According to the Associated Press, the Chicago Bulls did everything they could to invest themselves emotionally in their series with the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday afternoon. They talked trash. They chirped the referees on every mildly controversial call. In general, they tried to put on a brave face and prove that losing star point guard Derrick Rose (ACL tear) and — for now — forward Joakim Noah (ankle) wasn’t a “death sentence” for their season, as coach Tom Thibodeau put it last week.
But facts are facts, and the Bulls suddenly don’t have the horses to beat Philadelphia no matter how stern a face center Carlos Boozer flashes. You can will yourself to win to a certain point. That’s long past for Chicago.
The 76ers, a strong defensive team no matter who the opposition is, now have three chances to advance to the second round for just the second time since they reached the NBA Finals behind Allen Iverson in 2001. Philadelphia would be just the fifth No. 8 seed in NBA history to knock off a No. 1 seed.
– Brian McNally
