Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
There are two words that an NBA fan loves to hear more than just about any others: game seven. Tonight as the injury-ridden Chicago Bulls take on the Brooklyn Nets in an all odds against them type of matchup, head coach Tom Thibodeau still breathes a breath of hope into his team as they look to pull off the near impossible.
Tonight, the Bulls will play again without superstar point guard Derrick Rose, but who is truly expecting anything different at this point? Other significant losses include the heart and soul of this team at times in Luol Deng, who is in the hospital with meningitis-like symptoms and may potentially be playing without point guard Kirk Hinrich.
Deng tweeted yesterday that he would absolutely never miss a game due to the flu, and that his symptoms have worsened much more beyond that. He said he has felt the weakest he has ever felt in his life and is experiencing some of the most incredible head pain he can remember.
Even with the guys they have on the court, the Bulls are still not playing at full health. Reports said before game six that almost every member of the Bulls were experiencing flu-like symptoms and they may not be past them going into tonight. Point guard Nate Robinson was seen throwing up into a trash can in between just about every timeout. That didn’t stop him from leaving it all out on the court, though.
Tonight, the Bulls will have to do a few things in order to keep up with the Nets and possibly squeak out a game seven victory. The very first and most important key to the game will be to win the rebounding battle. Both Reggie Evans and Brook Lopez have killed the Bulls on the boards and at times it looks as if they are simply outmatched against them.
Secondly, and again defensively, the Bulls absolutely must switch and cover better especially on the pick and roll. There have been an absurd amount of wide open jump shots knocked down by Lopez and too many times point guard Deron Williams has gotten into the paint at will. Both of those things are going to need to be kept under control.
Next, the Bulls are going to need a big game from their starting front court. I will even put a number on it. Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer are going to need to come up with a collective 30 points and 20 rebounds, at least. It’s Noah who fuels the Bulls’ energy at times and is their constant motor. Boozer can get it going from his mid-range jump shot if they go to him early, which will have to happen without a doubt.
Last, and the most exciting key to the game, will be the play of Robinson. He will have to put up a big game offensively for the Bulls. Chicago will need a good four or five three-pointers and a total of over 20 points from the little man–no disrespect. Robinson has been the only source of offense at certain points and will have to get going early tonight. Just like Boozer, Robinson is a shooter that when confident can light it up. If he doesn’t see the ball go through the hoop a few times, it can get ugly.
Ryan Heckman is a writer for www.RantSports.com covering the NBA and NFL. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
