and fans are saying enough is enough. No Rose, Deng or Noah could be a massive blessing in disguise for Boozer who can rebuild his image entirely in the first months of the season and can solidify the hope and love that fans want to have surrounding him.

But nothing is simple with Boozer. It’s not that easy and maybe it’s Pavlovian and we’ve been conditioned this way but there is a gargantuan cloud of doubt cast over the faith Chicago has in Boozer and that he can lead this team while everyone else heals.

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Carlos Boozer’s Shot At Redemption Begins and Ends in 2013 - Pippen Ain't Easy - Pippen Ain't Easy - A Chicago Bulls Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More