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Taj Gibson and the Bulls have had a hard time getting their hands on their "A" game. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images SEARCH NEWS Bullying Bulls keep moving ahead, but it hasn't been pretty

Posted May 5 2011 11:20AM -- If a national television audience is moaning but is smiling ... if can look limited going north-south, hobbled going east-west and ordinary on a night so many expected extraordinary, yet his team still cruises by 13 points ... if 39.3 percent from the field and 38 points in the second half qualify as winning stats ... Then the are winning ugly. Which might be the only way left for them to win in these 2011 playoffs. In what bordered on unwatchable, at least in terms of style points and highlight plays, the Bulls held down the in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series Wednesday, 86-73, to pull even at 1-1 in the best-of-seven clash. This wasn't a game, though, that was uglied up by hard fouls and spilled blood, the way we've come to expect at various points as current teams try to live up to the physical standards (and kind memories) of playoff teams past. No, the violence committed in this one primarily was limited to the eyeballs of those who watched. Atlanta scored 37 points by halftime, 36 points after that and shot 33.8 percent from start to finish. Joe Johnson and HEADLINES , the two weapons that worry Chicago What's New most in the series, went from 20- of-34 for 56 points in Game 1 to 9-of-25 for 27 48 hours later. The Bulls outrebounded their Clippers' Griffin unanimously voted top NBA guests 58-39, with every man rookie across the starting front line grabbing 11 or more. But afterward, center Joakim Noah Knicks' Douglas has surgery on right shoulder couldn't fib when asked about intensity or muscle as an explanation on the boards. Inside the Locker Room - 5.04.11 "There were more missed shots," Chuck Swirsky of BullsTV goes Inside the Locker Room with and Keith Celts to build Russell statue pushed by Obama he said and the math backed him Bogans after the Bulls Game 2 victory up: Atlanta shooters went from 38 misses in Game 1 to 51, but the Hawks' work on the offensive glass ticked from nine to just 10. It was as if someone in the truck crossed some cables and everyone was switched over to a postseason game of yore featuring Mike Fratello or , driving their teams to 48 minutes of muck. Which in a way it was, 2011 NBA Draft given Thibodeau's time as a Van Gundy disciple in New York and Houston, not to mention his training-wheels time 2011 Trade Deadline Tracker under grinder in Minnesota. 2011 All-Star Game 2010-11 Kia Awards No game can be low-scoring enough for the Bulls head coach's liking, as long as his team has managed at least 2010 Season Preview one measly more than the other guys. And that's the sort of result he and his players got in Game 2. It's likely Decision 2010 what they're going to offer up for however many games remain in this series -- unless they come unprepared 2010 NBA Playoffs Hoopedia completely for one of the next two at Atlanta's Philips Arena.

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/features/steve_aschburner/05/05/bulls-winning-ugly/?ls=ire... 5/5/2011 Bullying Bulls keep moving ahead, but it hasn't been pretty | NBA.com Page 2 of 2

completely for one of the next two at Atlanta's Philips Arena.

The Bulls trust their defense. In trying times, they go back to it, clinging like Linus to that grimy blanket. The Bulls, Respecting and embracing VIDEOS in fact, love "grimy," a word either planted by Thibodeau or stumbled upon and adopted by most in their locker Thibodeau's defensive teachings, room. What's New the Bulls ranked first in Plays of the Week Inopponents' "The Untouchables," field-goal percentage, a movie revered in these parts for its history-on-steroids of this city proud of its big Check out the best plays from the shoulders,first in 3-point the defense, cop character first in played by Sean Connery explains "the Chicago way" to Eliot Ness. "They pull a knife, past week in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. yourebounds, pull a gun,"second he in says. assists "He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. ... Now do you wantallowed, to do second that? Arein points you ready allowed to do that? I'm offering you a deal." and second in scoring differential. Griffin Dunk Montage Thibodeau and the Bulls offered that deal to their Four of 's dunks from Thebosses Bulls and have their been fans outplayed and they cleanedin up, all the way to 62 victories this season. When other teams pulled out All-Star Weekend's Dunk Contest fiveX's &of O's, their the first Bulls seven pulled games out thispower sanders and cheese graters. When opponents sent high-flyers, the Bulls laid rolled into one. postseason,out flypaper. yet there are in the second round with a 5-2 mark. Griffin's Winner They have done it with just A look at Blake Griffin's winning enough Derrick Rose on offense dunk from this year's Dunk Contest. and by trusting an often-stifling defense, which is all about belief and trust. Not just in the other four guys on the floor but in what Shop for NBA Gear Now! has worked and what likely will Top 5 Newsletter continue to work. Post Game Reactions to Game 2 Loss against Chicago Sign up for your weekly guide to the Best of the NBA AtlantaSponsored coach Larry Links Drew| wasn'twhat's this? all that wowed by the changes by ChicagoSHOCKING: from the opener Apple to iPad for $24.87 NBA TV Game 2. "They played us tough and physical just as in that first game," he said. "We just did a poor job with our Tune in for the latest TODAY ONLY: Auction site to give away 1,000 iPads for $24.87! NBA News and Updates shot selection.NewsToday9.com That was our undoing." Well, maybe. But if defense is Chicago's constant, shaky shot selection is something that Atlanta has lived with -- NBA Daily Playoff Updates and won in spite of -- for a long time. Get highlights, scores, and recaps. Apple, Sony, HP 95% OFF! Receive free exclusive coverage! Fact is,Extreme Chicago Discounts gave much Shopping. better help Everything on Johnson You Want.and Crawford, God Bless and America! -- matched up with Johnson -- intentionallySaveBig.com left himself more vulnerable to drives than to the Atlanta sharpshooter's often uncanny jumpers. Goodbye, 5-for-5 from the arc (Game 1). Hello, 1-for-3.

For the2550% fourth Pennytime in theirStock five Gains? playoff victories so far, the Bulls won ugly (that's another Chicago tradition dating back to Tony LaRussa's White Sox teams of the mid-1980s). It probably will be like that for however long they last Our last pick exploded 2550% - Join our newsletter for free picks! this spring.www.PennyStocksExpert.com This will be a postseason without makeup. "We still have some things we have to clean up," Thibodeau said afterward. "Our finishing the quarters was still a little loose. We have to do a better job there. The turnovers put them into the open floor. ... Blocked shots put them in the open floor. OTHER FEATURES NBA EVENTS NBA 101 ALL-ACCESS 24/7 "WeKia are Performance not going Awardsto change howAdvertise we play." on NBA.com 2011 Draft NBA Official Member Center NBA TV Oh goody.T-Mobile Maybe Rookie Reportfive more gamesCareer of this.Opportunities Thibodeau is smiling2011 even All-Star if we are not. About The NBA NBA LEAGUE PASS RSS Feeds Haier Play of the Day Contact Us 2010 Playoffs History Audio LEAGUE PASS Steve Aschburner has written aboutNBA theCares NBA for 25 years. You2010 can Hall e-mail of Fame him Induction here and followRules Ofhim The on Game twitter . Fantasy Games NBA Cares Auctions NBA Summer League Video Rulebook Online Games The views on this page do not necessarilyNBA FIT reflect the views ofNBA the Nation NBA, its clubs or TurnerHoopedia: Broadcasti Basketballng. Wiki Fan Voice iHoops NBA Jam Van Red on Roundball NBA Deals and Discounts USA Jam Session NBA Guide Newsletters NBA City Restaurant Basketball Without Borders NBA Register HOOP Magazine NBA Video Games NYC Store

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