CSMS Magazine Staff Writer
No one gave the Chicago Bulls a chance to win over the Brooklyn Nets last Saturday night. But, they defied the odds and proved they are indeed an experienced basketball team. All-Star Bull’s center Jokim Noah told reporters at the shoot-around before the game to get ready for six days of Bulls’ mania, which meant not only they were going to beat the Nets last night but they also were planning on advancing in the series to square off with the Miami Heat—proudly showing his confidence in his injury decimated team.
What made it even more stunning was the fact that the Bulls won Game Seven without starting point guard Kurt Hinrch (strained calf) , Captain Derrick Rose ( A.C.L surgery), and Luol Deng who is hospitalized because of a spinal tap infection. Every sport’s analyst had predicted that the Bulls would lose handily to the Nets last night. That couldn’t have been any farther from the truth. However, Noah’s prediction of beating the Nets and advancing in the second round to play Lebron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami Monday night came true.
The Bulls beat the Nets 99 to 93 in great standout fashion. It was great to see. The Bulls had a 17 point lead at halftime. The nets came out of half-time with force and effort to bring it close to about a five point difference, but that was it. Jokim Noah had a stellar performance totaling 24 points, 14 rebounds, and a career playoff high 6 blocks enroute to leading the Bulls to a victory.
Now the big test comes Monday night May 6th when the Heat and the Bulls face off into what is expected to be a great playoff series. The best has yet to come.
Note: Dandy Isma is Psychology Major at University of North Florida. He lives in suburban Jacksonville. He is a sport commentator for CSMS Magazine.