It was a game one that the Bulls would like to quickly forget about. In fact, game two can’t come soon enough for Chicago.
The Nets started off hot in Saturday’s playoff opener for both teams, and they never looked back as they cruised to a 17 point victory and 1-0 series lead over the Bulls.
The game was the first playoff game of any sport for Brooklyn since 1956 when the Dodgers called Brooklyn home.
The first quarter started as the Brooklyn crowd was obnoxiously loud. The Bulls offense started a little cold in the first minutes of the game and Noah was still trying to find his legs. Center Brook Lopez was great in the first minutes, attacking the Bulls inside.
Chicago’s defense, yet again, kept them in the game early going. Deron Williams and Brook Lopez provided all of the Net’s offense, combining for 21 of Brooklyn’s 25 first quarter points. The Bulls offense couldn’t get into any kind of groove, scoring only 14 points.
Carlos Boozer lead Chicago in the first with 6 points. The Nets lead the Bulls, 25-14 after a quarter of play.
Nate Robinson Came off the bench in the second quarter and provided some offense, scoring 6 quick points and kick started the Chicago attack.
Point guard C.J Watson came up big for the Nets in the second quarter against his old team, scoring 5 points to keep distance from Chicago and maintaining a double digit lead halfway through the quarter.
The terrible Bulls offense kept getting exposed which turned into Brooklyn points. Williams, Watson and Lopez stole the show in the second and the Bulls has no answer offensively.
The Nets’ lead got up to 25 as Chicago kept digging themselves into a deeper hole. The Nets took a 60-35 point blowout into the half.
The second half followed the same script.
The third quarter began as Brooklyn stepped on the Bulls’ throats and didn’t look back. Gerald Wallace was a decent surprise for the Nets in this quarter after struggling in the last games of the regular season.
The Bulls did not look like a playoff team. No offense production from any player and Joakim Noah’s foot was not doing him any favor as he kept hobbling up and down the court. All-Star Luol Deng certainly wasn’t playing like one, Deng was playing like a bench warmer. On both sides of the ball, Deng’s presence was not felt as Brooklyn’s’ night was made a lot easier. Although he was alone, Carlos Boozer was doing his part offensively with 24 points after 3. Brooklyn took a 89-62 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Bulls did everything they could of in the start of the fourth quarter. The Bulls were giving an effort that was too-little-too-late. The Nets kept their lead in the twenties throughout the rest of the game.
The Bulls offense continued to be extremely pitiful although Carlos Boozer lead all scorers with 27 points. With Kirk Hinrich out of the game with a thigh injury, Nate Robinson stepped up in the final minutes of the game.
The effort that the Bulls gave in the second half would of been appreciated in the first half, out scoring Brooklyn 54-46 in the last half of the game..
The Bulls gave a extremely poor effort and Brooklyn should expect a more prepared Chicago team in game two.
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