WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

The sweet smell of the Bulls playoff series win in Brooklyn still lingers today, however, it will dissipate soon enough. Tonight the Bulls are in Miami to play game one of a best of seven series in round against the Heat.

Fresh off winning his fourth NBA Most Valuable Player award, LeBron James and his teammates are also fresh since they have rested for several days. That is what happens when you dispose of the Milwaukee Bucks in a four game series sweep.

You could not use the word fresh for the Bulls, instead, ragged, undermanned or tired. On Saturday, they completed a seven game series with a win in Brooklyn, while missing two important starters (three, if you count Derrick Rose). With Luol Deng experiencing problems with his spinal tap for his viral infection and Kirk Hinrich still hobbled by a calf bruise it seemed like it was the end of the road for the 2012-2013 season.

What most Bulls fans have known and now is apparent to the rest of the NBA fans everywhere: this is a resilient team with heart and character. Joakim Noah would not let his team exit in the first round, which they did last year with him and Rose injured.

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There were no vaccines strong enough to stop the Bulls from dropping Game 6 against the Brooklyn Nets 95-92. The Bulls didn’t get defeated by only the Nets, they were wiped out by the flu bug too. Luol Deng was sent home sick, while Taj Gibson and Nate Robinson (seen vomiting during the game) suffered on the court. And with Kirk Hinrich continuing to be sidelined with his calf bruise, it was a much-depleted Bulls team. Derrick Rose continues to watch the game on the bench in street clothes.

The Bulls were in the game and had opportunities to either tie or go ahead at various times late in the contest despite their setbacks.

The Nets flexed their offensive abilities and shot 57 percent and had a 60-54 lead going into the halftime. It looked like Brooklyn was having the type of game they enjoy playing.

What has been typical of this Bulls team, especially this Tom Thibodeau-coached club is that they don’t give up. They fought and clawed and did everything they could possibly do in the second half to make it the kind of game the Bulls prefer—a defensive struggle.

You would think without Deng and Hinrich the Bulls chances were impossible. Jimmy Butler played every minute of this game, scoring seventeen points with six assists and seven boards, and worked hard on defense too. Marco Belinelli played almost the same amount of time and played both ends of the court too.

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The Blackhawks quest for the Stanley Cup began Monday with a 2-1 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild at the United Center. The game winner came off Bryan Bickell’s stick in the extra period.

Even before Jim Cornelison belted out the National Anthem, a mini drama played out at the opening playoff game. Minnesota starting goaltender, Niklas Backstrom, was injured during warm-ups and had to be helped off the ice.

Minnesota coach Mike Yeo called it a "lower body" injury. The Wild had to rely on Josh Harding between the pipes. The 28-year-old goalie played in only five games this season. His last start was in January. (The underlying story this season about Harding is his health. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in November. Harding would not comment on his situation, but after the game several Blackhawk players mentioned their admiration for him. During the game, actor Michael J. Fox tweeted, "NHL playoffs! Yes!!! Josh Harding...Great story" 

Harding and Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford both had good games with great defense in front of them.

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There’s no time to catch your breath after the thrilling triple overtime 142-134 win by the Chicago Bulls this weekend. The Bulls are in Brooklyn Monday night trying to close out the series. They now lead the Nets three games to one in this best of seven series.

It will not be easy. Then again, the Bulls have never had it easy this season.

The Bulls showed that despite injuries and not having their biggest star they have one intangible: heart.

Coming back from a 14 point deficit (with the crazy shooting of back-up point guard Nate Robinson) elevated the battered team.

Playoffs are not just X’s and O’s. The raw emotion from an overtime win may be a catalyst Monday.

But the Bulls still have to overcome injuries, and on Saturday, minutes mounted up on already aching players.

Joakim Noah, with his sore foot, went way over his allotted time. He played 40 minutes even though the team’s medical staff recommended a limit of 25.

Luol Deng was hobbled after Saturday’s victory too. He has been active on defense and come up with a big shot here and there.

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Bears go Long

And the 20th pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft the Bears selected...

Kyle Long, an offensive guard from Oregon. 

Bears Phil Emery was unable to trade down and told the media that Long was the player the team had targeted. Many draft experts had Long going later in the draft as late as the third round.

He is 6’7,” 313lbs and the Bears believe he has the capability to also play at tackle. If the last name rings a bell. it should. He is the brother of Rams defensive end Chris Long and the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long.

There is some baggage for the new Bears player. He had some off the field issues at Florida State where he played baseball, went to a community college to play football and wound up at Oregon.

Long played in 11 games last year and started in five, so he has a limited resume on the Division I level.

You can look at it two ways:

1. He doesn’t have the wear and tear players have coming into the league.
2. But, he is a player with limited experience and will have to digest the game fast.

Emery expects Kyle Long to make an impact sooner than later. And if the football thing doesn’t work out, he probably could try baseball. No joke.

Long was drafted by the White Sox out of high school in the 23^rd round.

The NFL draft continues today with the second and third round.

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Thursday is every holiday rolled up into one for Chicago Bears General Manager Phil Emery: the start of the NFL draft.

Several free agent signings in recent months have peppered this team with some needed help.

But the loss of some players to free agency and the decision to go in an alternative direction has re-shaped the Bears. There is also the desire to find replacements for woeful players.

Emery is talking all calls to move out of the first round with the team’s 20th pick for the right deal. If the Bears GM could grab two more selections and fill positions like offensive guard and linebacker, a trade would be welcome.

This will be the first draft in a long time without Lovie Smith involved.

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Panic for the Bulls? No, leave that reaction to the fans. Concern? Not quite yet.

On Saturday, the Bulls had an embarrassing 106-89 loss to the Nets in Brooklyn.

A win tonight is not a must, but to leave New York down 0-2 would be tough when they return to play in Chicago on Thursday.

It was a surprise that Joakim Noah was able to start the playoff opener after he indicated Friday that he may sit out with his sore foot. Although Noah was limited and is dealing with pain, his effort was noble against the Nets All-Star center Brooks Lopez.

After Sunday’s practice, coach Tom Thibodeau said Noah and a banged up Kirk Hinrich will both make the effort to be in the starting line-up. Hinrich suffered a thigh bruise from a screen set by Brooklyn’s Reggie Evans.

What do the Bulls need to steal a win at the Barclays Center?

Turn up their defense and try to get the Nets Deron Williams out of any shooting rhythm. The Bulls strongest attribute is their defense. \If they let down that part of their game they are sunk. You cannot allow a team to shoot 55 percent from the field in the playoffs.

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