Poor Showing by Bulls Could Set Fatal Tone Upon Entering Atlanta

COMMENTARY | The Chicago Bulls are in Atlanta to play the Hawks Friday. It wouldn't be pro sports if there wasn't someone who said something that was construed as disrespectful; so it is with this series. Ex-Bull Jamal Crawford has made a faux pas. Faux pas is fancy talk for politically incorrect, which is fancy talk for "dissed," which means Crawford didn't watch his mouth like he should.

Herb Gould has posted an article at the Chicago Sun Times website titled "Bulls are ready for Jamal Crawford's 'best shot.'"

The essence of the article is that Crawford indicated the Bulls have given the Hawks their best shot and Atlanta is still standing. However, anyone familiar with Chicago knows they have had two players injured somewhat: Carlos Boozer and Derrick Rose, who have not been playing all that well.

Still, our focus should be on the upcoming game, not the "talk."

Chicago won 18 more regular season games than did Atlanta. Yet the two teams are tied at a win apiece upon leaving Chicago -- a venue where the home team has lost only five games all season.

Rose is hurt and it is apparent when watching him that at times he is struggling. Chicago has a lot of fine players, but they are hard-pressed to come up with a player to fill Rose's shoes.

And that is what we need to talk about -- Chicago.

Even though the Bulls beat the Indiana Pacers in five games (4-1) they struggled. In almost every game, the Bulls had to come from behind. The result could have been turned around. Further, Chicago lost to Atlanta in the first game of their series and is now going to the Hawks' home court, where Atlanta has a chance to make it hard on the Bulls.

Rose has a gimpy ankle. Boozer has a turf toe. The entire team has been "snake bit."

The Chicago Bulls are a very talented team. They are a team that won the most games in the NBA. However, they aren't overwhelming the opposition.

While it's true that playoff basketball is different than regular season, Chicago is playing too tentatively.

They need to show Jamal Crawford, and the entire Hawks team, their "A-Game" this evening.

Reference:

Chicago Sun Times Website, Herb Gould, "Bulls are ready for Jamal Crawford's "best shot"