CHICAGO (MCT) — The Bulls have surrendered critical offensive rebounds late in two straight losses, so they have to finish their defense in Tuesday's must-win Game 5.
They have managed just 33 points in the fourth quarters of Games 3 and 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, so they have to finish their offense against the 76ers at the United Center.
If they don't do either, it's simple. Their season is finished.
"You can win and continue playing," Richard Hamilton said. "Or you can go home. So you have to make it personal."
As the Bulls try to avoid becoming just the fifth No. 1 seed to fall to a No. 8 seed since the NBA instituted a 16-team playoff format in 1984, it seems fitting that Hamilton spoke some tough truths. The veteran shooting guard played for a top-seeded Pistons team that rallied from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the Magic in 2003.
"I remember (then-Magic swingman) Tracy (McGrady) made a comment saying it felt good to be going to the second round," Hamilton said. "We took that personal."
Then again, that Pistons team played at full strength, unlike this Bulls team that will be without Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah and with a banged-up Luol Deng and C.J. Watson.
Hamilton is healthy, though his playing time might suggest otherwise. He is averaging 13.3 points in just 28.8 minutes but has shot 41.5 percent and sat the entire fourth quarters in all but Game 3 and 27 seconds of Game 4.
"Whatever they need me to do, I'll do," Hamilton said. "Since I came back from injury, I've been playing limited minutes. My job if I'm not on the court in the fourth quarter is to cheer for the next guy. I know the next guy would do the same thing for me. It's one of those things where you have to stay in tune with the game."
When the Bulls signed Hamilton to a two-year, $10 million deal with a team option for a third season that won't be picked up, his playoff experience and veteran savvy was touted. Thibodeau, though, is closing games with Kyle Korver and dancing around repeated questions on the subject.
It seems clear Thibodeau is either displeased with Hamilton's play or doesn't trust him defensively.
"We'll see how it's going," Thibodeau said on whether Hamilton will close Game 5. "Depending on how the groups are playing ... if he's playing well, he'll be out there. Kyle has closed a lot of games. Lu has closed a lot of games. I thought C.J. played very well in the second half (of Game 4). Carlos (Boozer), we got a number of guys who can make shots.
"To me, they've committed a lot of their defense to (Hamilton). I think he's made the right plays. He's not forcing things."
The 76ers' aggressive finishes to Games 3 and 4 have forced the Bulls into a corner. In Game 3, Evan Turner's extra effort led to an offensive rebound and two critical made free throws to extend a one-point lead with 20 seconds left. In Game 4, Elton Brand snuck over Korver to keep alive a possession resulting in a Spencer Hawes layup and four-point lead with 2:06 left.
"That hurt us," Thibodeau said of the late offensive rebounds. "Those are hustle, will plays. Oftentimes in the playoffs that's the difference between winning and losing. We have to find a way to come up with that loose ball or offensive rebound at the end. Our team has shown we can do that."
If they don't, nobody will be playing in fourth quarters anymore. There won't be any.
"It's been a crazy year, from the beginning to right now," Hamilton said. "Nothing has been easy all season with the injuries and guys being out. We know it's going to be tough. The one thing I told them already is just believe. If we get one game, the series can change easily. Just like they won three games in a row, we can do the same. It starts with us."
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