Love hate relationship

Yes, the Bulls won today and evened the first round series with the Celtics at two games a piece. Yes, heading back to Boston, these upstart Bulls have the chance to steal another road win and come home with the series on the line. Yes, I feel like my heart is going to explode watching any given minute of the game.

It's an exciting time for a Bulls fan who thought a 30 win season to be a lofty goal. That being said, today's game was yet another example in the ongoing saga of the icy hot nature of these baby Bulls. Call it inexperience (a rookie star, a rookie coach, anything Tyrus), but it's hard to watch games in which you have no idea what is going to happen on a given possession. On the other hand, it does keep things interesting not knowing whether Ben Gordon is going to drain a game-tying three or dribble the ball off his knee and out of bounds. Vinny continues to amaze me as he lets Tyrus Thomas be a crucial part of the offense in the last two minutes of the game even though Tyrus/John Salmons/Brad Miller provide as much consistency as Ada during an IRAT (for any non-med school nerds out there that is a weak inside joke and should be replaced with "as much consistency as Lindsay Lohan's sexuality"). The Bulls are an enigma as Derrick Rose came within one assist of a triple double tonight despite having 7 turnovers and Ben Gordon (typically lights out from the line) missed a game tying free throw before housing the three ball. You honestly have no idea what is going to happen with any player on the court at any point in the game as Derrick could drive and lay it in with majestic body control or Tyrus could decide not to pass to an open guard and hold onto the ball so that he could go to the free throw line (where he promptly missed the first one).

I have always been one of the biggest proponents of dealing Ben Gordon and getting anything of value in return for a ball-hogging, no-defense-playing, bad-shot-hoisting, frustrating human being who causes complete cardiac arrest every time he elevates. And yet I still can't do anything but applaud his ridiculous three (and subsequent crotch grab, priceless if you didn't see it) or 42 point effort in Game 2.

The Bulls have guaranteed a sixth game back in Chicago for this series and if they play with intensity and poise in Game 5, letting Derrick continue to attack the basket, that game could be for a trip to the second round. Or it could be a reminder why this team only won 41 games, still hasn't learned how to play defense and an early exit from the playoffs. Either way, I care about this series, and it lets me avoid thinking about the pitiful play by the Cubs for at least another week. Go Hawks.