Pacers' Physical Play Not Enough to Beat Bulls in Playoffs

For the Chicago Bulls, the playoffs move to the semi-finals on Monday against the Atlanta Hawks. The Bulls are favored, and play will take place in Chicago. Atlanta surprised the Orlando Magic by taking their series in six games, 4-2, while the Bulls struggled through four games before pounding the Indiana Pacers in the fifth and taking their series, 4-1.

K.C. Johnson has provided a good report at the Chicago Tribune website titled "Bulls match up well with Hawks."

While Atlanta is the fifth seed, the Hawks probably won't be as tough as Indiana was, even though the Pacers were the lowest seed at eight.. They aren't as physical as the Pacers, although it will be interesting to see if they take a page out of Indiana's "intimidation book." They may also double-team Derrick Rose.

Danny Granger of the Pacers came after Joakim Noah after Game 5 when Indiana was eliminated. Players usually shake hands after a series but all Granger wanted to do was fight.

Early in the series, Indiana players were incredibly physical in their play. When Game 3 was reviewed, it was determined that center Jeff Foster committed flagrant fouls. As a result, the Pacers had to back off some. Because it was so obvious to fans, the commissioner of the NBA actually attended a game.

Perhaps the most evident video of a foul was when Josh McRoberts was ejected after fouling Joakim Noah.

The Bulls are not a fouling team, and neither are the Atlanta Hawks. However, the physical play the Bulls had to put up with will probably give them a little "attitude."

As Johnson reports in his article, during the final seconds of a regular season game, the Bulls were running down the clock and had a lead of 36 points. Handling the ball was C.J. Watson. Hilton Armstrong of the Hawks stole the ball and went down and made a 3-pointer.

Why is that a problem? It broke the unspoken rules of basketball etiquette, which is if a team is far behind or ahead and running down the clock, a player just does not "hot dog."

The Bulls dodged a bullet with Rose's ankle injury. It seems to be developing as a non-event, and further the Bulls have the entire weekend to rest up before meeting Atlanta May 2.

The Bulls will win. Then they will play the Heat or Celtics. I'm getting a little ahead of myself, but I'm just glad they don't have to play both of those teams.

References:

Chicago Tribune Website, K.C. Johnson, "Bulls match up well with Hawks"

You Tube Website, "Josh McRoberts ejected after losing his cool against Joakim Noah-Pacers vs. Bulls Game 5"

ESPNChicago.com Website, Mark Montieth and Nick Friedell, "NBA Rules Jeff Foster fouls flagrant"

AHN.com Website, Jojo Doria, "Pacers forward knocks Joakim Noah as Bulls close out series in Game 5"